Sunday 3/20/2011 (3/27/2011) PLN:3/1

Week 3: Interesting find #1

I am a clarinetist and most woodwind instruments are pretty easy for me to teach, however, there are times then the bassoon baffles me. Here is a GREAT website dedicated to the bassoon.  The “units” were what I found to be most helpful for a beginning bassoonist.  Everything you need is at your fingertips, fingering chart, a new piece to play, and an audio clip.  The best part is that the unit can be printed as a PDF for those who may not have the technology available in the band room. There is even a video about how to assemble and disassemble the instrument! 

http://www.musicandthebassoon.org/

 

Now I need to find if there are more like this for other instruments. What a great find!

Saturday 3/19/2011

Here is a fun website.  I noticed that a program like this was used in our class within our first reading (found on page 2).  I thought I would share just in case you have never used it.  It can be used for lyrics, classroom rules, and a bunch of other things. I used my blog and made an image.  The program captures the words used most often and makes them stand out the most. MAYBE it would be helpful for papers! It could let you know what words were used often! It’s a fun program to use in class.  I used it when my kids were writing lyrics for their operas and we had the image from the website be their “CD” art.

http://www.wordle.net/

Image of my blog prior to this post:

 

Image of my blog after this post: I have customized the colors. You can see how some of the major words have changed.

Here is a website of color codes, so that you can easily customize the colors of your own image.

http://wiki.sa-mp.com/wiki/Hex_colours  
 

Thursday 3/17/2011

Useful website :)

There is one website that I go to often for the quick printable. (http://www.makingmusicfun.net/).  In this site, I can print practice charts, theory worksheets, meet the composter readings, meet the orchestra readings, and much more.  All of the information is easy to access and easy to print.  It is also something that my young students enjoy. Since the “print” option takes you to a PDF version of the worksheet, you could even “save” it and show it through your computer on the overhead projector.  In addition, there are a few games to play.

Sunday 3/13/2011 PLN:2/2

Week2: Interesting find #2!!!

Are you a percussionist?  I am not, not at all, not even a little bit.

Due to my lack of percussion skills, I had a hard time when I was teaching band.  Not anymore!  I found this super-neat website that will demonstrate a bunch of percussion skills. YAY! Here is the description from the website:

“The rudiment in each of the audio files below above at the slowest tempo marked and is played at a consistent tempo for 4 measures. The tempo is then moved up 4 beats per minute and the rudiment is repeated - eventually ending at the fastest tempo notated for the level.”

Enjoy.

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php

Sunday 3/13/2011 PLN:2/1

Week 2: Interesting find #1!!!

o-o-o is opera, opera, opera,

o-o-o is O. Oopperaa. Oopperaa! (From the Phonics Dance, http://teacherweb.com/OH/SylvaniaCitySchools/LTempleton/How-To-Phonics-Dance-PDF.pdf). 

This “Classics for Kids Podcasts” (http://www.classicsforkids.com/) is awesome.  This podcast is called, Classic For Kids-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart’s Operas. It tells all about different types of opera, such as “The Marriage of Figaro.”  I teach a opera unit to my 3^rd and 4^th grade classes. Somehow I manage to get my 4^th grade boys excited about opera. I usually show “what’s opera doc” and “Myth Busters,” the episode where they prove that high pitches CAN break glass (I don’t show the whole episode, only the relevant parts, since it is not rated “G”).  I will add this podcast to my lesson! 

http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/704/510237/134479438/WVXU_134479438.mp3?_kip_ipx=2081712682-1299963382

Saturday 3/12/2011

This is not music technology, but rather something for math.  I still thought it was worth sharing; something you can forward to the math teachers in your building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTFEUsudhfs&feature=player_embedded

Saturday 3/12/2011

Thought I would share!

I was trolling You Tube today and found this very silly performance.  I thought everyone here may enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCzv_gYMjo&feature=related