Eagle Cam

During March we sang "Rattlin' Bog" and we talked about the life of birds. I mentioned the Eagle Cam and thought that it would be something to add to my blog for the students to see and watch.
The Eagle Cam is still on line but not much is showing now. Probably will not see much until next Spring. You can however see pictures of the eagles and other wild life on that site.

Sights with passwords

A few of the links need passwords. Many school systems pay for the priviledge of using these sites. If your school is participating, check with your librarian to find the passwords you need to use these sites.

Your Favorite

Would you please think about your favorite popular or other songs. Tell me the name of one song and the musicians who play and sing. What can you share about the style of the song and the instruments used? Does your favorite song have a special message? Is your favorite song an original or has it been recorded before? Tell me as much as you can about your favorite songs or song. (If you are uncomfortable writing on the blog send your response to: pbradfuhrer@gaggle.net)

Attention 5th to 8th graders

Please take notice of the link listed as "The Radio Hour." This web site will give you lots of information on musicians and musical styles. You can test your knowledge by taking some of the online tests and checking your speed and accuracy with kids all over the US. There are also online crossword puzzles that you can try. Check it out. Blog your thoughts on the site! Share with us which puzzle or composer caught your interest and why!

Parents and students

Please explore the possibilities in this blog with your children. Help them see the exciting things there for them to learn. Each of the links on the right hand side of the blog will take you to a different site which can open up a new learning environment. A few of the sites even have games or puzzles which are teaching new skills. Please make use of this site. Take time to share with others by telling us what you liked about one or two of the links. Use the comments to share!

A great site to learn about the orchestral instruments

I just found a really great site to explore and learn about the instruments of the orchestra. I really think you will enjoy looking at it. It has many instruments to look at and listen to as well as activities that you can do yourself. Click on the orchestral instrument link on the right side of the blog.
Please take some time to explore this site. Use the comment to share with us what instrument you liked and why.

Why Teach Music

Music is mathematical.
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions
which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

Music is a foreign language.
Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French;
and the notation is certainly not English but a highly developed
kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas.
The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is history.
Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation,
often even the country and/ or racial feeling.

Music is physical education.
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lip, cheek and facial muscles,
in addition to extraordinary control of diaphragmatic, back, stomach, and chest muscles,
which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music is all these things, but most of all, music is art.
It allows a human being to take all of these dry, technically boring
(but difficult) techniques and use them to create emotion.
That is one thing science cannot duplicate;
humanism, feeling, emotion, call it what you will.

That is why we teach music.
Not because we expect our students to major in music
Not because we expect them to play or sing all their life
Not so they can relax
Not so they can have fun.
But so they will be human
So they will recognize beauty
So they will be sensitive
So they will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
So they will have something to cling to
So they will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good, in short, more life.
Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?
That is why we teach music.

author unknown:

Here is a great site to learn about to day's news

Middle C

Take a look at this web site: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/textm/MiddleC.html and see the many ways that "Middle C" can be notated. I'll bet you only thought that there was one way to notate "Middle C." Share with us the number of ways you have seen "Middle C" notated before looking at this web site.

Piano keyboard on the web

So many of you can't wait to get your hands on a piano or the keyboard and try your hand at playing. Try the "Piano Keyboard" web site and play some tunes using your mouse. Tell us what tunes you can play with your mouse. Do you find this web site useful to learn the piano keys? Why?

States Puzzle

5th Graders can you get the states in place before the puzzle tells you that you've failed fourth grade. Play the game and think about our song "Fifty Nifty United States" Let me know how many you got into place or if you beat the puzzle. Look for the link on the right hand side that says: States Puzzle.

Third, fourth and Fifth Graders

Those who are playing recorder will find this site showing recorder fingering interesting. Click on the Recorder Fingering link and point your mouse at the piano keyboard. It will show you the letter name and the proper fingering for you to use on your recorder. Use the comment to tell us about using this link. Was it easy to use? What did you learn?

Sixth Grade Study of Renaissance Music

Sixth Graders, check out the link on Renaissance Instruments. Look at the pictures read the information, then click on the pictures to hear the sounds. Which instrument is your favorite?
Did you find an unusual instrument or one that made a unique sound? Share your thoughts in the comments.