Don't Worry!

Don't worry, I'm still here!  I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything on the social networks, and an even longer time since I've written a new blog post.  This has been a busy year full of change for me.  I've been working hard on my Master's Degree of Educational Technology, and I'm happy to announce that I should graduate in May!  I've spent the past two years helping my elementary music department develop, write, and roll out a new curriculum.  This is our first year using it, and although it's a strong curriculum, there is a lot of change, and that leads to a lot of extra work.  A lot of extra work means less time to write.  There's also one more thing...

I've also been getting ready to be a DAD!!!  My wife is due to deliver this week, and I wanted to make sure I got some new stuff out to my followers before my entire life is flipped upside down.  So please, don't worry... be happy!

Sing & Play with Bobby

In this post, you'll learn how you can use "Don't Worry Be Happy" to help teach harmony.  Yes, that may be one of my weakest and weirdest transitions I've ever made, but it works, right?  Even if it doesn't, don't worry... be happy!

My sixth grade students have recently been working on singing in three parts.  We have practiced singing a couple rounds, we sang a Music Express version of "We Go Together" from Grease which has a three part ending, and last week we sang three part harmony to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

As I mentioned above, we rolled out a new curriculum, and I randomly get new ideas all the time.  I didn't have my students sing Bobby McFerrin's hit song, "Don't Worry Be Happy," this year, but I really wish I had because it would be perfect!  You can easily use his website to show how layering parts together can create not only harmony, but an entire song.  Have students choose which part to add to put the full song together.  "Don't Worry Be Happy" has the melody, harmony to the melody, vocal percussion, bass, and three rhythm tracks.  "Just Enough" has the melody, two vocal percussion tracks, two bass tracks, and three riff tracks.  You can play one part at a time to show what it sounds like, then layer them together.  You can let the students choose which parts to add or delete creating their own version of the song.

Incredibox

Incredibox is another amazing website that shows students how layering parts together can create harmony and entire pieces.  There are now four versions of Incredibox.  Each one works the same, but each has different tracks.  My students LOVE creating their own songs with Incredibox.  Students can also record their pieces and share them on Facebook, Twitter, and email.  If you're looking for detailed instructions, then you have to check out Katie Wardrobe's website.  She's another amazing music educator and tech guru, and I'm not even going to attempt rewriting her amazing instructions in my own words.

More Bobby McFerrin

A few years ago, Bobby McFerrin was a panelist for the World Science Festival.  In the video below, he does a wonderful demonstration of how people from all over the world can identify the pentatonic scale.  I tried this activity with my students, and they loved it!  You can keep it simple by using specific notes such as Mi-So-La, or Do-Re-Mi.  It's great for visual and kinesthetic learners.

Music Express Magazine

I love Music Express Magazine, and last year they arranged a kid-friendly version of "Don't Worry Be Happy" in their December issue.  Even though I've been working on three-part harmony with my 6th graders, it's obviously easier to start with two-part harmony.  The Music Express version has some nice two-part harmony in it, and would transition nicely to the Sing and Play website activity mentioned above.  Here is John Jacobson doing his choreography to the piece:

Final Thoughts

Singing in three parts can be challenging.  Finding fun, engaging, and quality songs and activities is one of the best ways to meet your learning target.  I hope you have found these resources helpful!  Next year, I plan on having my students sing the two-part harmony version of "Don't Worry Be Happy" from Music Express, play with "Sing & Play with Bobby" and "Incredibox" online for a while, then transition to three-part harmony with some other songs.

As I mentioned above, my wife and I are expecting our first baby this week.  We are having a little girl, and I cannot wait to meet her!  I know that I will be busy again for a while trying to learn how to take care of her, so thank you for understanding why I won't be posting as often.  I do promise, however, that I will continue writing and sharing ideas as I find time.  I appreciate all of you for checking out my blog, and thanks for sharing it with your friends and colleagues.  Make sure to follow IWB Music on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.  Take care, and don't worry... BE HAPPY!

Isle of Friday Afternoons

Isle of Tune is one of the best ways to let your students create music on their own at school or at home.  Simply put down a road, a few cars, street lights, houses, trees, plants, and voilà: they have created a song!  I encourage all of you to experiment with Isle of Tune for a while.  Before you know it, half of your day has disappeared creating music!  This site is so intuitive and easy for students pick up, that I have had many emails from teachers and parents sharing with me how much they love this site! Not only can you create songs, but you can also use Isle of Tune as a fun teaching tool.

Melody Street

Melody Street has been around for a couple of years now, but I just came across this fun site about a month ago.  When you enter the site, you are immediately introduced to Val Violin, one of the main characters who live on Melody Street.  As you walk around exploring Melody Street, you can meet more instrument friends who will let you to play games, watch videos, and listen to music.  It is very kid friendly, and does a great job of introducing music to kids.  I will let you explore the main website and all it has to offer on your own.  I want to make sure you are aware of a few other things this great site has to offer.  Read on to learn all about this great interactive website!

Les Paul Google Doodle

Mashable.com recently posted their list of the 30 Best Google Doodles of 2011, and number 11 on the list (any Spinal Tap fans out there?) was the Google tribute to Les Paul's 96th birthday.  What a great way to make music history fun!


Your students can simply strum the strings to create music.  You can also discuss the major scale, intervals, and chords by playing the notes on a computer keyboard.  Each row will play the same scale, and you can press up to four notes at a time to create chords.


Finally, have fun recording and sharing your compositions!  Simply press the record button, play a song, and press the record button again to end your song.  You will be given a link with your composition to share with other students, teachers, parents, or friends.  Click here for an example of a little tune I made to sound a bit like The Who's "Baba O'Riley."  Try sharing your composition links in the comment section below!


Rock on, and happy new year!

Introducing the Staff

Every Good Boy Does Fine
Memorize it.  Got it?  Good... here's your quiz.


BORING!!!  Leaning the names of the lines and spaces on the staff doesn't have to put your students to sleep.  There are tons of songs, video clips, games, and tools that can make it easy to remember those pesky seven letters.  Here are three of my favorites:

Creating Music - Block Game

image via www.creatingmusic.com

Click here to go to The Block Game

This game comes from the Morton Subotnick website Creating Music.  Use blocks to create simple melodies.  Memorize your composition, and then try to find it again by listening to it.  I used this game with my students when we were working on songs with Do, Re, and Mi.  Here is a description of each difficulty and level setting:

Easy - Level 1 - 3 beats with 3 pitches (Do, Re, Mi)

Easy - Level 2 - 3 beats with 6 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La)

Easy - Level 3 - 3 beats with 8 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do - full Major scale)

Medium - Level 1 - 5 beats with 3 pitches (Do, Re, Mi)

Medium - Level 2 - 5 beats with 6 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La)

Medium - Level 3 - 5 beats with 8 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do - full Major scale)

Hard - Level 1 - 8 beats with 3 pitches (Do, Re, Mi)

Hard - Level 2 - 8 beats with 6 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La)

Hard - Level 3 - 8 beats with 8 pitches (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do - full Major scale)

Sample Lesson Plan by Will Braune:

Hands Symphony

image via www.handsonlycpr.org

Click here to go to Hands Symphony

I just got re-certified in CPR yesterday, and it made me think of the great website.  The American Heart Association reminds us that hands can do incredible things!  Use loops of different hand sounds to create rhythmic patterns.  You can create patterns in hip-hop, dance, and Latin styles.  Have your students mimic the sounds together to create your own Hands Symphony in the classroom!

UPDATE: Unfortunately the American Heart Association has taken down the "Hands Symphony" website and has replaced it with a different kind of music-related site.  Hands Only CPR teaches you how you can help save a life.  The song they recommend you use to find the steady beat for chest compressions is "Staying Alive" by the Bee-Gee's.  It's not as cool of a site (for a music educator,) but it's still pretty groovy!

Rhythm Trainer

image via www.therhythmtrainer.com

Click here to go to The Rhythm Trainer

This is one the sites that I use on a near daily basis.  It can be used with the whole class on an Interactive Whiteboard, or it can be used by each student in a computer lab or wireless laptop lab.

There are two modes to the site.  In "Mode A," the students listen to a rhythm and transcribe what they hear by pressing each beat's rhythmic pattern.  In "Mode B," the students are shown a rhythm, and are given four audio examples to choose from to make a correct match.

I use this site mostly on my IWB at the beginning of each class.  It's a fun way to get the class started, and the students are learning to identify and read rhythms.

Welcome

Welcome to IWBmusic!  This site is designed to help music educators find quality interactive web-based resources for their students.  I have been using my school website for a number of years to post these links.  I am hoping to branch out and help more people find great sites more easily.  Enjoy!