ONLINE NEWSLETTER
For Music/Movement Specialists and Teachers of Early Childhood and Elementary grades
Volume # 2 Issue # 1 Oct. 2007
Iris Marrus, Editor
Officers of the Board:
Iris Marrus & Aileen Rosero, Co-Presidents; Karen Petty, Vice President;
Stephen Hodorowski, Treasurer; Lise Vachon, Secretary; Laura Liben, Ass’t Secretary
GREETINGS AND FELICITATIONS:
On September 29, 2007 we began our workshop season with two very special presentations by two past presidents of our organization. The morning session, “Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song” was lead by Jean Young, a specialist in early childhood music.
She shared games, movement activities and songs suited particularly to preschool aged children. The highlight of the morning was a re-enactment of her “operetta” entitled
“The Fat Cat.” Participants, who included education students from Kingsborough Community College as well as teachers from all over the metropolitan area, worked together to create their own interpretation of this adorable children’s operetta.
Here are some photo highlights of this fun and exciting presentation:
The “Fat Cat” (front of the line) “eats”
everything that comes across her path.
Her latest victim, (on the floor) is “swallowed” whole.
The Fat Cat has quite an appetite and more and more victims are consumed:
In this photo Jean Young (right) demonstrates introducing instrument sound- effects for inclusion into her song stories:
In the afternoon, we were delighted to partake in a fabulous workshop presented by Danai Gagne, past president and founder of the NYC chapter of AOSA and director of the Orff certification program at the Trevor Institute. In the photo below Danai is pictured (center) with our two Orff levels scholarship recipients, Erin Cain and Gina Samardge.
Danai’s session was entitled “Music is a Verb: to Move, to Sing, to Play in an Open-ended Way.”
She began her workshop with an invigorating and exciting dance activity
and got us all up and moving:
We had a lot of fun exploring activities for
the fall season as we sang songs, learned dances and played instruments
to enhance the learning of musical concepts.
WE HAD A BALL!! Thanks to both presenters for a great day!
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JOIN US FOR OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOP SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2007 Fun with Fundamentals
By Dr. Artie Almeida
Enjoy an action-packed day of ideas to energize your teaching. This session will include Mallet Madness, Can You Hear Me Now? and Recorder Express.
During Mallet Madness participants will experience fun and accessible activities for barred instruments and drums that emphasize learning in the areas of rhythm, melody, form , expressive qualities and mallet technique. The unique rotation process through the instruments will make this a very enjoyable and educational experience for your young students. Many of these activities began as drum or non-pitched percussion lessons, and can be easily adapted for rooms without a full Orff instrumentarium.
Can You Hear Me Now? includes a collection of exciting experiences to activate children's listening via movement, flashlight painting, parachute play, ribbon dance, super stretchy and more! Concepts addressed include steady beat, rhythm, form, expressive qualities and style. Music includes the William Tell Overture, Kabalevsky's Galop, The Syncopated Clock and more.
Recorder Express will offer innovative techniques for leading your students to music literacy via the recorder. Bring your soprano recorder and be ready for some surprises!
The workshop will be held at:
The Trevor Day School
4 East 90th Street, New York, New York.
10:00am – 2:00 pm
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for registration.
Members Free, non-members $30, students with ID $15
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007. POT LUCK LUNCH AND CHAPTER SHARING
Are you disappointed that you can’t attend the National Conference in Sunny San Jose California this November 14-17? Well, fret not!! Let us whisk you away in spirit and mind to California as we bring you the activities and ideas of presenters from across the country and around the world. BRING A DISH TO SHARE AND LET’S PARTY!!!
CHAPTER NEWS:
At our September 29th workshop, a proposal to amend our Constitution and By-Laws was submitted to the membership for consideration. On November 3, members will have an opportunity to cast their vote to approve or disapprove the amendments.
Orff Levels classes have commenced at Trevor under the direction and supervision of Danai Gagne. If you are interested in taking a levels course, please contact Danai directly at the Trevor Day School 212/426-3393 or 2224; e-mail dgagne@trevornet.org.
QUICK TIP
By Karen Petty
Quick Tip: October is a wonderful time for introducing students to minor modes. While many Halloween songs fall into this category, not everyone can do Halloween materials. So, here’s one that has no connection to any holiday. It can be used any time it’s windy. I like to introduce the melody to the song using melody sound arrows, asking the students to listen to the phrase form and be ready to put the melody arrows into the order they hear in the melody.
Consider using this poem as the text for a contrasting B section:
Who Has Seen the Wind?
By Christina Giorgina
Rossetti
Who has seen the wind? Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you: Neither you nor I:
But when the leaves hang trembling But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing thro’ The wind is passing by.