PLEASE SCROLL WAAAAAY DOWN for the LATEST MUSIC LESSONS

that RELATE to the VIDEOS above!!!

Look for the headings in red print until you find today's date!

For Thursday, January 6th, & Friday, January 7th, 2022

To all students,

Music is a part of all our lives! It reflects who we are, and what we're about! We hum, sing, or whistle a tune when we're happy; we listen to music while playing video games or shopping in stores; and, we play musical instruments like ukuleles, recorders, the piano, spoons, or even mops when we want to learn a new skill, deal with stress, or express our feelings!! Music has a special way of making us feel better when we're sad or worried, and pumps us up for special celebrations like birthday parties, family gatherings, and hockey games!

I hope music will be a part of your everyday, and that you'll enjoy the activities above and below!!! Have fun!

Mrs. Davis

Activity 1. LEARN to PLAY a DRUM KIT :

(Note: Video is at the very top of this page. I'm in front of a little fire place! IMG_2122)

Here's an activity to create your own, "at home" drum kit!! It's a little different than what drummers in your favourite band may play, but by making a mini-kit and learning a basic beat pattern, you can get a head start on the real thing!!!

A) Please collect the following items:

*garbage bin as a bass or kick drum

*tin can as a snare drum

*a few coins to help make the sound of the snares

*a couple wooden spoons as drum sticks

*masking tape to cover the sharp edge of the can

B) Please click the first video at the top of the page, to watch a demo! NOTE: To view the video, click on the arrow directly on the video, and then the "arrow in a box" icon at the top left which will open the clip in a new tab.

Activity 2. A STORY and a SONG :

(The video for this lesson is at the top of this page; I'm holding a book! IMG-2131)

Book: "When I Get Older: The Story Behind, "Wavin' Flag", by K'Naan; illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

Chorus lyrics:

"When I get older I will be stronger,

They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag!"

A) Please open the second video above to hear the story! NOTE: To view the video, click on the arrow directly on the video, and then the "arrow in a box" icon at the top left which will open the clip in a new tab.

B) Activities and questions:

1. Why are the lyrics of, "Wavin'Flag", so special to K'Naan?

2. How can we welcome new kids to Prince Street Elementary?

3. What are some wise words or sayings that you remember, shared by family members or friends, or written in song lyrics, poems, or quotes?

4. Write down on a piece of paper, any wise words/advice/special sayings that are meaningful to you.

5. Discuss these sayings with your family, or a friend.

6. Draw a picture that will remind you of your sayings; of good thoughts.

7. Make up a tune to go with your saying. There's no such thing as a wrong melody; just hum a few notes to go along with the words!

8. Write a thank you to someone who has been kind to you, and helped you feel welcome.

For: Monday, January 10 and Tuesday, January 11th, 2022 (The video for this lesson is at the top of this page; 2nd one down. You'll see me playing water glasses, in front of a picture on the wall. IMG-2237)

Here we are with another week about to begin!!!

The 3rd music lesson for you amazing kids, is a follow-up from last week by,

Activity 1: continue with the song, "Wavin' Flag", as you sing along with the chorus or at least hum it in your head, and by,

Activity 2: focus on musical instruments you can make at home...musical water glasses this time!

Please keep in mind that Musical Elements are like pillars of music, and include melody, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, timbre, harmony, and silence!

Items needed: glasses, spoons or beaters, and water! :)

You can't go wrong by creating your own music! Can you make up your own melody? Can you add your own words(lyrics)? When you do, they reflect your own thoughts, ideas, celebrations, hopes, and dreams, and that in itself is perfect!!! Enjoy!!

For: Wednesday, January 12th and Thursday, January 13th, 2022 (Please note: the water glasses should be placed so the lower notes are on YOUR left!) (The video for this lesson is of me with water glasses again, but by a keyboard! IMG-2261)

Activity 1: Music. It's made up of elements as we shared yesterday, but even more than that, music is a way to express your thoughts and feelings! It's super fun to share your music with others! You can do this by remembering the melodies you create; by improvising or making up music as you go; or, by composing music and writing the notes on a musical staff.

If you'd like to share your music by writing it down on a musical staff, this mini-lesson will get you started! It will also prepare you for learning to play a band instrument in Intermediate school, when you'll be reading other people's music!

By the way, the notes found on the spaces of the treble staff are: FACE :-)

The notes found on the lines of the treble staff are EGBDF (Elvis' Guitar Broke Down Friday)

The 4th video down from the top , is the one for you! Please find a pencil and sheet of paper before you begin!

Try to create your own tune using water glasses, or try to play, "Wavin' Flag", by K'Naan, or "Ode to Joy", by Ludwig van Beethoven! Here are a few letter names of the notes to get you started:

Wavin' Flag: CCEDC, FFFED, EEEDC, DDEDCBC

Ode to Joy: EEFG GFED CCDE EDD

You REALLY need to look at the music note-naming game at this link: (It's pretty fun!!!)

https://www.classicsforkids.com/games/note_names.php

Activity 2: A musical scale is a pattern of notes. Simple as that! The notes of the C Major scale are: CDEFGABC. (The video for this lesson is of me holding a ukulele! IMG-2274)

In the 5th video above, I'm singing a song that's based on the C Major Scale, ascending(going upwards), and descending(going downwards). The first verse is about a snowman; the second verse is about a "dog"!! (Please excuse my squeeky voice on the higher notes!!) Please sing along! Enjoy!!

Have a good couple of days!

For: Friday, January 14th and Monday, January 17th, 2022

Activity 1: Animals to help you remember the notes on the treble staff: (The video for this lesson features the top corner of a musical staff. IMG-2331)

Watch for the antelope, bumble bee, cat, dolphin, elephant, fox, and gazelle!!!

• Treble staff spaces:

• FACE treble staff lines: EGBDF

• C Major Scale: CDEFGABC

Activity 2: What do Martin Luther King from the USA, , Viola Desmond from Halifax NS, , and Keegan Mitchell from Stratford, PEI have in common? They all stood up for human rights, and took a stand against racism and bullying. (The video for this activity is the 2nd last last one, in the list above; there's a red pointsettia above the fireplace! IMG-2333)

Song: "Down By the Riverside", is a compilation by, "Playing for Change", featuring Grandpa Elliott and musicians from 7 countries around the world!

• What is the song about?

• What countries are represented?

• What is the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document created in 1948 and signed by nearly every country in the world?

• One person can make a tremendous difference in the world. Is there one thing you can do today, to make the world a better place?

For: Tuesday, January 18th, and Wednesday, January 19th, 2022 (The video for this lesson, is above, with me by the piano, looking at the camera. IMG-2403)

Activity 1: Please click on the link below, to listen to the video, "What a Wonderful world", by Playing for Change.

https://video.link/w/q5dVc

1. Why would Martin Luther King, Jr. appreciate this song and how it's presented?

2. What do you find inspiring about it?

3. What is it's message?

Activity 2: Write a musical melody based on a colours you choose, to illustrate a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. !!!

1. Choose one of of the quotes below:

2. Write the quote on a sheet of paper, and decorate the sheet using pencil crayons, or draw a picture in the background, using any combination of no more than 7 colours.

3. Decide which colour will represent each of the following notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G (I chose green for A, turquoise for b, red for C, blue for D, yellow for E, orange for F, and purple for G.)

4. Look for patterns of colours and write the patterns using letter names of notes! (My pattern was: B, F, A, G, D, F)

5. Draw a musical staff: 5 lines, with 4 spaces, and draw your pattern of notes on the staff. Please take a look at the musical staff pics that are just below the video to accompany this lesson!! (Space notes: FACE; line notes: EGBDF)

6. Using a musical instrument you may have at home, like a keyboard, or water glasses tuned to a major scale, play your melody! If you don't have an instrument, no worries! When you return to school, we can play your tune on school instruments, like xylophones! Please bring your poster to music class, where we'll share your melody with the class, and make a bulletin board display in the hallway to share your drawings of Martin Luther King Jr. quotes!!!

Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

2. Life's most urgent question: what are you doing for others?

3. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

4. If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But, whatever you do, you have to keep moving forwards.

5. Out of a mountain of despair, comes a stone of hope.

6. The time is always right to do what's right.

7. Be the best of whoever you are.

8. True peace is the presence of justice.

9. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

10. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.

11. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

12. Whatever your life's work is, do it well.

13. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

14. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

15. At the center of non-violence is the principle of love.

16. LOVE

17. I have a dream...

For Thursday, January 20th, and Friday, January 21st, 2022

(The video for this lesson is above. I'm wearing a pink sweater. IMG-2434)

"Hang On" by the Canadian Indi Pop band, "Walk Off the Earth"!!!

1. Listen to the song here:

https://video.link/w/M23Vc

Lyrics for, "Hang On"

*Verse 1: I never wanted it to break. I thought we'd put it all behind us.

Ever since that day. All I wanna do is find us.

Now I'm falling down. I'm falling down without you

So I'm calling out. I'm calling out to find you

*Chorus: You gotta hold on to what you got, babe. It ain't always greener on the other side, you know.

We ain't rich but we're worth a lot, babe. I wanna see the world with your hand in mine, you know.

Come on I'll love you like that. It ain't always greener on the other side, you know.

Come on I'll love you like that. I wanna see the world with your hand in mine, you know.

*Verse 2: Even when I made mistakes. You would always bring me higher.

We got caught up in our ways. Like the time we had the bonfire.

There was no one else, no one else to run to. So I'm calling out. I'm calling out to find you.

*Chorus: (Above)

*Bridge: Hold on to what ya got, babe. Hold on to what ya got, ya.

I didn't know just how much I loved you girl, until you hurled my heart and destroyed my world.

When we're apart I'm a perm without a curl, 'cause ever since the start you've been an ocean to my pearl.

You and I together 'till dove all protects us; makes as much sense as a left-wing fascist.

But we'll be long time rocking great nine classes. I knew we'd be together till this life passes.

*Chorus: 2X

*Outro: I love you, love you, love you like that. (And I watched you walk away.)

I love you, love you, love you like that. (Never wanted it to break.)

I love you, love you, love you like that. (And I watched you walk away.)

I love you, love you, love you like that. (Never wanted it to break)

2. Questions to think about, that may help you understand what the song can mean to us:

a) What do you want to "hang on" to? (Happy memories? The fun you're having right now? Hope for great times ahead?)

b) Who are you grateful for being able to hang out with today? (Friends, family, pets, etc.?)

c) What are you grateful for? (Food, shelter, clothes, clean water, hobbies, school: online or in-person, etc.)

3. Choose a spot that you can hang onto something, like a tree branch, or a chin -up bar, and see how long you can hold on while listening to the song, "Hold On"! Can you hang on for as long as, "Beard Guy"? Time yourself today, and see if tomorrow you can "hold on" a little longer! If you can't find something to hang on to, you could try doing a tree pose! How long you can you hold the pose? (It's easiest if you stare at an imaginary spot a little ways in front of you, and try to keep very still!)

4. Did you know?

a)The band, "Walk Off the Earth", (WOTE), formed in 2006, is from Burlington, Ontario!

b)The song that put them on the charts, was their cover song, "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye, that received 175,000,000 views within the first four months of being posted to YouTube, in 2012.

c)The band's members are: Gianni Nicassio, Sarah Blackwood, Joel Cassidy, David Speirs, and CJ Hinds. Mike, "Beard Guy" Taylor was a favourite member of the band, until his untimely passing in 2018)

d)Sarah and Gianni have three kids: Giorgio, Luigi, and Romeo.

For Monday, January 24th, and Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 (The video for activity 1 today, is above, where I'm wearing a striped hoodie in front if a colourful picture, IMG-2540. The video for Activity 2, is IMG-2551, wearing the same striped hoodie, but with a black lamp in the background!)

Activity 1: Musical elements: "Melody and Rhythm: Having fun in the kitchen! (For younger kids, or for all!)

What is melody? Melody is a pattern of musical pitches, placed in a meaningful way to create sound and emotion. (do, re, me, fa, so, la ti, do)

What is rhythm? Rhythm is the placement of sounds in time. (ta, ti-ti, sah, tik-a tik-a)

"Welcome Song", and "Little Sir Echo" (sing along with the video above)

Can you make your own rhythm patterns using ta's, ti-ti's, sah's, and tik-a tik-a's, using kitchen items, such as spoons, celery sticks, carrots sticks, tomatoes, tooth-pics, or spaghetti noodles? Just have fun!!!

Activity 2: "Carnival of the Animals", by Camille Saint Saens. (For older kids, or for all!)

Camille Saint Saens(1835-1921) was a musician and composer, born in Paris, France and died in Algiers, Algeria, in northern Africa. He had a sad life as his father died of tuberculosis when Camille was less than a year old; his 2 young sons died when very young, one was only 2 years old when he died in an accident, and the other died 6 weeks later, at the age of 6 months, of pneumonia. At this time, there was not the health care, and medicine as we have today. His marriage dissolved, and soon afterwards he moved to Algeria in northern Africa, traveled to many countries, and wrote music. Perhaps it was music that helped him heal form the great loss of his immediate family.

Camille was an exceptional musician. He had "perfect pitch". He played the piano beautifully, even as a 5 year old! He gave his first, public concert at the age of 10!! At the young age of 13, he began studies in compositions, and piano, and organat the famous Paris conservatory. At 14, he earned a prestigious prize from the Paris Conservatory, and several more over the following years.

He enjoyed gazing at the night sky, which he reflected in another set of pieces he wrote, called, "The Planets", which we'll learn about another time!

"Carnival of the Animals", written by Saint Saëns in 1894, in a small village in Austria, is a collection of pieces that reflect the spirit of many animals, although some reports say they also reflected the personalities of his closest friends! The following instruments are used throughout the 25 minute work: 2 pianos, violins, violas, cellos, string bass, flute, xylophone, and glass harmonica.

Movement 1: "The Introduction and March of the Royal Lions."

A) : https://video.link/w/iGpWc

PLEASE LISTEN to the, "Introduction and March of the Lions". Doesn't it sound like something amazing is about to happen? And sure enough there is! There's a magnificent parade of marching lions about to begin!!! Listen for the piano tremolo!! And next, during the parade you'll hear the lions roar, represented by a chromatic scale going upwards and then downwards, as played on the piano!!! These are important features to enjoy, and remember!!!

B) Draw a picture or write a few sentences about the, "Introduction and March of the Lions"!!! At the end of this study, you'll have 14 drawings/reflections on each of the pieces that Camille wrote within this musical suite! Your responses will be a beautiful treasure!!! Enjoy!!!

For Wednesday, January 26th and Thursday, January 27th, 2022

(The video for Activity 1, is above in the collection of home videos. You'll see the word, "Melody"at the beginning: IMG-2579. The video for Activity 2 is IMG-2584. You'll see the word "melody" at the beginning of the clip.)

Activity 1: Join in to the song, "Try a Little Kindness", with the "Ukulele play along/sing along video by Canadian artist, Jan Arden and the kids from the Doane Uschool, based in Toronto, Ontario. You can see it here: https://video.link/w/wV9Wc

a) You can sing the following solfege syllables to the MELODY of the chorus below:

"so la do/ ti ti ti ti ti so /do do do do la so/

so do do do la so so me do re/ do do do do do do do me do

do do do ti la so fa me/me me fa fa so fa me re

re me fa fa me re do"

The actual lyrics to the chorus, are here:

"You got to try a little kindness; show a little kindness!

Just shine your light for everyone to see!

And if you try a little kindness, then you'll overlook the blindness,

of a broken-hearted people, on their broken-hearted streets."

Activity 2: Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint Saëns: Movement 2: "Hens and Roosters", and Movement 4: Wild Donkeys"

Movement 2: "Hens and Roosters": https://video.link/w/qaHWc

Listen for the hens and roosters pecking for food, and then a little ways in , you'll hear a clarinet play notes that sound like a rooster's, "cock-a-doodle-doo"!

Movement 3: "Wild donkeys": https://video.link/w/rrHWc In Nepal among other countries in Europe and Asia, there is a specific type of donkey called, a Dziggetai! It's known to be very fast, and more like a horse than a donkey! The music for this piece is played by two people, each on their own piano, but in the video above, it's played as a duet, on one piano! The notes are all very fast, and based on upwards and downwards scales!!! Hang on!!

JUST as an EXTRA: Some classes have enjoyed the "read-aloud" story, called, " Trombone Shorty", an autobiography by Troy Andrews. He's a spectacular trombone player from New Orleans, Louisiana, a place where Acadians from the Maritime provinces settled during the Expulsion of the Acadians, 1755-1764. That's a long time ago! If you'd like to see and hear Trombone Shorty, click on this video, https://video.link/w/FeIWc, which is also found by Trombone Shorty's pic in the video section above! Troy started playing the trombone when he was only 4 years old! He found an old instrument in a dump, cleaned it up, practiced every day, and has become a celebrity as a result of his hard work, and talent!! He's an amazing guy, with a truly amazing life story. He just wouldn't give up, no matter what!!!