Help me give my students a colorful array of Remo sound shapes and a lovely set of chromatic resonator bells so that we can make beautiful music together.
I teach in a school where the student population is linguistically and culturally diverse, and which services a community with families from all over the world. I see the exciting possibilities that I can make available to my students who need opportunities to explore creative and critical thinking through the arts, especially dance and music.
My second graders are bright and enthusiastic, each one of them with unique abilities and talents.
I find that using the arts is such an exciting and engaging way to channel their abilities, and to reach those learners who may have difficulties with reading and language or grasping math concepts. I am often touched by the level of care and kindness with which all my students help each other in our quest to learn. It comes as no surprise that these children absolutely love the arts. When I introduce a painting project or play music for them on the piano, I can see their heightened interest and excitement.
My Project
I intend to use the resonator bells and sound shapes to teach my class about composing music and to support strategies for literacy. Many of the lessons I plan to teach can be integrated with writing, theater, and storytelling activities, and yes, even math, science, and social studies. No matter what their language ability, students will be able to listen to a story and articulate the feeling, mood, or idea behind it using these tools. During a read-aloud, we can use these instruments to create a unique and exciting, free-form soundtrack that supports the narrative. We can also play rhythm games during brain breaks and our morning meetings to energize us throughout the day.
With these instruments I want to show my students that music is made up of patterns.
They will learn correct music notation and musical concepts of rhythm, pitch, timbre, dynamics, and tempo. As students build on their musical knowledge and become more sophisticated in their practice, I can also introduce them to the actual techniques and structures used in classical music. Children can compose music using the same strategies Beethoven and Mozart used, such as rondo form. These activities are highly participatory, strengthen active listening, develop focus and coordination, and build community through teamwork as students learn to play as an ensemble.
Science has shown that playing music is a whole-brain activity that makes for happier, healthier children. Music is an engaging channel through which my students can access the curriculum in ways that can be fun and joyful. And it makes learning stick!
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