Videos From Recent Performances

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for your attendance at your child's recent music concert! I thought they all did a wonderful job, especially considering the short time they have had to work on their programs.

As the director of these programs, I love to "see" them through your eyes in order to enjoy, and improve on my own program and ideas. As such, if anyone video taped the concert and would be willing to bring me a copy of it to keep, I would very much appreciate it. Please do not bring me your original copies as I would love to keep a copy. It is ok if the video focuses the most on your own child as long as I can see the overall program as well. I am looking for videos of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and choir concerts held last week.

Thank you again for all of your support and I wish you a very relaxing summer!

Sincerely,

Juli Van Eizenga

Concerts Coming Up Next Week!

Remember your child's music concert next week!

On Tuesday, May 25th grades 1-3 will be performing at the following times:

8:30-9:15: 3rd Grade (Please look at the previous costume postings for information on what they should be wearing. They should come to the MPR already dressed at 8:20. They can drop their bags off in their classrooms first.)

9:30-10:10: 2nd Grade (There are no costumes for 2nd grade)

10:30-11:00: 1st Grade (There are no costumes for 1st grade)


On Thursday, May 27th the choir will perform at 7PM in the MPR

They can wear whatever they like but should look "nice" since it is a nighttime concert. I would like the kids to be there at 6:30 so we can run through some of the songs.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Fun Music Websites

Here are some great music websites with lots of activities and games. These are a great way for your child to learn through play! Click on the address and it will link you to the website!

http://www.creatingmusic.com

http://www.classicsforkids.com/games

http://www.dsokids.com/2001/rooms/musicroom.asp


Have fun!

Simple Tips for Healthy Singing

There is such a thing as healthy and unhealthy singing. Of course, I would like all children to use healthy singing techniques in order to produce a more beautiful sound without damaging their vocal cords. Here are some simple steps to ensure beautiful, healthy singing:

1. Open your mouth! You'd be amazed what a difference it makes when you open your mouth wide, allowing for better resonance.

2. Enunciate. Slightly over-exaggerate the words you are singing so the audience can hear you more clearly.

3. Stand up or sit up straight with your shoulders relaxed but back.

4. Drink plenty of water.

5. Try to warm-up before you sing. Long, slower tones going up and down work well. Use syllables such as "ooh" or "maa". I would bet that your kids know my warm-ups pretty well by now and could do them on their own.

6. Try to sing in your "head voice" as much as possible. The head voice is usually a light, clear sound. You can almost feel it "vibrating" in your head. I sometimes tell the kids to imagine that they are a whale with a spout coming out of their foreheads and to make their sound come out of that hole. Here is an interesting video about the head voice vs the chest voice (the lower, more aggressive sounding voice): http://www.ehow.com/video_2388050_head-voice-vs_-chest-voice.html

7. Use common sense. If it hurts, stop! It is always a good idea to take breaks and of course, have lingering problems checked by a doctor.

First Grade Song Lyrics and Props- We Need Your Help!

For this song, "This Little Light of Mine", each 1st grade student will need a flashlight with batteries in it. They should bring these to school with them the week before the concert (May 17th-May 21st) with their name and phone number on it. They can bring them home the day of the concert (Tuesday, May 25th).

Please let me know ahead of time if you cannot find or borrow a flashlight, or if you have extras to lend. Please note that I have very few extra lights.

Here are the lyrics for "This Little Light of Mine":

Refrain:

This little Light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
(3 times)
Let it shine (3 times)

Verse 1:

I'm gonna take this light around the world
I'm gonna let it shine
(3 times)
Let it shine (3 times)

Refrain

Verse 2:

I won't let anyone (blow) it out
I'm gonna let it shine
(3 times)
Let it shine (3 times)

Refrain

Everyday, everyday, I'm gonna let my little light shine

New Song for First Graders: Each of Us is a Flower

A new song for first graders! This song celebrates the individuality of each child using the symbolism of individual flowers in the garden of life. Here are the lyrics:

Each of us is a flower
Growing in life's garden
Each of us is a flower
We need the sun and rain
(repeat)

Sun, shine your warmth on me
Moon, cool me with your night
Wind, bring the gentle rain
Earth, dig my roots down deep

New Instruments for Greenbrook Students!

Exciting news for Greenbrook students! There will soon be new instruments for all students to enjoy and learn with. We are especially excited to be able to introduce Orff instruments to the school. Orff instruments were created by German composer and educator Carl Orff to be used with his Orff Schulwerk technique. This technique emphasises repeated patterns, improvisation, and musical literacy.





I truly believe that these instruments, along with the other new instruments, will really take Greenbrook's music program to the next level of excellence in learning.

The funding for these instruments was made possible through our wonderful PTA fundraisers, as well as a grant from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Thank you to Cheri Eplin for her help with the grant! I look forward to introducing these instruments to the students very soon!

Working on Rhythms

All Grade 1-3 students have been working on reading rhythms in music class. So far they have learned to clap the rhythms using "fish and whales." The whales represent quarter notes and the word "ta" is also used to represent it. The fishes represent eighth notes, and students say "ti ti" to show them. Here is a brief video, courtesy of Ms. Eplin, showing her class learning about the fish.

Mrs.V Teaching from Cheri Eplin on Vimeo.

Students will soon learn to identify the proper quarter note and eighth note symbols and will even be composing their own rhythmic music.

First Grade Song Lyrics- Wiggle Worm/Statue

This song talks about the different ways we can move our bodies. First graders also learn to be creative with their movements, as they can choose how to express the words of the song. They are encouraged to make a different statue pose each time. Here are the lyrics:

Wiggle like a wiggle worm (wiggle for 4 counts)
Stand like a statue (freeze in a statue pose for 4 counts)
(repeat)

Wiggle worm (wiggle for 2 counts)
Statue (freeze in statue pose for 2 counts)
(repeat)

Wiggle like a wiggle worm (wiggle for 4 counts)
Stand like a statue (freeze in statue pose)

First Grade Song Lyrics- All About Me

This quarter, 1st grade students are learning songs that centered on the theme of self-awareness. The first song they learned is appropriately titled, "All About Me." Here are the lyrics:

Refrain: Look at me, there's no one else like me
I am learning all about me
(repeat)

verse 1: I have hands that clap (two claps)
I have feet that tap (two stamps)
I have eyes that blink (two blinks)
And I have a brain that thinks (two taps on the head)

(sing refrain)

Verse 2: Sometimes I feel happy (show happy face)
Sometimes I feel sad (show sad face)
Sometimes I feel silly (show silly face)
And sometimes I feel mad! (show mad face)

(sing refrain)

Concert Dates!

Parents, mark your calendars! The music concert dates have been scheduled! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders will perform for parents on Tuesday, May 25th. The times are as follows:

Grade 3: 8:30-9:15AM
Grade 2: 9:30-10:10AM
Grade 1: 10:30-11:00AM

The choir will perform on Thursday, May 27th, from 7:00-8:00PM.

We hope to see all of you there!

Ms V

Welcome to the Greenbrook Music Page!

Welcome students and family members!

This blog is your source for all information regarding the Greenbrook Elementary School Music classes. You can find lyrics for the songs we are working on, concert dates, and even tips on becoming a better singer. We will also post information as well as video and pictures of what we are working on in class.

Thank you for visiting!

Ms. Juli Van Eizenga AKA "Ms. V"