Shake It Orff

Thanks to my fabulous Co-Teacher, Mr. Zimmerman, fifth grade students learned a rendition of Shake It Off for the Orff instruments.  All classes in the grade level learned the piece and recorded their performance.  Each class then listened to the performances and voted on their favorite version.  The identity of the classes were kept secret until all votes were tabulated.  The winning class was Mrs. Bowman's class!  Congratulations!

You can hear their performance here on ViewPure:
http://viewpure.com/p_mg063tklg

Using the iPad in the Elementary Music Classroom - Updated May 2015

Here are some ways that we are using the iPad in our Elementary Music Classroom!
Last Updated on May  2015

1. Outside of Class Concert Practice - 
• Record students performing concert songs.
• Load video/audio to blog.
• Give blog address to classroom teachers and students.  Classroom teachers could have students practice the songs as they are waiting for dismissal at the end of the day or students can practice at home.  
2. Documenting Student Work 

• Videotape when you confer with students
• Photograph their work (put in a folder or hang on bulletin boards)
• Seesaw is a wonderful app for documentation!

3.  Survey your Students using a Google Form.  Pass the iPad around the room. Google will create a summary of the data for you when students have completed the survey.  Use the data to plan which songs to use in next year's concert.

4.Student Behavior Incentives - I have a few reluctant singers who might be categorized by Positive Behavior Systems as Task Avoiders.  These students have a singing chart where we monitor each day their growth in the performance participation aspect of music class.  As a reward for meeting their performance goal, these Task Avoiding students may earn a small iPad time where they can interact with music in a non-performance setting.
5. Analyzing Student Work - Record, Watch, Analyze, Set New Goals, Repeat.
6. Music Challenge - Record several classrooms performing the same activity.  Allow students to listen only to the audio of each classrooms recording.  Vote for the best sounding recording for placement on web / School CD.  Reveal the classroom that was the winner.
Check back for more ideas
7.  Favorite Apps

• Name That Note! - Absolute Pitch Names.  Have used the free version in Centers/Stations.  Kids enjoy it!
• Metro Timer - Free Version - Metronome.  Practice Timer (1,2,3,4,5,10, 15, 20, or 30 min settings).  Big Buttons (Kid Friendly).  Upgrades for Time Signatures, Beat Editors, Subdivisions.  No Big Ads.
• Pro Metronome Designed by EUM - Free Version - Metronome.  Time Signatures and Accent Options included.  Upgrade for Subdivision and Polyrhythms. No Big Ads.
• Classical Music Collection Free HE from Yangeng Wang - 47 Great Classical Composers and 99 Best Classical Music Examples.  Tab for Composers.  Students can click on the picture of the composer for their biography and a playlist of the composer works.  Ad does appear at bottom of screen in free version.
• AtPlayMusic Recorder Free
• Showcase Tab
• Pinwheel - See if student is playing the right amount of air.  Pinwheel graphic blows when the recorder is played.  Avatar gives a thumbs up and smiles or frowns.
• Parts of the Recorder Puzzle Game
• Fill the Cup Rhythms - Play your recorder for four beats to fill the whole note cup.  Continues with other rhythms.
• Play Along Game 01 - Staff Notation is shown.  Student plays.  Line moves across the staff to match. Tuner shows the pitch that actually is played.  If the note is not in tune, the game will not advance.  Be careful to completely stop your air before each rhythm. Fingerings to the notes are shown below each note.  More games included with 3.99 purchase.
• Play Alongs - Record and Email the Scores to teacher!  Included in free version -  Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Ode to Joy, Old MacDonald, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, On Top of Old Smokey.
• Settings Tab - allows you to set Display Mode (Smart Charts, Finger Charts On, Note Names, or Staff Only), Listening Mode, Transpose, and Song Tempos!

• Lessons - Video Lessons
• Songs Tab - Several more Songs to play, rated with difficulty levels, 

Grade 2 - And the Mystery Note is.......

Do!

All Grade 2 Classes have now gathered all 10 clues to find the name of their new melodic mystery note - Do!

Here are some of the clues they have gathered:

1. The Mystery Note is the lowest note we know. HC
2. The Mystery Note copies Mi.
3. The Mystery Note copies Sol.
4. The Mystery Note does not copy La.
5. The Mystery Note is a skip below Mi. AC
6. The Mystery Note is a leap below Sol. NJ­
7. The Mystery Note is a leap below La. NJ
8. La is a leap above the Mystery Note. HC KC
9. Mi is a skip above the Mystery Note.
10. Sol is a leap above the Mystery Note.AC