My classroom is performance oriented with a stage, a full set of risers, and more instruments than you would expect in the average elementary classroom. We make music with our own hands and breath, and we do it well. I'm in my fourth year at this school, and in the time I've been there, my students have become multi-instrumentalists on the bass, mandolin, piano, and drums. Some students like to switch around between the instruments, while others have "specialized" and concentrate all their learning on just one. Either way is fine by me, as long as they're learning and enjoying music and school.
My Project
While students are young, open minded, and naturally curious, they need a variety of stimulating experiences to intrigue their minds. I find the Moog Theremin to be one of the most intriguing instruments around.
The Theremin is played by the performer moving their hands either closer to or farther away from the antennas: this controls both pitch and volume.
This instrument will add a unique sound and experience to our musical repertoire and will have the added benefit of also teaching kids about pitch and volume. It will also teach them about fine motor control and body control in general. If they're moving all around and goofing off, the sounds they want won't happen. They must keep their bodies under control to play the Theremin. My students need this kind of practice.
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