Welcome to a new school year and a new blog about teaching music in a Catholic School.  You can learn more about me and my previous experiences here.

My primary blogging goal is to record, reflect, and eventually receive input and thoughts from other Catholic music teachers.

I am new to my position, which began with in-service last week and students this past Tuesday.

So far this week:

6th, 7th, & 8th grade students, who are not in Band, come to a class with me called “Music” for about 40 minutes.

I see the K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th for 30 minutes twice a week. (This first week I only saw them once)

I see ALL the 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students (one period per grade) once a week for a semester class we are calling Liturgical Music Ensemble.  This class is a fix to a scheduling issue with the new band director.  I will blog about this class and the weekly school masses that I help organize in the Liturgy section.

I planned activities that required little to no prep and that would give me a chance to get familiar with the students and their basic skills.

HERE’S WHAT WE DID:

Music Prayer

While I sing the music prayer, decide why some of the words are underlined. If you know, don’t say out loud so others can continue to figure it out.  Using your finger tips, silently tap the rhythm of the words on the heel of your palm, making bigger circles for long sounds and baby circles for the faster parts.

While you tap, “mouth” the words as I sing the prayer.  Now sing it with me, making the sign of the cross as we sing that part.

Sammy Sacket (K, 1st, & 2nd)

As I walk around the room singing the song, I tap individual students on the shoulder to join my line.  I do various beat motions with my hands and arms that the students copy.  If the students are reluctant singers, I remind them that this boat is powered by song, so when’s there’s not enough singing, the boat (or whatever) can’t continue.  When a singing game is over, I almost always sing the transition directions (when I tell you, go back to your first seat, etc.) to the melody of the game song.

Airplane Ride (K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

Airplane Ride is a pitch exploration story adapted by John Feierabend in his book, First Steps in Music (pictured).  I pretty much live out of this book for most of the year, mainly with lower elementary, but often with older students.

No More Pie (K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

From First Steps in Music.  We sang this echo song, followed by “Airplane Ride,” then came back to “No More Pie” while I played alternating D and A on the soprano metallophone.  I end “No More Pie” with an extra oh, my/no more pie sung pianissimo, and accompanied by descending minor triad, to give a sense of a special ritardando ending.

Circle Round the Zero (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th)

From First Steps in Music.  This is a fun “choosing” game/practice walking in a circle game.  I’ve played it with all ages.  Some students get a little weirded out by the the word, “lovin’,” but they usually get over it pretty quickly.

Epo I Tai Tai E (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th)

I revisited this song found in FSM, after discovering it on a great Kodaly blog: Music a la Abbott.  I started by teaching only the patschen with the words, “tuki tuki” thrown in, echo singing with patschen, then replacing the four shoulder taps with tapping the index finger of the person on the right.  My 6th grade class (6 sweet girls) added the sticks, with just one handed tosses on Tuki Tuki.

Les Saluts

After a life altering week-long Dalcroze workshop at UT San Antonio, I am a passionate folk dancing advocate.  Folk dancing is relaxing, most kids enjoy it, and an easy one like Les Saluts gives you time to observe your students while they observe you enjoying the dance.