MMII Lesson 29 - Love Somebody!

Dear Families,

Here is the Lesson 29 Homework Support video - our last one!

Though we sing and play Love Somebody, the video is primarily for review. 

There is no formal homework this week.

I can hardly believer we're almost done with our MMII classes! 

Families - Remember that next week is an ALL FAMILY TIME and musical celebration. 

Bring your cameras. 

Happy practicing!

Ms. Brigid

gardengoddess1@comcast.net

847-213-0173

MMII Lesson 28 - C Middle C, Up & Down the Scale!

Dear Families,

Here is the Lesson 28 Homework Support video.

Our time together has gone so quickly! Only two more classes to go!

This week, we had a wonderful Woodwind Instrument Family demonstration, played a 1 - 2 - 3 game song from New Zealand, and were introduced to our final New Note C Middle C. We also and learned about the C scale and octaves. 

This week's  homework is to draw C Middle C and play the C Scale up and down the glockenspiel. Challenge yourself to play the notes with alternating hands.  You can do it!

Families - Remember that our lass two class periods will be ALL FAMILY TIMES.  Lesson 29 is a Semester II review and orientation to post-class resources.  Lesson 30 is a musical celebration - with lots of surprises!

Just for fun, check out this YouTube piano stairs video. There are lots more from around the world!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw - Stockholm, Sweden

Happy Practicing!

Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 27- Woodwind Family, Delicious D & Sharps!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 27 Homework Support video.

This week, we continued to explore Delicious D, or Low D, on the staff and glockenspiel,
and our final instrument family, the Woodwinds. We also  learned about sharps and what they do - raise a tone a half step. 

We practiced steady beat with our 1 - 2 - 3  songs, The Woodwind Song and Maku E, a Maori song from New Zealand.

This week's  homework is to Say, Sing, & Play The Woodwind Song on the glockenspiel - and to practice drawing sharps, which should be two spaces high. They look like tic-tac-toes, so this is easy schmeezy. The bottom line points to the note which is "sharped."  

Students received a F# bar for their instruments to use while playing the seven F#'s in the song. The F# lives between Fantastic F and G Golly G - but because of the small size of our glockenspiel, we use a replaceable bar that is stored at the end of the instrument.

PLEASE NOTE: I mentioned musicteaching.com in this homework support video. Unfortunately, this site no longer exists, but there are two other options I've found for easily listening to instruments online. 
1. DSO Kids (Dallas Symphony)   - https://www.dsokids.com/listen/by-instrument/.aspx.
2. SFS Kids (San Francisco Symphony) - http://www.sfskids.org/perform/ 
Both sites have lots to explore, but I think SFS Kids is my favorite due to the "compose" option, where you can write and listen to  your own music, using a piano or variety of
other instruments!  

Families - Remember there is a Woodwind Demonstration next week, so there is an
Early Family Time. 

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 26 - Woodwind Family & New Note Delicious D

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 26 Homework Support video.

This week, we were introduced to Delicious D, or Low D, on the staff and glockenspiel,
and met our final instrument family, the Woodwinds. In fact we learned a song about
four important members - a song that has three beats to the measure.

Up to this point, we have sung and played 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 songs. Songs that have three beats have a different time signature!

We will use The Woodwind Song for the next two weeks.  This week, sing and play  a D - A bourdon using dotted half notes (three beats long!) to practice our steady beat. Try playing 
a quarter note bourdon. Easy schmeezy!

We now know nine notes on our glockenspiel and musical staff: C, A, D, F, G, B, Bb, E and
Delicious/Low D.

We are Music Masters!!

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 25 - One Little Owl

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 25 Homework Support video for "One Little Owl."
We now know EIGHT notes on our glockenspiel and musical staff: C, A, D, F, G, B, Bb and E.
During class, we reviewed Excellent E  staff and glockenspiel, our note durations,
the Treble Clef, and played crescendo and decrescendo games. We also explored dynamics from pianissimo to fortissimo. 

This week's homework is to say, sing, and play "One Little Owl" and draw the most beautiful clef of all, the Treble Clef. 

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 24 - One Little Owl & Excellent E!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 24 Homework Support video for "One Little Owl."
During class, Excellent E was introduced on the staff and glockenspiel.
We also learned about whole notes, which are held for four beats, the Treble
Clef, and crescendo and decrescendo.

"One Little Owl" is a 1-2-3-4 song, which means there are four beats in every measure, 
so the top number is a "4." The bottom number (we're using a quarter note) shows us what the beat-keeper is.

We now know EIGHT notes on our glockenspiel and musical staff: C, A, D, F, G, B, Bb and E.

"One Littel Owl" will be used for homework this week, and also for our next lesson.
Our steady beat homework this week is to play an E -B bourdon, which means both notes are played together, first using whole notes, then half notes, and finally quarter notes.
Remember to practice drawing Excellent E!

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 23 - Naughty Kitty Cat & Bb!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 23 Homework Support video for "Naughty Kitty Cat."
During class, Bb was introduced on the staff and glockenspiel.
We also reviewed time signatures.

"Naughty Kitty Cat" is a 1-2-3-4 song, which means there are four beats in every measure, 
so the top number is a "4." The bottom number (we're using a quarter note) shows us what the beat-keeper is.

We now know SEVEN notes on our glockenspiel and musical staff: C, A, D, F, G, B and Bb.

Remember to practice drawing flats on the other side of your homework. The stem is two spaces high, and the body of the flat looks like half a heart! Though the flat is drawn in front  of the note, the note name is said first, e.b. B flat instead of flat B!

Remember, this week's homework is to Say it (on ta and ti-ti), Sing it (on note names), and Play it (play the whole song on the glock)!  

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 22 - Hot Cross Buns & Bellissima B!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 22 Homework Support video for Hot Cross Buns!
Bellissima B was introduced on the staff, glockenspiel, and our body staff (earlobes).

We also learned about time signatures, which will be used from now on.

The top number of the time signature shows us how many beats are in a measure.

The time signature for "Hot Cross Buns" is a "4" - which show us that it is a 1-2-3-4 song.

We now know SIX notes on our glockenspiel and musical staff: C, A, D, F, G, and B.

Remember to draw Bellisima B's on the other side of your homework, and then 

see if you can complete your Note Detective mission (also knows as Note Review)!

Remember, this week's homework is to Say it (on ta and ti-ti), Sing it (on note names), and Play it (play the whole song on the glock)!  

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

MMII Lesson 21 - Who's That? Putting it all together!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 21 Homework Support video for Who's That - Part II.
This week, once again, we explored legato (smooth and connected) and staccato (short and separate).

We sang, read, and played Half notes and half rests, which are held for TWO beats.  We know half notes are different than quarter notes (a black notehead with a ta stem) because the noteheads are white - and never colored in. The half rest looks like a little hat perched on the third line of the staff - a hat rest!

Remember, this week's homework is to Say it (on ta and ti-ti), Sing it (on note names), and Play it (play the whole song on the glock)!  

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

http://www.blurb.com/mobile/show/072b8ec6c (slide show, same content)

MMII Lesson 20 - Who's That? Legato, Staccato, & Half Notes!

Dear Families,
Here is the Lesson 20 Homework Support video for Who's That - Part I.
This week, legato (smooth and connected) and staccato (short and separate) were introduced. These special words are in Italian, the language of music.

Half notes and half rests were also introduced. They are held for TWO beats.  We know half notes are different than quarter notes (a black notehead with a ta stem) because the noteheads are white - and never colored in. The half rest looks like a little hat perched on the third line of the staff - a hat rest!

Remember, today's homework is to play the half notes only - but sing the note names for the whole song. Practice drawing half notes and half rests on the flip side.

Happy Practicing!
Ms. Brigid

http://www.blurb.com/mobile/show/0681c4d62  - (slide show - same content)

MMII Lesson 19 - New Note G and Hop Old Squirrel

Dear Music Masters II Families,

This blog will hold weekly homework support videos which will hopefully entertain as well as reinforce concepts we have introduced in class.  Have fun!

Ms. Brigid
gardengoddess1@comcast.net
847-213-0713

Lesson 19 - New Note G and Hop Old Squirrel

NOTE: The video somehow corrupted, so you only hear my voice for the first 1'35"!

After that point, everything displays correctly. 

It's another mysterious  technology wrinkle, but probably the compression

corrupted the original homework support video, which was made through

an iPad app named BLURB. 

 

Dear Families,

As promised,  here is the Lesson 19's Homework Support video

for the New Note G and Hop Old Squirrel!

I hope you find it helpful. 

Thirty seconds is the time allotted for included videos,which is a bit of a rush,

but a nifty feature, since our  MMII musicians can play along with me!

The video was made on an iPad, so displays a bit differently on a computer screen. It doesn't make any difference in the material presented, however!

From this point on, there will be a Homework Support video available for each lesson through Lesson 29.

Access the blog anytime you want at MusicMastersII.blogspot.com

Let me know if you like the video!

Happy Practicing!

Ms. Brigid