Week 10

I am so glad another week of school is over and we are another week closer to summer. This week we learned binary form. Binary form is when there are two distinct sections. Since binary means 2 this usually implies that there is a chorus and a verse. An example of this type of form would be This Old Man. The song always revists the chorus of "with a knick knack patty wack give a dog a bone this old man came rolling home." In the mean time it also has the verse "This old man he played 1 he played knick knack on my thumb." This songs verses all deal with counting so by doing this song students can learn binary form but counting as well.
The rest of the week we read different books and added music to each book. We did the book thundercake where we incorporated garbage into musical instruments. As a class we made a minture band to go with Chicken Little. The band played backround music to go along with a song. This activity was a lot of fun. On Friday we played recorder for a little bit and got to learn a few more notes. Mostly though we focused on how to intergrate music into stories that teach something. Through stories we can teach and get students involved in the process.
Some other things students can learn through story interaction is confidence. If the student has to be infront of the class or in the class upholding a certain task it could help boost their self confidence. It could teach them to be comfortable infront of other people doing an action. Allowing students to be creative makes them express themselves and comfortable doing things infront of a group. Getting them into story telling also allows them to express themselves. Overall working with students in the classroom and getting them involved is a postive way to get them doing things they don't normally get the option of doing. This week we learned many new methods on how to get students engaged!!

WEEK 9

Were finally getting close to the end! Spring break is over as well as our first week back. This week we focused on telling stories and incorporating sound into the stories. The first song we did this week was the listening walk. On the board was a list of 19 different things that we were suppose to think of the associated sounds that went with the word. Then we were each assigned a word to make up a sound for. While a student read the story out loud, each of our words came up and when they did we had to say our sounds out loud. By doing this we got to be creative by making up our own interpretation of how words sound. On Wed. we did another story, What shall we do with the boo-hoo baby. In this story we learned a song to go with the words what shall we do with the boo-hoo baby and then whenever it came up in the story we sang the song. In doing a song we incorporate music while reading. On Friday we did the hand jive, which was fun. We also learned and practiced more recorder.
All the information we learned about this week was taught to us through example. We learned about sounds, song, and reading through different story examples. We practice each thing we learned while we were learning it.
It is important to learn about stories and music because it is a fun way to get students interacting. By giving them words to make sounds up to we are allowing them to be creative. We are giving them the opportunity to experiment with their own vocals trying to make differnent sounds to explain different words. Instead of just reading to students we are letting them get involved in the story. This type of method is extremely student centered because its getting the students involved. Teaching them new sounds and ways things can be heard. Student centered learning is all about teaching for the students instead of at them. By reading to them your not getting them involved. Letting them be a part of the story is having their voices be heard.

Journal 8

This week we talked about letting children use there vocals and knowleadge of sounds to explain parts of a story. We used the example, Piglets to explain creativity. The purpose of this week was to show us how we can let are students be creative through music. It is important to let students be creative because it allows them to express themselves. Children have very vivid minds and have a lot to say. By allowing them to work with their vocies and music we are letting them express their unquiness. It is also important to let children learn about other cultures so they are well diversed. If we keep children from learning about other people then we are keeping them from knowing. It its ikmportant to learn about the world and how other people live. Learning about different cultures gives children a variety and shows them not everyone lives the same way, everyone is different. For my project I am going to do the Irish culture. I have no Irish in me but I think there culture would be fun to do. I am aiming towards third and fourth grade to do my lesson plan on.

Week 7

This week we took a midterm test over all the material we learned this semster. To prepare for the test I went to class Wednesday, where we reviewed the material that would appear on the test. During the review session, I tried to take notes on the different topics. After class Wednesday I waited til Thursday night to study more. While in the zone Thursday night, I wrote down answers to all the questions on the review sheet. I also read the article and Kodaly selection. Last thing I did to prepare was, on Friday morning, review all the material I had wrote down, this way I was refreshed and ready to go.
The only thing that was difficult about studying for the test was the added article and some of the material about teaching that I felt we didn't really learn in class. The whole music aspect was easy for me since I already knew it. Overall my stragety to get ready for the test was to prepare the material on the sheet and take the test.
So far this semster, the main thing I have learned was how to create and teach a lesson plan. I didn't know how to form a lesson plan or the sequence you need to fill out. Adding to the lesson plan I also learned how to teach something through music. We learned how to incorporate music into teaching. Another thing I learned this semster was various songs to teach to students, like Tideo. For all the musical concepts I already knew them, it was a refresher. The semster so far has had its ups and downs at first I thought I would learn nothing since I knew music and recorder, but to my suprise I have learned some very valuable lessons about teaching.

Self Evaluation Assignment 6

Were done giving our first presentations and I couldn't be more excited. I really thought this was a good way to get us up infront of the class and comfortable teaching a lesson; I'm just glad it's over.
For an evaluation of myself, in the area of music I would probably give myself a 4 (1/2). I have musical backround so I knew what the notes were, how to play them on the piano, and how to do the rhythms. When watching myself preform though I wasn't very in tune, I stuttered on some of the piano playing, and I could have used more dynamics. I think since I was nervous I lost my confidence and let my nerves take over in doing what I know how to do.
For the area of leadership I would rate myself as a 8. My body language seemed like I was nervous to be infront of the class. I was figiting a lot with my hands. When I'm nervous I just wave my hands all around. The other thing I noticed was I didn't make big gestures. From now on if I'm going to make a body movement I need to fully make the movement. I thought my voice tone, volume, eye contact, and facial expressions where good. It seemed like I kept looking around the room and trying to ingage with everyone. I could have used more energy, I tried keeping it low key so I didn't embarassed.
In the area of preparation I would give myself a 15. I spent a lot of time practicing making sure I knew what I was doing. The music was easy for me but I spent a good portion of time working on it to make sure I had it. Even thogh I kept my paper in my hand I never really used it. I think I held onto it for comfort in case I freaked out. Overall in this area I spent a lot of time getting ready so that I could do a good job.
Lastly was delivery of instruction where I would rate myself at an 18. I thought I did a really good job at going in a sequential format so that my topics would be understood. For the motivation, capturing attention, and flow I think I could have done better. I felt like I was too serious up there and I could have loosened up and had more fun. Otherwise I think I did a good job explaining and making sure that they understood what was going on. Having a closure with not yes or no questions I think really emphasized the point I was trying to make.

So my overall score would be a 45(1/2).

Most diffucult thing about the presentation was the actually presenting part. I really felt prepared, like I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but when you get up there that feeling of "you got it" goes away. It's so different to present to nobody in your room and then infront of your peers. Even though I was prepared nothing could prepare me for peer presenting.
One thing I felt I really didn't do well was have energy. I could have been way more loose and had fun with the activity. Instead of letting my nerves take the best of me I should have just gone up there to have fun and teach. When presenting I used a lot of akward hand motions, I feel next time I need to eliminated the nerves habits.
Something I thought that went well were the points I was trying to teach musically went very good. I think I did a good job of explaing the rhythm and the long/short vowels. Having a good grasp on music makes this easier but I really think I did well explaining what I wanted them to learn. Another thing would be the order of how I did things. My order of operation seemed to flow well.
If I were given a second chance to do it again I would try to calm down before I started presenting so I could be more confident. I get extremely scared to do things infront of my peers. If I could just calm down and loosen up I think I would do so much better. I could relate to my "students" better.

Overall this project was a good experience to have. I'm glad were getting the chance to work infront of people before we are thrown into a classroom!

Self Evaluation Assignment 6

1-1

1-2

Week 5 Reflection

This week we really focused on presenting and putting into action our lesson plans. For Monday, we had to have a lesson plan prepared. After our lesson plans were collected we learned how to take information we had gathered and put into good teaching. On Wednesday we started singing with solfegee. After singing we worked in a group on practicing our lesson lans. Friday is recorder day, we learned the note d.

To learn how to teach effectively we went over the evaluation form. Our teacher discussed how to preform each part of the sheet in order to teach our lessons more efficientally. To learn how to sing a scale we were taught solfegee and its hand symbols. This way we could associate the sounds with vowels and motion. To practice our plans we got to work with other students where they could critique us and tell us how we can improve. For recorder, we learned a new note through new songs and practice on the recorder.

It is very important that we learn how to teach a lesson plan since we all want to be teachers. By learning how to write and effectively teach a lesson plan we are furthering our knowleadge. It is important to be prepared in teaching because a teacher needs to be prepared to do teach otherwise the students will not learn. Doing this assignment has also given us the opportinunity to figure out how to incorpert music into non music teaching. This week has been vital to our careers and teaching us how to be ready in the classroom.

For students knowing how to teach isn't real important but it is important for students to know how to be prepared. In school a student needs to know how to plan, be organized, and self-motivated. If a student can do these things they will have a good chance at succeding. So the lesson of planning could be important to a student because it could teach them how to make productive plans. Learning to sing is a great skill for students because it could be a way for them to learn to express themselves, the same as recorder.

Week Four Blog

Were done with week four. Time is flying by and where on are first lesson plan. For concepts we learned this week our main focus was the lesson plan. We learned the song Tideo where we focused once again on reinforcing skills of rhythm, steady beat, and melody. We also learned a little more about time signature and the staff. On Wednesday we learned the song Bow Woo Woo were we work on learning what a rest is. On Friday we played recorder. We learned a new note, c.
To learn how to make a lesson plan and teach one our instructor used the song Tideo. With this song she taught us how to teach musical and non-musical concepts. She guided us through the process with a lesson plan sheet. With this sheet we got to learn more about the national standards, the difference between concept and skill, how to make objectives, figure out materials, how to write a procedure, a way to close, and how to asse your children. To learn how to deal with rests she used the song bow woo woo and had us make actions where we included an action with the rest. Both these songs also reinforced concepts we have been learning. For recorder practice we learned a few new songs. To learn the note c she visually showed us and had us play it with songs. Another way she helped our recorder skills was she had us talk through every note of every song we did.
I really think it was important this week to learn the lesson plan skill since we are all future teachers who will have to deal with lesson plans daily. I felt this concept furthered are development as teachers. Learning about rests made us understand more about music, how its played, and how to develope more musical knowleadge. I'm glad we learned a new note on recorder because you got to know all the notes to play.
It's not really imortant for children to learn about lesson plans since they are just children. Teaching them a lesson is a good skill they benefit from but otherwise they really don't have to worry about lesson plans just that there teacher has one. Having them know about rests and recorder are important because that is a way for them to get more into music. If they know how to read music they can really develope amazing skills.

Week 3

Another week in Music 373 has gone by and we have continued on our quest of gaining musical knowleadge. This week we continued working on steady beat and rhythm while adding on new concepts. To work on rhythm we learned the Bee Bee Bumble Bee song, where we put big X's on the quarter notes and little X's on the eight notes. Then we could clap out the rhythm following our X's. After figuring out the rhythm we learned about melody, which is a combination of various pitches high, low, or constant. Now that we knew what melody was we tried singing the song. Looking at the song we could tell if the pitches were higher or lowere than the one before by looking at the notes position. The higher the note on the staff the higher the sound, the lower the note on the staff the lower the sound. We learned the different note names, how to draw a staff, and treble clef or G clef. We are starting to learn how to look at music and make it music. Once we had figured out the rhythm and the relationship of the notes to pitches we went ahead to draw pictures to go with the rhythm pattern and where the pitches fell. The pictures were a easier way for the children to understand the music. To keep practices pitch relation, melody, and rhythm we practiced the same concepts on the rain song. On Friday we switch moods and went to the recorder. First we reviewed the notes we learned last week and there position on the staff. Next we got a chance to write our own notes to the rhythm of the bee song. Then we got to preform our composition.

These concepts of melody, rhythm, and notes were taught to us through learning and then applying them to certain songs. I would say for me personally what we learned this week was review of past knowleadge. I did though learn more on how to work with children. How they are more visual learners so teaching them through pictures is easier then teaching them on a staff. Simple is better with younger kids. As a teacher we need to remember that they are not at are level; we need to go at a slower pace and teach concepts one on one to their unquie needs.

The importance of this week comes through the concept of melody. Knowing melody is knowing music. Knowng how to interpret music so it can be expressed through voice or instrument is important. This week provide good information to us because it helped take are knowleadge of rhyming to the next level. Kids need to know melody because that is what makes music. Its the melody of the song that express the music.

Week 2

Week two of the semster has gone by and we are starting to dig into new concepts. This past week we learned about rhythm and steady beat. To learn about these concepts, we participated in a rhyme name game in which we created a rhyme about ourselves where we had to keep it in a 4 beat pattern. By doing so we learned how to keep things in a steady beat, a constant non changing pattern. After accomplishing this task we learned about rhythm. We did our rhyme in a way where we beat out every syllable, this way we got to learn that steady beat stayed the same and rhythm was a combination of short, long, or silent sounds. On friday we did some rythm and steady beat while playing recorder. With the recorder we also learned three different notes, a, g, and b. We took our time trying to learn how to play these notes and the recorder. We left class knowing our first song on recorder called hot cross buns.

All the things we did in class I already knew. I have played trombone since the fourth grade and have a year of experience as a music major. All the terms were very familiar to me. Playing recorder was also easy since I still remember how to play, for some odd reason. This week was more of a refresher instead of new learning. I did though learn the new name rhyme game which I learned through creating my own rhyme and presenting to the class.

Why do we learn the things we learn? I think we learned about rhyme and steady beat to start exploring the world of music. It is vital in music that you know how to keep a steady beat and play a rhythm. Music is made up of different notes and pitches but for those notes to have meaning there given different values on how long or short they should be played. Learning these concepts gave us a ground work to build off of. Its very important to know how to do these things since there behind pretty much all of music.

Children should learn these concepts so that they can do things in a pattern. Knowing a beat could go with learning a pattern. Rhythm could also be taught when teaching syllables. Breaking down a word turns into a rhythm. Its also good for children to know how to find a steady constance to things. It could help them calm down to tap out things; its a good way for them to use energy productively. If you have a rowdy class you can have them tap out numbers, words, or sing songs.

Ten songs I could remember:

Row Row Row your Boat
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Hot Cross Buns
Little Bunny Fu Fu
Bingo
Ants Go Marching on
Do Your Ears Hang Low
Frere Jacque
Itsie Bitsie Spider

Rhyme About Me

My name is Olivia,
I do not like trivia,
I wan't born in Bolivia,
Still I have great ideas.

Music History

My Music History

It may come as a surprise but for most of my life I have been a music person. From fourth grade til this past year I have been playing the trombone. It all started when I was in third grade and learned recorder. From there I went to fourth grade where I chose to learn the trombone. Throughout the rest of grade school and middle school I was in the concert band and eventually the jazz band. When I entered high school I continued on with music. I was in marching band, concert band, and jazz band all throughout high school. My junior and senior year I was the drum majar of the marching band; I won best drum major at a marching band competition my junior year. In high school I also attended many different honors bands and recieved the departmental music award my senior year. The coolest thing I did in high school with my trombone was getting to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was amazing getting to march down the streets of New York doing what I love. I continued with music into my first year of college. Last year I attented Eastern Illinois and was a music major with an emphasis in teaching. I played in a couple different bands and was in a music service faternity called Kappa Kappa Psi. I stopped with most of my music this year when I transferred to Northern, I decided when I got here that instead of teaching music I wanted to teach elementary education. Now I am still a member of a music professional faternity called Sigma Alpha Iota. I also played in the University band last semster. So thats pretty much my music history, I've been way into music since the fourth grade. I kinda got a hold on some of the music stuff.

When I think about this last week of class I'd have to stay thats its been a little nerve racking and intimadating. I wasn't sure what to expect but after our two sessions together I feel a little more comfortable about things. Since I still love music this class seems like a good way for me to stay connected doing what I love. It also seems like were going to learn a lot of cool ways to incorpret music into teaching which I think is a great idea!! When I think about the activities we did in class I think they were a little wierd because I was thinking like a nervous college kid in a class instead of an educator learning fun activities to do with students. The hello game was interesting I had seen a teacher actually do something like that with her students so it was neat to see a new way to do hello. The name game we played today seemed a little boring and repetative like it wouldn't hold the attention of students. I was glad that I at least got to get some new ideas. I might even use them when I work at my day camp as a camp counselor!!