Music Class 3.2.10

Music class starring Isabel, Charlotte, Curtis, Luke, Benji, Joe, Thomas M, Andy, Kairo and Evie
We started off today's class with chanting our names in time to a beat, a skill the children are getting really good at!
We listened to this week's 'So-Me Meets the Boss'.  So-Me makes up a song to sing to his class about who he is.  'So-Me, So-Me is my name, So-Me, So-Me, won't you sing the same?'.  We took turns singing the song with our own names in it.  I was impressed by how brave the kids were about singing solo in front of the group.  Being able to perform confidently as an adult really stems from lots of exposure to it as a child, so they are off to a great start.
I had prepared a CD full of different solos and we huddled around the stereo to listen.  I played each track for the children and they had to guess what the instrument was.  They then had to identify the picture of it on a chart.
"This one makes me sleepy," said Evie as we listened to a piano concerto.  "Wow, this one is grumpy," said Joe about the cello solo,
Last week we looked at print music and how notes that are higher up on the stave (the black lines) are higher pitched than those that are down low.  Today I showed the children flash cards of different notes and they had to label them as high, low, or in the middle.  I was astounded at how well they did without me even prompting the answer.  They are a clever bunch!  We also talked about sounds around us that are high or low pitched and also sounds that are loud or soft.
Benji, Kairo and Luke shared the instruments they had brought and then we finished the class off with our usual rhythm games.  I added in a new component today, a 'rest'.  Basically a rest is a pause in the music.  In rhythm games a rest can be represented by laying your hands out in front of you.  It is hard to explain but I'm sure your child would be pleased to demonstrate!
To help further develop what we learned today, keep chatting to your child about the sounds around you, particularly about pitch and volume.  Encourage the performance of the So-Me song (or any song) in front of family and friends to help develop confidence.  Soon we will be looking at different genres of music (rock, pop, hip-hop, classical, jazz, country etc) so if you have any examples, you could play them at home that would be great too.
We are having heaps of fun in music class ("we" being the teacher as well as the kids!!) and I love that they are so keen to participate each week.  I would love to hear any feedback you have (e.g. Does your child talk about the class at home? 
Do you feel they are learning?) so that I can continue to improve the programme.
We have a big surprise for the children next week (and hopefully a few more surprises in the weeks to follow)  I will keep you posted. 
Laura