Wordless/ful Wednesday

What Musical Instrument Am I?

Answer to last Wordless/ful Wednesday: Double Bass
The double bass is one of my all time favorite instruments because it is so much fun to play with! The double bass (also known as the contrabass or standup bass) was made in the 15th century and is the largest string instrument made. The double bass plays jazz and classical music and is made out of many types of wood. To play the double bass a player can pluck the strings or move a bow across the strings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass

Below is an example of what a double bass sounds like playing jazz music:

Thanksgiving Songs for Children

Thanksgiving Things
(Sung to Farmer in the Dell)

The turkey in the pen, the turkey in the pen,

All the children come and see the turkey in the pen.
The pilgrims on the boat, the pilgrims on the boat,

All the children come and see the pilgrims on the boat.
The Indians in the field, the Indians in the field,

All the children come and see the Indians in the field.
The pumpkins in the patch, the pumpkins in the patch,

All the children come and see, the pumpkins in the patch.
The corn on the cob, the corn on the cob,

All the children come and see, the corn on the cob.
The butter in the churn, the butter in the churn,

All the children come and see, the butter in the churn.

(From Preschool Ed.)

Wordless/ful Wednesday

What Musical Instrument Am I?

Answer to last Wordless/ful Wednesday: Berimbau

All of you made me laugh when you said this instrument looked like a fishing pole because it really does! The berimbau is a single-stringed percussion instrument from Brazil. The berimbau is used in the Brazillian capoeira (a Brazilian dance that incorporates martial arts movements). The berimbau has a wooden bow about 4-5 feet long, with a tightly strung steel wire, and a hallow gourd. The berimbau has three sounds: a buzz sound, a high sound, and a open string sound. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berimbau


Below is an example of what the berimbau sounds like:

Below is an example of the berimbau playing in capoeira:

Thanksgiving Songs for Children

Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and thru the woods,

To grandfather's house we go;

The horse knows the way

To carry the sleigh,

Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

Over the river and thru the woods,

Oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes,

And bites the nose,

As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the woods,

To have a first-rate play;

Oh, hear the bell ring,

"Ting-a-ling-ling!"

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!

Over the river and thru the woods,

Trot fast my dapple gray!

Spring over the ground,

Like a hunting hound!

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Listen

Music Activities for Kids

Dancing to Music

Dancing is a great way for your kids to listen to music and to get exercise. In this activity we will be dancing to music in many different ways:

1. Follow the leader. Turn on some music and imitate what the other dancer is doing. See how fun you can make this by turning on different styles of music!

2. Freeze Dance. Turn on some music and randomly stop the music. When the music is stopped, have your kids freeze in place. Now turn the music back on and have your kids dance again.


3. Dance to the tempo of the music. Have your kids move their bodies to slow and fast paced music.


4. Imitate different styles of music through dance. Play many different styles of music for your kids to dance too. For example, turn on a waltz and have your kids waltz around the room. Turn on the nutcracker and have your kids dance like a ballerina. Turn on a march and have your kids march around the house.


5. Have your kids wave scarves, streamers, or ribbons while dancing.


6. Let your kids leap and jump over tubs, cardboard bricks, or other safe objects while dancing.


7. Add on dance moves. Have a child make up a dance move. Have a second child copy the first child's dance move and then add on a second dance move. Have a third child copy the first two dance moves and then add on a third dance move, and so on. See how well the children can remember the order of the dance moves.


8. Turn on a dance video. Let your kids try to imitate what the dancers are doing on the screen. Ballet or hip hop is great for this exercise.

Clean Music for Teens: David Archuleta

If you are in the market for a clean CD for your teens, David Archuleta (former American Idol runner-up) has just released a new CD this month. And yes, the entire album is clean, I personally listened to and read every word to the songs myself! This album has mostly love songs on it and is avaliable at your local music stores or on-line. Click here to listen to clips of the songs.

Wordless/ful Wednesday

What Musical Instrument Am I?

Answer to Last Wordless/ful Wednesday: Contrabass Trombone

The trombone has been around since the 18th century and was originally called a sackbut (no kidding)! To play the trombone a player will buzz their lips and blow air through the mouthpiece while moving the slide. The contrabass trombone is the largest trombone in the trombone family and is a brass instrument. The contrabass trombone is similar to the the tenor trombone except a contrabass trombone plays lower and is larger than than a tenor trombone. The contrabass trombone is played in classical and jazz music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombone

Thanksgiving Songs for Children

Mr. Turkey

(Sung to "Frere Jacque")

Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey

Run away, Run away

If you don't be careful

You will be a mouthful

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Song From DLTK

I am participating in FFM

Anchorage Symphony Halloween Concert Review

If you are looking for a way to introduce classical music to your kids, going to the Anchorage Symphony Halloween Concert is a great way to do it! This year’s concert had an entertaining cast and a funny story line about trying to find the right style of music to wake the sleeping dragon.
The symphony played many different styles of music including pieces by Aaron Copland and Benny Goodman. There was even a vocal quintet that sung the 12 days of Halloween and 5 little pumpkins which my little guy loved! The concert was about 1 ½ hours long and had 4 floors of trick-or-treating for the kids after the concert. I would highly recommend this concert for families of all ages.

(Anchorage Symphony)

Thanksgiving Songs for Children

Did You Ever See a Turkey?

(Video from Cullen's ABC's)

For this song make 4 feathers out of construction paper:

Feather 1: Red

Feather 2: Orange

Feather 3: Yellow

Feather 4: Brown

Lyrics:

Did you ever see a turkey,

A turkey, a turkey,

As he struts around the farm yard,

With feathers so bright.

With red ones,

And orange ones,

And yellow ones,

And brown ones,

Did you ever see a turkey,

With feathers so bright.

I am participating in FMM.