My students need props for the Spring Concert: rainbow ribbons, tissue paper to make flags, flashlights to dazzle a song, octavator caps to lower boomwacker sound by an octave.
Due to many years of wear and tear and the addition of a new music teacher, many of our instruments recently needed full replacement or repair. However, the aspect that "can't be bought" and spurs me on in our music classroom are my students! Each class out of the twenty that I teach has its own unique perspectives, personalities and passions. While one class blows me away with their perfectly pitched voices, another class impresses me with their dancing.
The foundation of my lessons is the underlying challenge to create musical activities that lead to the discovery of the music within each student.
Let me tell you, these kiddos don't hold back their energy, their enthusiasm or their eagerness to learn and explore every musical venue they can get their hands on. I just do my best to keep up! Because of their unique personalities, I search for multiple ways to differentiate and accommodate individual strengths through variety and group efforts that culminate well in the concerts that we perform together. These concerts are the musical highlight of the students' year, made complete by props and an array of instruments. I cherish the musical moments we create together.
My Project
We have some of these supplies in our room already-rainbow ribbons, octavator caps-but we need more ribbons to have enough to use them during the concert and at other times that we perform as a whole grade group in the future. The octavator caps for the boomwackers really make a difference in adding texture to the sounds that we play. I like adding them to a variety of notes, to add depth to the music. The flashlights are going to be used in one song-Dream a Dream-and the students will learn motions to flash all together as they sing the song. We are really looking forward to trying this out; we've never done anything like this for a concert before. The tissue paper will be used to make colorful flags for a third grade song: Children of the World. They have each chosen one country to represent with their flag. We look forward to beginning this art project soon and can't wait to show the audience our flags that will be held during the performance of that particular song.
Having students "take ownership" in some of the choices and decisions being made for our concerts is a HUGE motivator.
When the kids make or use props to add to an already exceptional performance, it builds team work and interrelations between peers. Besides this, these kiddos absolutely glow with excitement to experiment with new ideas and love to "show them off" even more! I want to give them every chance to do so in and outside of our music classroom.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Mini Flashlight Keychain 12 Pack Assorted Neon Colors, Green, Light Blue And Pink, For Boys And Girls, Parties, Classroom Prize, Give And Receive, Pocket Size, Chain For Key - By Katzco
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