Music Class - 3.3.10

In this week's music class we revised things that we have already done, such as the 'So-Me' song, looking at the C Major scale, and music instrument bingo.
The new 'So-Me' story was 'So-Me and the dance' which was mainly about different styles of dancing to a variety of musical genres.  The children enjoyed pretending to do all the dances, including the haka and ballet.
I set the children a challenge today, to try and write out the C Major scale.  they had a really good crack at it, but I realised that it was too hard a task at this point.  We will take it back in difficulty a little bit and do individual notes one at a time.  For example, next week we will just practice writing out the C note, and the week after the D, etc.  Practicing writing music notes will help the children grasp the shape of the symbols and their position on the stave (black lines). 
Today I also introduced to the children a symbol called a treble clef .  This appears at the very start of a line of music notation.
We had another great musician visit us today.  Stu brought in his 120 year old double bass (which is like a giant cello or an even more giant violin!) and an acoustic guitar.  He showed us how it works, told us that it can go lower than any other instrument, and showed how it can be played by plucking the strings or using a bow.  The children were able to have a turn playing some notes on the double bass and we enjoyed watching the wonder on their faces that they had made the music themselves!
The band that I, and all our visiting musicians, play in will be performing at the Rakino Island Jazz Picnic on Easter Sunday.  I will put out a notice soon in case any of you are able to come - it would be fantastic for the children to be able to see how all these instruments come together to make a collective sound. 
Keep talking to your children about the things they have learnt in music class, it will help keep the concepts fresh in their minds
Thanks
Laura 

Preschool Music Update

On 24.2.10, Laura's friend Leith brought his baritone saxophone into preschool for a short concert.  Afterwards we were able to line up and have a go pressing all the buttons.  Leith did a good job tricking us by asking us to look down the end of the sax; when our face was right down in there he would play a big loud note and make us jump a mile!  The children thought this was hilarious.
Another friend came to visit on 3.3.10,  Stu, with his double bass and guitar.  Stu's concert included songs we could sing along to, such as "The Wheels On The Bus" and "Twinkle, Twinkle."  It was Charlie F and Nicole's birthdays so Stu got them to stand on the 'stage' while he played "Happy Birthday" to them.  All the children were given the opportunity to have a go on the double bass and the teachers enjoyed watching the wonder on their faces as they got sounds as out of the instrument.
Attached are the pictures of our new friends, Stu and Leith.

We have had a burglary

When the staff went on their lunch breaks today, it was discovered that the staff lockers had been broken into and staff had had valuables taken. 
One of the staff saw a man leaving the staffroom area at approximately 11.35 a.m. and assumed he was a visitor to the centre. 

His description is as follows:
Caucasian, approximately 30 years of age.
5'2" tall.
Shoulder length brown hair.
Wearing a khaki t shirt, light brown baggy shorts and carrying an off white hessian shoulder bag.

If you have seen this person around the neighbourhood, could you please let Shona or Mona know.

Car Parking

The tenants in the flat under the centre have made us aware that several parents have been parking behind the centre and blocking off their access to get out of the car park.  This is happening a lot around the times of 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. when the car park is extremely busy.
Please be aware that you are not to park randomly behind the centre unless it is in a designated Bayfield car park.  Our tenants have a newborn baby and need to have a clear path in order to get out of the car park.
Thank you for your co-operation.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2010 - 2011

We are about to receive a small number of the 2010-2011 Entertainment Books to sell.  These will be available from reception at a cost of $ 65.00 per book.  They have hundreds of vouchers for fine dining, casual and family restaurants, informal dining and take aways, arts, sports and other attractions, retail, travel, leisure and accommodation deals.  We will have available a sample book at reception shortly if you would like to see what is available. 
If you would like to place an order for one of these books, please let Shona or Mona know.  More information will follow.

The Toddler's Week

The Nursery Week - 22nd - 26th February 2010

We had another fantastic week of enjoyable challenges, both inside and outside.  We have climbed and slid and some of the younger children have been practicing their walking steps. 
A big welcome goes to James who has been settling in the Tuatara Room. 
We have begun to trial some minor changes to make the children's day smoother and more enjoyable.  This means that the younger Tuatara children have their lunch slightly earlier while the older Tuatara children have a more involved mat time before their lunch.