Month: April 2020

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!

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, “Baby Beluga” by Raffi.  To listen to it, click on the arrow below:

To listen to Raffi, the original composer, singing his song, click on the arrow below:

Baby Beluga, by Raffi

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

http://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com

Have FUN everyone!