Maywood Music

Ms. Berar's Kindergarten, Grade 1 & Grade 1/2 Classes

Ta Ta For Now……………………….. Music Explorations June 22-24

Ms. Berar:  “Knock Knock…”

Student:  “Who’s there?”

Ms. Berar:  “A little, old lady…”

Student:  “A LITTLE, OLD LADY WHO??”

Ms. Berar:  “Oh WOW!!!  I didn’t know that you knew how to Yodel !?!?”

That’s AWESOME!!!

When saying this line, try singing it and it will sound like you are yodeling:                      “A little, old lady who?” 

Here is one of my favourite scenes from my favourite movie of all time,                       “The Sound of Music,” filmed in 1965.  Based on the real-life story of the vonTrapp family who fled their homeland in Austria from the Nazis during World War II.

The film is based on the Broadway Play written and composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.  In this video, the VonTrapp children, along with their governess (nanny), are performing “The Lonely Goatherd” using marionette puppets and singing.

Yodeling is a form of singing which involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the low-pitch (chest register or “chest voice”) and the high-pitch (head register or “head voice” aka “falsetto”).  This vocal technique originates from the Austro-Bavarian word “jodeln,” meaning “to utter the syllable jo” (pronounced “yo” in English).  This vocal technique is used when singing in many cultures worldwide.

In this video, the von Trapp children perform a goodnight song to the guests at their father’s party.  It is titled, “So Long Farewell…”

My friends, it has been a wild and yet a wonderful school year, hasn’t it?  I want to wish all of my students and families the very best for the summer break!!!  Enjoy this time as best as you can!  Hopefully, we will meet before too long and we will make music again.  Keep a song in your heart my lovely friends and until then…  TTFN!  (Ta Ta For Now…)

OxoxO

Ms. Ravena Berar

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……. Each of us is a Flower ……. Music Explorations June 15-19

Hello My Lovely Friends!

Can you believe that this is the last full week of our school year?  I hardly can.        Our school year has been a different one too, hasn’t it?  Well, I believe that as information changes, our decisions change.  I take comfort in knowing that this is all part of our learning and growing process.

Have a listen to Bill Richardson read his story, “The Bunny Band.”  He is the same authour of the story/song that we learned earlier this year called, “The Aunts Come Marching.”  Bill is also a poet and former CBC radio host.  Along with Bill, you will hear Rosanne play her flute.  She is one of many talented musicians who perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO).

As this story is about growing vegetables in a garden, I thought what a PERFECT time this would be to listen and learn a song by Charlotte Diamond called,       “Each of Us is a Flower.”  Listed below are the lyrics.  Have a listen to the song.  Can you hear the parts that repeat?  After you listen to the song, play it again and see if you can sing along with Charlotte.

Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.
Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.
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Sun, shine your warmth on me / Moon, cool me with your night
Wind, bring the gentle rain / Earth, take my roots down deep
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Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.
Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.
 ………………………………………………………………………………………
Sun, shine your warmth on me / Moon, cool me with your night
Wind, bring the gentle rain / Earth, take my roots down deep
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.
Each of us is a flower / Growing in life’s garden
Each of us is a flower / We need the sun and rain.  (Cha Cha Cha!)
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Playful Possibilities…
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Would you like to make your own instrument at home?  Click on the                      MAKE YOUR OWN SHAKER INSTRUMENT to watch a step-by-step, how-to video.  Once you have made your shaker, you can play it while you are singing to “Each of us is a Flower” or to any song.  Have FUN!
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As always friends, please take a photo of you holding your shaker or take a short video of you playing your shaker.  See if you are able to sing and play at the same time!  Emails can be sent to me at:  Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca  and I will post it to the “Student Work” password-protected page on this blog.  OxoxO
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*****Peter and the Wolf***** Music Explorations June 8-12

Happy Monday to you ALL!  I hope this post finds you well!

In addition to working remotely from home on Mondays and Tuesdays, I am back teaching, in-person at Maywood on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for the month of June.  I teach a cohort of students whose parents are Essential Service Workers on Wednesdays and I am teaching a cohort of Grade 2/3 students on Thursdays and Fridays until the end of the school year.

Although I am not teaching my regularly scheduled music classes, I look forward to the day when I can do that again this Autumn when we will all, hopefully, be back at school on a more regular basis.

Take a look at the website of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to explore what the instruments look like and sound like.  Choose 1 instrument (or more) from each family (group) to look at and listen to their sounds.  Click the link here to access the website:    https://www.mydso.com/dso-kids/learn-and-listen/instruments

After reviewing different instruments from each family, watch and listen to the video below from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of their former conductor, Maestro Bramwell Tovey.  In the video, he not only conducts the musicians but he is also the narrator of the story.

In 1936, Sergei Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf, a story and musical composition. It was written in two weeks for a children’s theatre in Moscow. He wrote the music as a child’s introduction to the orchestra with each character being represented by an instrument or group of instruments. 

The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev was one of the giants of 20th-century music. His works ranged from ballets – including Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet – to film music, such as Lieutenant Kije and Alexander Nevsky.  Prokofiev lived from 1891 until 1953. 

In “Peter and the Wolf,” Prokofiev uses instruments to represent animals:

The bird = flute

The duck = oboe

The cat = clarinet

The wolf = French horn

The grandfather = bassoon

The hunters = timpani

Peter = stringed instruments (e.g. violin, violas, cello, bass)

Playful Possibilities…

As always, please feel free to email me your response in writing, by drawing or painting a picture or by making a short video of you responding to the information that you explored in this post.

Choose a way that you would like to respond to these explorations and I will share it on our password-protected Student Gallery page on this blog.  My email is:

Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca

  • Draw, colour, and label a picture of an instrument that you enjoyed hearing the most.
  • Draw, colour, and label a picture of a few of your favourite instruments.
  • If you could play any of these instruments right now, choose your top three.  Which ones would they be?  Tell me why?
  • Tell me about what you observed when you watched the Peter And The Wolf video?  What did you notice about the musicians?  How many were there on stage?  How were they arranged?
  • Could you actually imagine the animals in your mind when listening to the story?  Did the music help you to visualize them?  Yes or No?  Please explain why or why not.
Take great care and have a wonderful week ahead!
Musically Yours,
Ms. Berar

Music Explorations June 1st-5th

Hello My Friends, Hello!

For your music explorations this week, I am sharing a story with you that is very meaningful to me on a deep level.  It is written by Dr. Wayne Dyer and is titled, “Unstoppable Me!  10 Ways to Soar Through Life.”

I wish to express how extremely proud of you I am, as we have been discovering new ways of being and doing while we have been learning from home!  Good for you!!  Remember to dream big, shine bright and sparkle more!!!

Do you know this FUN song by Charlotte Diamond?  It is called, “I Am A Pizza.”  She is the composer of the song,  “May There Always Be Sunshine.” Do you remember listening to that song in my post from a few weeks ago?   Hopefully, you do.

After listening to this song this week, see if you can memorize the words.  You may wish to change the words or add verses with pizza toppings that you like.  Maybe you like to eat anchovies on your pizza?  Or perhaps artichokes?  Or maybe pineapple?  Have fun with this one!

Enjoy listening to “Ketzel the Cat” being read aloud by Cassie, a violinist with the VSO (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra).

 

NEW on the right-hand side of my blog, near the top of each post, you will now find a section titled, “Bookmarks.”  Here you will find the links to the websites that I have directed you to in previous posts.  I have indicated the websites that are musically interactive for students to explore with the designation “(Students)” beside it.  Plus, there are a few other websites for your parents to explore.

Friends, I would LOVE to receive a picture of your response to either one of the stories shared in this post or to “I Am A Pizza.”  Draw me a picture or create something with other objects that you have at home (e.g. like we do with the Loose Parts Cart at school), take a photo of it, and email it to me.  Or if you would like to record a short video of yourself singing any of the songs that we have learned this year, please send it to me and I will post it to the Student Gallery page.  Have a wonderful week!

Click here to email me:   Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca

 

Music Explorations May 26-29

Hello My Friends!

I hope this post finds you well!  It is hard to believe that it is nearing the end of May.  Wow!  For our music explorations this week, I wanted to share this video of a great story written by Mo Willems.  He is the author of many children’s books including the “Elephant and Piggie” series.   The story is narrated by Michelle who plays the clarinet (a wind instrument) with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO).  The VSO performs at the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in downtown Vancouver.  I hope you enjoy the story!

My grade two students in divisions 14 through 17 participated in Primary Days of Music in March just before Spring Break.  We walked to Nelson Elementary and sang a repertoire of songs together with four other schools.  One of the songs is called, “Why We Sing” by Greg Gilpin.  Listen to this adult choir, ‘The Northern Lights Chorale’  perform it.

 

In this second video of the same song, you can sing along with this children’s choir.

After listening to the story, “Because” and the song, “This Is Why We Sing.” record your response(s) to either one or both of them by drawing or painting a picture.  Your picture can be abstract (lines, shapes, colour & design) or it can be concrete (pictures of people, places, things, symbols).  Use your imagination to create your unique response.  Remember, there is no right or wrong response.  How you feel, is how you feel.  If you are able to have an adult take a digital photo of your work, that would be wonderful.  Please email it to me at:  ravena.berar@burnabyschools.ca

I have now created a page on my blog, titled, “Student Gallery.”  You will find it in the top horizontal menu.  This page is password protected for security reasons so that only the families of the divisions that I teach, will be able to see it.  I have just emailed all of my Maywood families in divisions 14 through 21 with the password for you to be able to access this page.  A number of emails, “bounced back” to me as undeliverable.  If you did not receive a separate email from me but you would like to receive the password, please let me know one of two ways.  Either you can leave me a comment here on my blog or you can email me directly at my email address above (highlighted in blue).  Thank you so much to all of you for the AMAZING work that you are doing for our school and for your families too!  Remember, together… we can!  Take great care of yourselves!!  Sending you much love. OxoxoxO

 

Music Explorations May 19-22

Greetings My Lovely Friends!  I hope you enjoyed the Victoria Day weekend with your families!  In this week’s videos, you will have opportunities to explore being active.  In the first video, you will play rhythms using body percussion.  That means using your body to make rhythmic sounds such as:  clapping your hands, snapping your fingers, patting your legs, stepping in place (or while traveling), clicking your tongue and so much more.  Of course, if you have an instrument at home, feel free to use that, or play a household or “found” object!  Remember to use a feather touch when tapping.  Being gentle is the key to creating beautiful sounds.

I invite you to use your IMAGINATION in the second video as I will be leading you through a guided meditation while listening to some classical music by French composer, Claude Debussy.  You’ll get to watch a series of animal poses on the picture cards as I describe how to move your body into these poses.  As with any yoga practice, it is very important to note that you should only hold a pose and feel a stretch that is COMFORTABLE for your body.  Do not push yourself to stretch too far.  If you feel pain or discomfort…then that’s definitely too far!  The beauty of yoga is not to compete with anyone else or to notice how far someone else is able to stretch, but to work with your own body’s ability and to do what is comfortable for you.  Remember to BREATHE calmly and steadily throughout each of the poses to gain the maximum amount of benefit to your muscles and to your mind.  Enjoy and Namaste!

As always, please feel free to leave me a comment in the box below or email me at:  Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca with a picture of you doing a pose or playing body percussion and I will try to share those photos here.  Take great care of yourselves and I look forward to seeing you before too long!  Missing you all!!!

With love and light,

Ms. Berar

“May There Always Be Sunshine”

Hello My Friends,

May There Always BeSunshine” is a song written and composed by BC’s own, Charlotte Diamond.  Watch & listen to this composer performing it.  See if you can sing-along as a way to honour your Mom or Mother-Figure in your life.   I have had the pleasure of meeting Charlotte Diamond twice and my family and I have seen her perform live at the Vancouver Children’s Festival and at other concert venues in Vancouver, over the years.  I have a really special connection to her because of one of my most special Aunt’s,  who was an AMAZING  Grade 3 Teacher in Vancouver, and who passed away in August 2018.

When I sing this song I always think of my wonderful Mom (who is also a retired Elementary School Teacher) and I also think of my Aunt because she was like a mother to me too.  She always treated me more like a daughter, than a niece.              My Aunt Susie  (who I called “Pooha”  [often spelled Bhua]) was approached by Charlotte Diamond to translate this song into Punjabi, sometime in the 1990’s.      In this version, recorded in 1987, you don’t hear the Punjabi verse.  However, Charlotte does sing her song in many other languages in this video.   After listening to the song, see if you can sing along to one or more of the verses.  If you speak a language other than English, see if you can sing the song in the language that you speak!      

I met Charlotte Diamond for the second time in October 2019 at the BC Music Educators’ Association Annual Conference in October 2019, where Charlotte was the Key Note Speaker.  She made such an INSPIRING speech and she performed for us, in her signature style!  Her words, from one music educator to another, resonated very deeply with me and I felt so completely heartened and affirmed about the power of music and about the power of music education.  I will always admire the beautiful soul that she is!!!

                   

Hopefully, you have been able to watch the videos that I shared in the two posts that I published last week.  One of the songs was of a video from The Muppets Show called, “Sing.”  Here is a video that I made of me singing that song, written and composed by Joe Raposo.  I invite you to sing along with me!

PBS Kids logo.

Click HERE to access another great website to explore music-making games at PBS Kids.

I would LOVE to hear from you!  Please leave me a comment about this or any previous blog post.  Of course, if you have any questions, you may also email me at:  Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca  If you feel like responding to any of the songs that I have shared, please feel free to do so in the following ways:

1.   After listening to or singing a song, make a picture of how the music makes you feel.  Take a photo and send it to me.

2.  Create a 3-dimensional sculpture with items from your home, such as lego bricks, blocks or small toys.  Be as creative as you like, but be sure that you have permission to do so by asking your adults first!

In the coming weeks, my plan is to create a password protected page to display digital pictures of student artwork or photos that families can send to me by email.  Once I create this page within my blog, I will email families individually to give you the password to access this page.  All parents in divisions 14 through 21 will be able to login to see the art or student photos.  However, no one will be able to access this page unless they have the password.  I will only share the password with families in divisions 14 through 21, for security reasons.

Stay well everyone and remember to… BREATHE…

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Music Monday 2020

To My Dear Students and Families,

Wishing you ALL a very Happy Music Monday 2020!!!  Together with the Coalition For Music Education in Canada, all of the Music Teachers in the Burnaby School District (…even those not pictured here…) send you very warm wishes while we continue to learn and make music from home.  Stay safe everyone and remember to keep shining your light by keeping a song in your heart!

#TogetherInHarmony

MAYWOOD STARS… … … …keep shining BRIGHT, for all to see!  I miss you!!!

Music Explorations May 4th – 8th

Welcome students and families in Divisions 14 through 21 and a big welcome to students in Divisions 10 and 11 this week as well!  To those students who are visiting my blog for the first time, please feel free to look at previous posts for more song and music learning ideas.

I have been thinking about what lessons to teach and what songs  (new and already known) that I would like to share with my students and this song is one that came to my mind right away, as we began our new learning journey from home.  In the videos below you can sing along with me to “This Little Light of Mine.”   I sing and play it in the first video.  In the second video, I teach the actions.  Remember that each one of you has your own light that shines within you.  So, be true to yourself.  Honour how you are feeling and know that you will ALWAYS be the one and only, UNIQUE and SPECIAL, YOU!!!!

“This Little Light of Mine,” is an African-American Spiritual or Gospel song, composed in the 1920’s.      Here are the lyrics:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Everywhere I go… (follows the same pattern as in the verse above…)

Always in my heart… (as above)

All around the world… (as above)

This little light of mine… (as above)

 

Another song you might enjoy learning this week is one of my favourites too!               I remember learning it from a show that  I used to watch when I was your age, called: “The Muppet Show.”  Do you know Kermit The Frog?  Do you know how much Ralph likes to play the piano?  Do you know that Animal has superstar drum playing abilities?  Some of you might also recognize the lovely lady who introduces the song.  Her name is Julie Andrews and she is a singer and actor from many films that you may have seen including: The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and many more!  She is also one of my favourites!  Enjoy…

The Muppets Sing

Just in case you needed this today… ❤️🎶

Posted by Muppet Wiki on Tuesday, March 24, 2020

I am reposting the following links for these music websites that you may choose to explore.  There are so many music-making opportunities for you to have fun with!  Have a wonderful week everyone and feel free to comment in the box below or if you have any questions or concerns you can send me an email at:

Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/

https://musicplayonline.com/

Grade 1 & 2 Music Explorations Week of April 28th – May 1st

Hello My Friends!

How are you?  Hopefully, this note finds you well and feeling rested.  I am thankful to my classroom teachers for sharing the link to my music blog with you last week.  I know how accessing educational plans on-line has its limitations, as you (parents) are likely sharing your device with your child while working from home.  Additionally, your child may not feel like participating in learning on any given day.  This is completely okay.  Hopefully, you and your child are finding ways to engage in learning from home that work for your family.  Remember that the following ideas and links shared here are always optional, depending on the needs of you and your child.

Parents and students, please feel free to make a comment or ask a question, about any of my posts, in the Leave a Reply, “Comment” box at the bottom of this post.

You may also get in touch by sending me an email:  Ravena.Berar@burnabyschools.ca

 

Last week on April 22nd, we celebrated Earth Day.  Have a listen to the song,      “This Pretty Planet.”

  1.  While listening to the song, can you hear the steady beat?  If yes, can you pat your hands in your lap to show where the steady beat is?  Remember, the steady beat doesn’t change in a song; it stays the same all the way through.  It’s like the heartbeat of the song.  It can speed up or slow down, but once the speed has been adjusted, it stays the same.  Can you show where the steady beat is by tapping gently on your shoulders, or on your head?  Listen to the song again and see if you can keep the steady beat in your feet this time and walk around your home or in a circle.
  2. What instruments do you hear in the recording?  Tell someone who is listening with you.
  3. Can you hear how the song is being sung in parts?  Different groups of singers are singing the song from the beginning but they are not all starting at the same time.  This is known as singing in a “Round.”
  4. If you feel like learning the words to this song, try singing along with the recording, choosing when to start your “part.” When you get to the end, go back to the beginning and sing it again.
  5. Draw a picture of something that you find beautiful on our planet Earth.  Feel free to take a photo of it and email it to me.  My hope is to be able to post student work here.
This Pretty Planet by Tom Chapin
This pretty planet spinning in space,
You’re a garden, you’re a harbor, you’re a holy place.
Golden sun going down,
Gentle blue giant spin us around.
All through the night,
Safe ‘til the morning light.

 

I thought you may like to hear a familiar song that you already know so I made a video of me singing, “The Aunts Come Marching” (this version…) by Bill Richardson.  To listen to it, click on the arrow below:

Here is the original version of “The Ants Go Marching.”  Click on the arrow below to listen to it.

For some fun, interactive, musical activities, click on the link for the                                  Chrome Music Lab website:

http://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com

Have FUN everyone!

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