Five: Musicality

Dawn and I started writing music with the children last year as a way of introducing another 'language':  a form of expression that carries sound, rhythm, meaning, notation, writing and math concepts.

Recently, Anya and Uli said that they wanted to write music.  they made multicolored curly lines across letter-sized paper and then we interpreted the sound of their music with our voices, and even created some harmonies along the way.

Just the other day, the girls opted to create music again and drew elaborate explosions of color on construction paper--laughing when they showed me--knowing they had done something 'different', something off the grid of a standard music sheet.

I acknowledged their efforts, listened to their interpretations and then also offered them the traditional five-lines to frame their notations, if they wanted to use them.  Nora and Kaya joined the group.  As the children worked, they hummed and la-laed to themselves.  I suggested 'naming' their music.  Kaya said hers was titled 'Stars' and that her sisters were learning how to play piano and maybe could read her score.

Uli and Anya asked to have a concert and we agreed to follow through on Tuesday (9/8/13).

On Tuesday afternoon we took our music book outside. The children built a simple stage with big blocks and took turns performing.  Ayush even danced to the first piece performed by Anya (see video).

Children asked permission to sing each others work--they understood that their interpretation might sound different than the author's.  They also seemed to understand ownership of original music.  Sometimes they made up songs.  They chose to sing alone and in partnership.  Applauded each other too.  I talked about our voice being our instrument.

Eventually children sang some 'known songs'.  I sang the Mickey Cake chant.  Lila and Esther sand "Soft and Squishy Bread", Nora and Lila sang "Do Re Mi" and "Favoirte Things".  As the children sang they grew in volume--in confidence.

On Wednesday--Uli told me that she wrote more music and put it in the music book.  We agreed that we would have another concert tomorrow (Thurs 9/10).  I like that the children are willing to store their music at school - and using the book to select their song for their performance.  I photocopied lots of music sheets for the children to access at will.  I would LOVE it if we could eventually have musicians of the school try to play some of the music.  If you are interested let me know!;)

Liz

We have a love for "The Sound of Music"  like the Nutcracker is to our daily dancing, "The Sound of Music" is to our daily singing.  In the following episode note the use of sign language!

And in this episode, note how loud and confident Lila as grown.  And WOW Esther for knowing all the words!  Our school is full of song at the moment.  Today (10/15/13) I heard Miles singing "Soft and Squishy Bread on his saunter to the sandbox.  He was just singing to himself and later I heard him singing "Give peace a chance."  I always feel things are good when you can hear children spontaneously singing at school.  As lunch helpers set the table today, they were singing a Sound of Music tune...just another example of joy and purpose in partnership.  Liz