This past week I had fun joining a socially distant project with Phoenix Chamber Choir in singing a parody on Billy Joel’s song from 1983 “The Longest Time”. I miss singing together but this was the next best thing! Have a listen…
Now let’s get started writing our own parody together! Watch this first…
I hope you are all staying safe and getting into the rhythm of school at home. I have been learning so many new tech skills and have had fun exploring different websites that connect us to some fun and interesting musical activities. I have created a new tab at the top of the Home Page called Music Links and Games which you can refer to any time for a quick link to the sites we will be exploring. This week we will be starting to explore a fantastic music composition site called Chrome Music Lab. Under each grade tab I have given some project ideas and further details.
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and were able to get outside in this beautiful sunshine with your loved ones. Our continued goal is to ensure that all of our families are healthy, safe and happy. To that end, I will continue to provide activities for our students, but please only do what you can. I know these are difficult times, so please see these activities as suggestions, not assignments!
Just click on your grade tab and give any of the activities a try at any time. And… I just couldn’t resist adding this fun medley – give it a listen, wash your hands constantly, and have fun dancing!
I hope each of you are doing well, despite the circumstances, and are able to find some sense of balance and normalcy as you establish new routines. As I am used to seeing every one of your children at least twice a week, I am missing them and their creative energy very much! There is absolutely no doubt that nothing can beat making music together. However, it is at times like this that we need music in our lives, connection with others, and a way to express ourselves artistically more than ever. I will continue to post lessons at the beginning of every week for you to explore. These will entail a mix of listening, responding, singing, dancing, creating, writing, and sharing music.
On one of my walks this past week I stopped to enjoy the Japanese cherry blossoms which are such an icon of Spring in Burnaby!
These blossoms also remind me of a song called “Ordinary Miracle” sung by Sarah McLachlan from the movie (and also one of my favourite books ever!) Charlotte’s Web. I was hoping for our choirs to learn this beautiful song to celebrate Spring, but for now, give this a listen…
Pay close attention to the words as the song talks about being grateful for ordinary little things in our lives and in the world around us. I think about this a lot these days as our lives have changed so much – just being grateful for the little things. ♥
I would love it if you reached out to me either through this blog or by email at elise.heard@burnabyschools.ca and tell me how you’re doing! In the meantime, stay safe everyone.
Hopefully your classroom teachers have had a chance to connect with you last week as we figure out how to move forward in this unprecedented time. Let me assure you that I am thinking of your little ones (and big ones!) and the kinds of activities you can do at home as a family, to de-stress, and to have fun in the performing arts world. I also want to provide activities that do not create a lot of work for parents as you have enough to think about at this time.
No doubt some of you have already been participating in the performing arts to while away the time – singing, dancing, playing games, playing instruments, creating visual art. These types of activities are what we need to keep us laughing, moving, creating, and relieving stress and boredom, so carry on!
I will be posting some activities that you can do for each grade level under the new tabs at the top of this homepage. Just click on your grade level and try the activities at some point during the week. Have fun with it!
Feel free to send me your “homework” via email at elise.heard@burnabyschools.ca or a video to share with me. It will be wonderful to see what you are doing in your homes.
You can also send me comments through this blog and just let me know what you have been up to. Stay safe, and have fun while you continue your school work at home!
I hope you had a chance to check out some of the activities from MusicPlay. If not, no worries – next week I will post more activities for you to try if you are up to it.
Tika says hello!
In the meantime, here is a song for you to sing along with as a reminder that there are so many people who love you and who you can count on, including me 🙂 https://youtu.be/h9O5_Q-oLrs
My homemade bread !!!
