Music News from Mrs. Hirschman

Music this year has been very different, typical of 2020!  Since the beginning of the second quarter music has been inside the building, traveling from classroom to classroom.  Each student in 3rd and 4th grade has a tin can to keep a pair of rhythm sticks, recorder and about a three foot section of a crepe streamer. Each student in grades K-2 has a gallon baggie with either a pair of rhythm sticks, or pencils and a three foot section of a crepe streamer.  


A typical music lesson has a movement song, rhythm song, a music theory section, listening selection, solfege singing, singing for fun, and the 3rd and 4th graders play the recorder.  Finding lessons that are engaging and fit the Covid criteria has been a huge challenge this year!  We used the section of crepe streamer to move to patriotic music for Veteran’s Day.  Body percussion has also been a regular part of music.  On Wednesdays, students in grades 1-4 work on their devices and explore many different music sites located in the virtual classroom.  Several students have shared how they are enjoying the virtual classroom outside of the scheduled music time, which is awesome!

It would be nice to add other musical items to the baggies or cans.  I have been wondering if students could bring a plastic Easter egg with tiny pebbles, or rice, or beans depending on what sounds best, or other small containers that close such as spice containers or empty pill bottles etc.  Another instrument I would like to add is a homemade tambourine, which can be made from metal bottle caps. Here is a link for a video to make a bottle cap tambourine.  If you would be willing to send them, the students will add them to their baggie or can and we will start making music with them.  I really appreciate any help with this!

This year feels like being out in a blizzard trying to go uphill against the wind, but in the midst of it I am finding many magical moments making music with the students and it keeps me going!