Monday, July 14, 2014

EMF Explorers Week 2: Monday

We didn't waste any time this first morning of camp, beginning with our singing circle, focused listening, and movement activities! Campers got to hear the story of Haydn and his Farewell Symphony, listen and respond to excerpts from each movement of the symphony.  Each day we will visit a family of instruments in the orchestra, and in today's rehearsal we were introduced to the brass family.  Campers got to see and hear the trumpet, trombone, horn, and tuba.  We had a chance for some musical play outside and learned some new songs.  Back inside we practiced listening and imagining what story the music might be telling us, and later expressed those ideas through colors and drawing.

Listening: Farewell Symphony by Haydn and Till Eulenspiegels (Merry Pranks) by Strauss
(this is one of the pieces that will be performed on Saturday's EMF Family Concert)

Musical Concepts Introduced: Instrument families and dynamics

See you in the morning!

-Miss Susannah

Thursday, July 10, 2014

EMF Explorers Week 1: Thursday

Another great morning with the EMF kids today!

We sang songs, moved to music, and had the opportunity to play percussion instruments.  Thanks to a break in the rain we were able to have a parade outside with singing and playing!  We visited the string section of the orchestra, and got to hear and learn more about the violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp.  These visits are a consistent favorite activity for many of our campers!

Please remember that tomorrow we will meet at the regular time at The Music Academy of North Carolina.  Please note the directions in your parent letter, or see below if you are unfamiliar with the location.  Parents and families are invited to return early at 11:30 for a demonstration of some of the things we learned this week. See you tomorrow!

The Music Academy of North Carolina
1327 Beaman Place
Greensboro, NC 27408

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

EMF Explorers Week 1: Wednesday

Today we learned all about the percussion family!  We learned about the piano, timpani, bass and snare drums, xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba, tambourine, and more!  We played drums and rhythm sticks as well as tone bells during our singing activities.  We learned a two part song with a repeating "ostinato" pattern called "Dip Dip and Swing".  We read a great story having to do with the percussion family and practiced keeping the steady beat through a Spanish chant called "Bate, Bate".  We continued to work on and review tempos and dynamics.  We went on a "Bear Hunt" with our bodies and voices and learned a lot about how we can use our bodies and things in our environment to act as percussion instruments.  We finished our shaker art project, filling them with all kinds of cool sounding materials!  We had an awesome day!     

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

EMF Explorers Week 1: Tuesday

Today we learned all about the woodwind family and what makes an instrument belong to this family.  The students visited the orchestra and got to hear the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, contra-bassoon, English Horn and piccolo.  I showed them a  flute and we learned about its different parts.  We continued to learn about different dynamic levels as well as tempo.  Dynamic and tempo instruction was accomplished through guided singing and movement activities.  Students began making their shakers, which we will finish tomorrow.  Today we focused on decorating them!  Students got to hear the "Aviary" movement from Camille Saint Säns' "Carnival of the Animals" and we talked about how the flutes sounded like birds.  The children shared what the music made them imagine and envision.  We also read a story about L.V. Beethoven and his Heroic Symphony.  We had a wonderful day!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Explorers Week 1: Monday

Our first week of Explorers is off to a great start!  Each morning this week we will visit EMF orchestras in their rehearsals to experience different instruments and their instrument families.  We will listen and respond to masterpiece works by great classical composers, and learn about and explore different musical concepts. 

Music: Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra”

Orchestra Visit: The Brass Family: trumpet, horn, tuba, trombone, and bass trombone

Activities: Singing and movement, playing the water glasses

Concepts: Introduction to instrument families, large and small instrument sounds, dynamics (loud and soft sounds)

Highlights (according to our campers):
My favorite part of today was…
·         Singing like a tuba
·         Seeing the French horn
·         Going to the music place [orchestra rehearsal]

·         Snack time outside

Sunday, July 6, 2014

EMF EXPLORERS 2014!

Looking forward to our first day of EMF Explorers tomorrow!

-Miss Susannah
(Susannah Steele)