Song of the Day

Tuesday, April 21st

Good Morning! I will be tweeting out a Song of the Day from Monday-Friday on an ongoing weekly basis. My St. Catherine's School friends can keep an eye out for song shout outs to their classes, along with some fun activities to do along with the songs. For this morning, we’ll start with this lovely song from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics about the power of the human spirit

Wednesday, April 22nd

It’s Earth Day today! What are some of the suggestions in Jack Johnson’s song about how we can take care of our earth? What else can you think of that you can do to help care for our planet?

Thursday, April 23rd

Here’s a fun song to get you moving and dancing all over the place. It’s a Calypso style of music that comes from the Caribbean. What instruments did you recognize? Which ones were new to you?

Friday, April 24th

I asked Mr. Legate what song our ESCS kids liked to listen to in his Phys Ed classes and he sent this one along. A great way to incorporate music and physical activity into your day! Keep checking in daily to see your class’ favorite song featured!

Monday, April 27th

Here are 2 different versions of the same song. The first is by Pharrell Williams. The second is by Pentatonix, an amazing a cappella group. What does a cappella mean? Which version do you like better? Why or why not?

Tuesday, April 28th

Bonjour à tous les amis de la classe de Mme. MacDonald! When these primaries are at school, they love to ask to listen to Old Town Road while they’re doing their work.

Wednesday, April 29th

In this different time, it’s normal to have a hard day once in a while. When I’m feeling down, music always has the power to lift me back up again, especially with a fun song like this one from Trolls.

Thursday, April 30th

Morning shoutout to Mme. Hughes’ class! I hadn’t heard this song before and always love checking out new music. It’s catchy and had me singing along in no time.

Friday, May 1st

I love everything about this song: the lyrics, the laid-back style, the harmonies, and especially the way it makes me feel when I listen and sing along. Most of all though, I love seeing all the kids from so many different cultures sharing the language of music together. Have a great weekend and come on back on Monday for more Songs of the Day!

Monday, May 4th

Today is Music Monday. Music Monday started in 2005 and is now a yearly occurrence celebrating the power of music in our schools and communities. There is a Music Monday anthem selected every year. This year it is Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom. Start listening and join in #TogetherinHarmony on the livestream.

Tuesday, May 5th

Good Morning to our friends from Mme. Scully’s Grade 2 class! Here’s a song they love listening to by Kids United. It’s a wonderful song about the hopes and dreams of children for the future world.

Wednesday, May 6th

The sun is shining and the birds are singing. It’s a good day to have a good day :-) Here’s an oldie from 1958! It’s a fun song that will help you practice the beat. You can learn the hand clapping game to do along with the beat. Learn it on your own first then try to find a partner in your house to do it with you. Make sure the clapping game stays with the beat!

Thursday, May 7th

Music always plays a big part in our Primary students’ learning. In Ms.. Fader’s Primary and Grade One class, one of their favorite movement songs is Sleeping Bunnies. It’s a fun song that will get you moving on this indoor, rainy day.

Friday, May 8th

Have you ever heard of the French-German composer, Jacques Offenbach? Maybe not, but I would guess you may recognize some of his music in this Line Rider display of one of his most famous pieces. Check out how the graphics match the movement of the melody!

Monday, May 11th

We’ve been staying home recently to help our family, friends and community stay safe and healthy. Mrs. Friars sent this song along to remind us how easy it is to spread kindness. We can all spread kindness, even during this time while we are at home. Help with supper, feed the family pet, do the dishes, make your bed. What are some things you can do to help spread kindness?

Tuesday, May 12th

Check out this song by The Beatles! It was performed with some instruments you may recognize from our music class. What instruments can you create at home to play along with Jimmy Fallon, Ringo Starr and The Roots?

Wednesday, May 13th

I sure have missed hanging out with my friends recently, how about you? This song from Aladdin reminds us how important it is to have good friends in your life. What makes you a good friend? Even though you can’t hang out right now, remember your friends are still there for you.

Thursday, May 14th

Music has inspired lots of art and vice versa. Get out your art supplies, sit down together and put on Vivaldi’s Spring from his work The Four Seasons. Listen to the music and let the music inspire you to draw or paint a scene. Send me a picture of your artwork!

Friday, May 15th

Here’s a fun compare and contrast musical activity. Both songs are by the same band, R.E.M. The first is the original, Shiny Happy People, which was released in 1991. The second is a piggyback version of the same song which they sang with the Muppets of Sesame Street. Which version do you like better? Why or why not?

Tuesday, May 19th

We have amazingly talented kids at St Catherine’s and throughout our board with our many wonderful music programs! Even though we can’t make music together right now, there are still all kinds of ways to make music at home. If you have an instrument, get it out and play along. If you don’t have an instrument, create one! One of the kids in this video created a drum out of a washing machine! Check out these talented kids covering a Michael Jackson song called Heal The World

Wednesday, May 20th

Here's a piece of music any Star Wars fans will likely recognize. It is played on two very modern looking cellos. The cello belongs to the string family of instruments. The cello has four strings and is played with the fingers and a bow. The cello is larger than the violin and viola, but it is not as large as the double bass!

Thursday, May 21st

Many choirs, singers and ensembles, locally and all over the world, have been continuing to create music together during this time, even from home. Michael Bublé, The Barenaked Ladies and Sofia Reyes all came together to create this collaboration to share. It’s called Gotta Be Patient...seems appropriate for these new and different times. What do you think would be challenging about putting together a video like this one?

Friday, May 22nd

Shout out to a fellow music educator colleague for our Song of the Day today! Kudos to Mr. MacDonald’s Dartmouth Jazz Choir for putting together this virtual choir!!

Monday, May 25th

During these times, everyone can help those around them. Whether in your house or within your community, we can all lend a hand to help out those around us. These Hands by Dave Gunning is today's Song of the Day for our St. Catherine's School l family. What does his song inspire you to do to help out today?

Tuesday, May 26th

Keeping today’s Song of the Day in Nova Scotia again with Neon Dreams’ song, We Were Kings. It has a great, gentle acoustic feel. Can you create a body percussion pattern that feels like it matches with the tone and the mood of the song?

Wednesday, May 27th

We are so lucky to be surrounded by such great musical talent in Nova Scotia! This song and video is giving me all the positive vibes and feels this morning. It’s already making today a great day. Shout out to Classified and Breagh Isabel for creating and sharing such a wonderful song and message. Hope everyone has a feeling good kind of day.

Thursday, May 28th

Nova Scotia musicians continue to rock the music scene across many genres of music. In addition to solo singers and groups, we have just as many wonderful instrumental musicians. Many of our St Catherine's School students are beginning instrumental musicians as well, learning violin, cello and various band instruments. Thanks to our HRCE music programs for all you do! Nova Scotia’s own Natalie MacMaster started playing the fiddle from an early age. Check out her playing now with “Fiddler’s Despair.” It will definitely get you toes tapping on this sunny morning!

Friday, May 29th

To bring our Nova Scotia Song of the Day week to an end, here is a song from Jimmy Rankin. Jimmy is part of a very talented musical family from Mabou, Cape Breton. In this song, We’ll Carry On, he shares with us a song about strength and perseverance, even in the midst of hard times.

Monday, June 1st

On good days, we sing out in joy. On days when the world seems cloudy, music can soothe us. When we gather together, we sing out in celebration. Singing can make a good day special and make a bad day just a little bit easier. This song celebrates singing with the sound of hope and peace with one song, as 5 countries, 6 children's choirs and an orchestra all come together in song.

Tuesday, June 2nd

Morning kids! We are so lucky at St. Catherine's School to see in our students, the faces of our future leaders of the world. Our students are our Hope for the Future.

Wednesday, June 3rd

It’s a rainy gray day today. Even on rainy days like these, there are still all kinds of fun rainy day activities we can find to do inside and outside. I love going for walks in the rain. What do you like to do on a rainy day? Our St. Catherine's School students may remember seeing Donna and Andy in concert at the school. This is one of their songs, perfect for a rainy day like today.

Thursday, June 4th

Today’s Song of the Day is one with a simple message wishing all of our St. Catherine's School community the very best for the future yet to come.

Friday, June 5th

Today marks the end of a very different school year. The end of our school year this year doesn’t look the same as what we’re used to. But what has stayed the same are all the things that are most important about recognizing the end of a school year. We all went through great changes and successfully adapted to those changes. We met new friends and developed new relationships. Each of us made wonderful accomplishments, both in and out of school. We learned new things in class, about the world and about ourselves. But most of all learned how to adapt and change in these new and different times. Whether you are rejoining the St. Catherine’s School community next year or you are moving onto new and different adventures, you will continue to take the experiences, friendships and learning from this year with you. I will continue to post a Song of the Day occasionally over the summer, make sure to check back when you need a new song to add to your summer playlist! For today, I leave you with this song from the musical Wicked. “Because I knew you, I have been changed For Good.”