Workshops - Fall 2012
Workshops - ECMMA Workshop in Toronto, Sept. 30th Sing! Move! Play with PreK - Grade 2 Students http://www.ecmaontario.ca/ for info and registration form
October 19th - Langley Fundamental School Musicplay and New BC Curriculum Workshop $75 workshop (pizza lunch) or $175 for workshop + materials register online at www.musicplay.ca (available Monday PM) or phone 1-888-562-4647
October 1-2 Toronto or Hamilton: If you’d like a workshop in Toronto or Hamilton, October 1-2 please email Denise. (denisegagne1@gmail.com) With only 3 weeks until Oct. 1, I’ll organize a workshop only if teachers would like one! Possible topics would include Games to teach Reading Music, Listening Fun and Critical Analysis, Let's Create ostinato, sound effects, soundscapes using creative process, Jazz and Blues for Kids, Holiday and Assembly ideas.
Classroom Rules
What are your expectations for the students coming into your music class? In this newsletter, I’ll share some different sets of classroom rules, and some of the ways that I’ve used to reinforce positive behavior. PDF files of the Music room rules can be found at www.musicplay.ca (If one is missing, just email and I’ll send it to you)
This set of expectations says it all!
Here is another way of saying it.
After some discussion the Musicplay Facebook Page, (www.facebook.com/musicplaycurriculum) we made a second MUSIC poster, with Sing as beautifully as you can instead of Speak when it is your turn.
Cara Coffey has these rules in her classroom (shared with her permission):
You may want to involve the students in creating a list of music room rules. What do the students think is important to remember when in music? Read the RESPECT chant with the students, and have them create verses with the rules they think are important.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T Chorus R-E-S-P-E-C-T Respect yourself and respect me! Just one rule is all you’ll need, With R-E-S-P-E-C-T Verses: Play instruments appropriately, R-E-S-P-E-C-T Participate responsibly, R-E-S-P-E-C-T Once the rules are in place, you need to reinforce them. If students aren’t quiet when they come into class, you need to take them out to the hallway and practice entering quietly. I would rather be teaching music than reinforcing rules, but it is so important to set your expectations and then maintain them!
PLUS POINTS is a way to reinforce good behavior. In PLUS POINTS, you keep a score of when the students do something well. If students do something poorly, erase a point. For example: Students enter the room quietly and go to assigned seats. I’d say, “Well done 4B - you came in quietly and found your seats. Point for you.” As the class continued, each time I’d observe them doing something well, they’d earn a point. However, if a child was talking when I was talking, erase a point.
You have to decide what the magic number is before they get a class PLUS POINT. If you decide on 5 points, if a class gets to 5 points in one period, they get a PLUS point (+). On my chart with all the classes listed, I’d mark a +.
When my classes reached 10 PLUS POINT days, they’d earn a game day. On the game day, (or at the end of the period in which the game day was earned), we’d brainstorm the list of games or activities that they’d like to play: singing games they really liked, Beat Boards, Orchestra Bingo, Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes (In the Hall of the Mountain King), Rhythm Dice, or Music Centers. The Game Day is a reward, but there is still great learning going on. Share your classroom management tips with us at www.facebook.com/musicplaycurriculum. If you’re not a facebook user, email, and I’ll post them and share in the next newsletter. (If you’ve avoided facebook for privacy reasons, consider signing up with your first and middle name - your students will never find you!)
Musicplay K-6 Curriculum Grant
Apply now to receive funding to assist with the purchase of K-6 music curriculum!
Overview
At Themes & Variations we are committed to providing quality affordable materials for teaching K-6 music classes. Our Musicplay K-5 curriculum with digital resources is just $1625, however we realize that funds may not be available for it in high needs schools. We believe that all children have the right to a musical education, and Themes & Variations is providing funding to assist schools in acquiring the Musicplay K-6 curriculum for their students. Funding to provide 25-100% of the cost of the Musicplay curriculum will be awarded to successful applicants.
Guidelines
Schools may apply at any time for funding. The application may be completed by a principal, music teacher or classroom teacher who teaches his/her own music classes.
Schools will be notified within 30 days of applying. Fill in the application.
E-mail to tvmusic@telusplanet.net or fax the application to 1-888-562-4647.
Reporting Requirements: Schools receiving grants must complete a brief questionnaire 6 months after receiving their curriculum.
Grants have been awarded to more than 30 schools! (We will post a list online!)
Applications are available at www.musicplay.ca
Are you using any of our materials (Themes & Variations publications) in your Holiday Concert? If you are performing any of Themes & Variations songs, send us a video of your concert, and we'll give you a $25 credit for materials! We LOVE to see your performances of our songs.
New for 2012!
 We Remember - A beautiful collection of songs, poems, and quotes for Remembrance Day, Veterans Day or Memorial Day. The vocals and the orchestrations are really beautiful! Songs by Craig Cassils, Beth Jay and Annette Kazmierczak include
- In Flanders Field
- Take One Minute to Stand
- Standing Silently
- Why do we Have Remembrance Day / Veterans Day (two versions)
- May You Dwell in Peace * Dona Nobis Pacem
- Be a Peacemaker * Unity
http://shop.musicplaytext.ihoststores.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=C53
 This is the most complete collection of rhythm activities ever written for Smartboard! Linda Miller has created 20 Notebook files with 80+ activities at four levels of difficulty for teaching, practicing, and assessing rhythm reading, writing, and composing.
http://www.musicplay.ca/
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