Thursday, February 28, 2019

Week of February 25



PreK Music Makers

During the month of February the PreK students have been introduced to the music of jazz musicians Louis Armstrong and Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty).

 We listened to music performed by Louis Armstrong.  We loved When the Saints Go Marching In.
 We read the book When Louis Armstrong Taught Me to Scat by Muriel Harris Weinstein.


We listened to some scat music and practiced some of our own scat rhymes.
 You can check out our scat video below.  


We were introduced to musician Troy Andrews through his book, Trombone Shorty. 


The children enjoyed listening, singing along, and moving to the music of Trombone Shorty.  Boy can he play that trombone!  We had fun pretending we could play as well. 


Nursery Music Makers

Our Nursery students have been continuing our musical fun with the Music Together Drum Collection.  As of this week, the children have been introduced to most of the songs in the collection.  We enjoy singing the songs and using them in different ways.  One week we will move to a song and another week we may use it as a play along. We often like to add new verses to the songs taking suggestions from the children to create the new lyric and accompanying movement.  Using the music in different ways over the course of the semester allows the children to become more comfortable with the songs and creates more opportunities for musical expression either through instrument play or creative movement.  
 In our video below we are having fun with the song Noses and Toes.  We expanded the song to identify and include other body parts, taking suggesting from the students. 


Music Together At Home

Try using the Drum Collection songs in a variety of ways at home.  If you don't have any percussion instruments, use kitchen utensils and have a play along.  Try using the karaoke feature on the Music Together App (or sing a cappella) and make up new verses to the songs as you sing along to the music.  Have fun with it! 

The Drum Collection Songbooks will be sent home next week.
  Please be on the look out for your child's book.

We are beginning to plan for our final Family Music Event of the school year.  Stay tuned for a date and details.  (We are thinking late April or early May after school one afternoon.)


Friday, February 8, 2019

Week of February 4

Nursery Parent Visitation 

Making Music with Mom & Dad!


We were glad that so many of you were able to attend our Parent Visitation Day.
I enjoyed seeing all of you and making Music Together® .
You are your child's role model is so many ways, including making music.  

Here are some highlights of our musical experience together.

Hop on board This Train!





Fun with the canopy scarf to Drum and Sing.







Our play along to Everybody Loves Saturday Night was great.











John the Rabbit is so sassy.




Cuddling with Mom or Dad to Arirang our lullaby.




Music Together At Home

Lullabies are a wonderful way to end the day with your child in a calm and relaxing way.  It can be a special quiet time for you and your child and a nice way to settle in for the night. 

Parent Tip: Here's a parent tip from Cecilia Ulmer (Charlie's mom) regarding lullabies.  You can use the Music Together® App to create a lullaby playlist of all the quiet songs from both the Fiddle and Drum Collection. A suggested lullaby playlist includes the following songs: from the Fiddle Collection: Shenandoah, Shady Grove and Butterfly, from the Drum Collection: Arirang, Sailing Song, She Sells Sea Shells, Duermete Nino Bonito, Tomorrow's Not Today, and Arrorro, Mi Nino.
Snuggle up and enjoy the music.

If you have a great way that you are using the Music Together® collections at home, please let me know. I would love to share your ideas on the blog.


Week of June 1

Welcome to HCA Joyful Music Featuring our Early Childhood Music Makers As our school year comes to a close, I am reflecting on all the fun a...