240131: Music for Black History Month

These are songs we are using for Black History Month. Details to follow… African music uses some folk instruments that are unique to their cultures. Some of these are related to instruments used around the world. In this video, you will hear the African version of the marimba and various drums, such as the djembe.

240122: Here Comes the Sun

There are many songs about weather. Some are just descriptions of different kinds of weather, some are instrumental songs that try to create a mood that matches the weather, and some use the weather as a way of talking about other things. We can let different kinds of weather match our different emotions to illustrate

240111: A Winter Concerto

over 500 The Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) composed over 500 concertos, pieces for solo instruments and orchestra. The most famous of his concertos are the Four Seasons, a set of four concerti representing each of the seasons. Even if you have never heard them played at a concert, you have probably heard them in a

240108: Songs We Sing In Class, Winter 2024

Here are some of the songs we are singing in class in the winter. Some of these are old favorites, while some will be new. LET’S MAKE MUSIC Come on, let’s make some music!Get up and dance and play and sing along.Let’s all sing and play now ,Let the music move your hands and feet.We’re

240104: Welcome the New Year!

We have begun a new year on the calendar. It is now 2024, and I think everyone is hoping to have a good year ahead. Many places in the world have big celebrations to start the year. One popular tradition is having fireworks at midnight as the new year comes in. Since there are many

240103: Classical Snow

That seems like an odd title for a page, doesn’t it? This is a video we have been listening to in class, which has a snowy scene to watch as we listen to some classical music. You can just listen to relax, or you can listen to each piece of music as it plays and

240102: Variations

Music can be written in many forms. One form used by composers is called theme and variations. This form starts with a tune, then changes it in different ways. As you listen to it, you will hear the original tunes played in new ways. Maybe it is faster or slower, maybe it is in a

231219: A Holiday Concert

During the holidays, you might get to attend a concert. Maybe it is a professional orchestra, or a high school band, or children’s program at your church or synagogue. Many people like to listen to music at holiday times. Here is a video of a holiday concert by Andre Rieu and his orchestra. It is

231218: Holiday Karaoke Returns!

We have a tradition of performing holiday karaoke before the winter break each year. Our holiday karaoke list can be found on this page. Have fun singing along with these holiday favorites!

231204: The Nutcracker

There are many pieces of music written for the winter holidays. One of the most popular is The Nutcracker. This is music for a ballet, a dance that tells a story. The story takes place at Christmas, and tells the tale of a magical adventure. The whole ballet takes about an hour and a half