When we think of composing music, preschool is not the first thought that comes to our mind. As an early childhood teacher having to teach reading to Kindergarteners, I have been focused on how to break down music into a very simple form of notation. Using color-coded bars on Orff instruments I am able to …
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!
Today is that day where we get a few extra apples on our desks or notes of appreciation and thanks from the students we teach. We can often forget to appreciate our colleagues or fellow teachers on this day or throughout the year. They support and help us on a daily basis with the work …
Short Article on the Theater Benefits
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-musicals-should-be-as-respected-as-sports-programs Check out this short article on why musicals should get the same respect as sports. Support the arts for young, for all!
Kindergarten Composing
I try to give young students the opportunity to create and play music each class. It starts off very simple and becomes more challenging as they develop their music skills. This is the last very structured creation activity I do with them before loosening the reigns and allowing them to compose their own quarter note …
Hit the Target in Music
Learning targets are a big thing in schools these days. Well, that gave me an idea for Orff instruments. I have been really trying to think how to get kids to tap in the center of the bars where you get the best sound and the bars don't come flying off. Since I have put …
Great Research on Steady Beat and Reading
This short article highlights findings on the connection between keeping a steady beat and learning to read. This article focusing on the auditory work that both learning to read and learning to keep a beat need in order to build skills and fluency in these areas. Research on Steady Beat and Reading Connection Giving students …
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Practice Reading Music
Kindergartners practice reading the music alphabet colors. I use colors that coordinate with the boomwhackers. I colored each of the bars so students who can not read letters have another strategy to use in playing the instruments. First Graders practice reading music with colors and music alphabet letters as much as possible. I'm not worried …
First Grade Composes
First grade spends most of the fall being introduced and then working on the eighth note pair rhythm. They add this rhythm into activities with quarter notes and quarter rests. Two composing activities that happen in the fall of first grade is a roll and clap activity where students roll cubes that have quarter notes, quarter …
Leaf Composing with Kindergarten
In the fall in Kindergarten, I begin the year with having students "read" music dot notation. Just simple green, yellow, red dot patterns. I have an anchor chart that shows the students that red=stomp, yellow=pat, green=clap. We then spend the next few weeks just practicing different dot notation. I usually stick with patterns of 4 …
Music Centers in the Early Childhood
So I have been moving toward music centers in my Kindergarten to 2nd grade classes. I was a Kindergarten teacher for 8 years so centers were something I have come to know and love. I have jumped on the bandwagon in the music room. I love that the kids have choices when they come …
Blake Siskavich 