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Year: 2024

November Remembering

The “Remembering Day” falls on different days/months in different countries. In Canada we remember together on November 11th.

My grandfather fought at Vimy Ridge in World War I. My father was in the Canadian Air Force during World War II. When I was little, Remembrance Day was the day everything stopped at 11am for two minutes —everything; traffic, talking, old and young in grocery stores. When I was little, two minutes was a very long time. It made an impact, even if I didn’t understand what was going on.

With the world community seeming to shrink, and internet making far away seem very close; with refugees from war-torn countries coming to live in our neighbourhoods, and people from our neighbourhoods going to fight for peace far away … finding a balance in the remembering, especially when working or living with young children can be difficult. Peace be with you as you prepare to remember this November.

Shalom,   Lesley

 

P.S.  In 2015, with my Grandfather’s diary in hand, I visited places in France and Belgium where he fought during World War I. Remembrance Day I spent in Mons, staying with friends who were living/working at the Nato base there. The art work in “Poppies Are for November” were done by students at the Canadian school on the base.

I’ve Got Peace Like A River    I’ve Got Peace Like a River

This Little Light of Mine  This Little Light of Mine

 

October “a pause”

Best month of the year –not too hot, not too cold, bugs gone and two delightful holidays!

Move or Dance in Celebration: Turkey in the Straw; Shoo Turkey; Five Fat Turkeys; Thanksgiving Dinner (pocket chart composing); Thank-Yous(warm-up); We Give Thanks

Explore Voices for Drama or Dressing-Up: One Person, Many Voices; Hooting; I’m Gonna Be a Pirate; Skin and Bones(coming soon); Old Mrs. Witch; Role Playing Music

Autumn Themes: Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown(improvisation); Red, Red, Leaves(zipper song); One Apple, Two Apples(reading, instrument playing); I Like to Eat; Ev’rybody Sing;

Hallowe’en: Five Little Pumpkins; Old Mrs. Witch; Skin and Bones; In a Dark, Dark Wood; and recreated nursery rhymes —Humpkin Pumpkin; Peter Peter; Twinkle Little Bat; 3 Snowy Owls; This Black Cat; This Is the Way the Witches …

Beginning Again

Doesn’t matter what the calendar say, somewhere deep inside I know the year begins when school starts.    Everything is new again –at least for some of us.  New teacher?  New teaching assignment?  New students?  New classroom?   And, of course, there’s the much anticipated, perhaps dreaded, reshuffling of students and teachers that will  make new, new again!

Hellos x25  Hello x5

But not everything needs to be new –especially in music.  Songs are not meant to be sung only once.  There’s nothing that says a “new year” can’t begin with maybe one new song, and the comfort of old familiar ones.  Its easier to review music basics like rhythm patterns and conducting cues when singing songs that are already known.  Check with last year’s teachers, or ask the students for their favourite “last year” songs.  And there are always the classics:  The Alphabet Song,  Twinkle Twinkle, Old MacDonald(or Old MacDonald’s Zoo or Meg MacDonald’s Farm) etcetera.

Head ‘n Shoulders   The More We Get Together

“A lifelong enjoyment of music” is the underlying and sometimes stated hope of every music curriculum.   Begin a new year enjoying new and old songs, building community through shared singing and setting simple parameters for music time.

Week One:  Meg MacDonald’s Farm  Mama Don’t Allow No Singing   When I First Came to Canada

 

2024 June

Summer is on it’s way …   time to think about the school year that’s past, enjoy the songs are were enjoyable, and maybe get ready for Canada Day (July 1)!     “Ideas to get Started below”

Songs from Canada   Land of the Silver Birch  My Paddle’s Keen and Bright   Donkey Riding   Klondike  Maple Syrup Saga  I’se the B’y   Lukey’s Boat

Campfire Songs   Old Hiram’s Goat  Do Your Ears Hang Low  A Sailor Went To Sea    Sweetly Sings the Donkey  Mama Don’t Allow No Singing  Miss Lucy Had a Baby  When I Was One  All Together – Let’s Make Peace  In The Summer  The Bear Went Over the Mountain  The Grand Old Duke of York  My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean  Bought Me A Cat

2024 May

Featured music today used to be called “listening” music.    What music isn’t “listening” music?   Hmmm …

I remember “listening” music in school as being –that long stuff that was boring–.   Now maybe that’s because my teachers chose long pieces that gave them a break from doing anything, or maybe it’s because it was the 1960s and most of school was sit still and listen.

Now it’s called “active listening” and reminds teachers and students that listening can be active  —with the imagination,  with conducting skills, with visual arts, with movement/dance, with exploring patterns and, and, and …     Engage minds and hearts in music that allows us to roam and create and with ideas and hands.