We have been singing our Oleanna song every other week or so in class and adding different nursery rhymes! It's been fun to hear them learn and be able to sing these familiar rhymes with me. 

We've also learned a fun new song that's perfect for springtime! Happy Happy Hummingbird has fun actions associated with it and we've enjoyed singing it with scarves and changing the words to match the color of our "scarf flower". Happy happy hummingbird, have you heard? Have you heard? There's a flower big and blue, and it's waiting just for you!

I have loved introducing one of my most favorite folk songs "Sarasponda"! The words are nonsense (they actually were made up to imitate the sound of a spinning wheel) which gives a playful feel. It can be sung in a round so we will experience this type of harmony in class in the next few weeks (I record them singing it with me and then we sing it in a round as I play back the recording). 

We've also practiced a skill called "audiation". Audiation is when you can hear a tune in your head. We do this by singing a song and not singing a section and instead singing it in our mind. Obviously, we can't know if the children are actually doing this, but we can practice it a lot! Audiation is great to practice because it is a precursor to being able to sing harmony!

Instead of bringing different instruments to class each week, I have created a little box of rhythm instruments for each child to use during class. They have loved experimenting with each instrument and we've been using them often while we sing and listen to music. Included in the box are "sand" blocks made from pool noodles, rhythm sticks, a jingle stick, castanets, a tambourine, shaker eggs, and a scarf. They each also have paper tone bells to play when I play them or another child gets a turn. Since I bought or made many of the instruments in this box, there will be an option to buy it for only $10 when class ends in May. I'll provide more information on this as the end of the year gets closer.

We honor all feelings in music class and one that is often present between 11:30 and 12:30 on any given days is sleepiness. 😂 Your kids are so sweet and some days they are just pooped and want to rest during this time. At the same time, they are happier when their bodies get to be moving so we have enjoyed trying out different yoga poses during "Yoga Song". 

We also spent some time talking about feeling frustrated and sad with the book Sing by Joe Raposo. We talked about the power of singing and how it can lift our spirits and also help others that may be having a bad day.

On the back of their paper bells I printed an ABC chart and we have been singing the "ABC Song" almost every class while they point to the letters. I've also been singing another version where, instead of the name of the letter, I sing the sound the letter makes. While they may not be completely able to sing this version with me, the exposure to the sounds of the letters can help bridge the gap between just knowing what the letter is called and the function of the letter in reading.

We've also looked a sung to a book of "Five Green and Speckled Frogs" and "Brown Bear Brown Bear".

We've been talking about how Spring is here and we've been able to hear birds outside! We heard eagles flying while we "beat our wings" with the parachute during Vivaldi's Recorder Concerto in C Major. Then with our scarf draped over our heads, we pretended to be unhatched chicks trying to peck our way out during the Ballet of Unhatched Chicks by Mussorgsky!