Week 1: Music Connects Us to our Friends
I was very brave and decided to let the students pick their spots in music class for the entire month! I always have a seating chart, so this was way out of my comfort zone. However, the students were so happy to sit next to their friends that most of them behaved very well in order to continue picking each day.
Week 2: Music Connects Us to our Family
We held our 2nd Annual Family Folk Dancing Night this year as a way to connect with our family. Students in grades 4-6 were invited to bring their family members to the school one evening and we learned four different folk dances. Over 30 students and parents attended. Dances included Alabama Gal, Heel and Toe Polka, Syncopated Cyril, and a fun arrangement to Cotton Eye Joe.
The younger students connected with their family by having them help fill out their musical questionnaires.
Week 3: Music Connects Us to our Community
The first step in connecting with our community was one that I took. I called several area businesses asking if they would be willing to donate promotional items to the school to be used as prizes. I wanted the donated items to contain the name of their business so that we could promote their business while they in turn showed their support for music in our schools. I received almost 300 items from 21 local businesses! Prizes included items such as pencils and pens, fidget spinners, chapstick, water bottles, t-shirts, and much more. Here is a picture of most of the donated items. Even more was given after I took this picture!
The second way we connected with our community was by inviting the local string orchestra to our school for a mini-concert. The director talked to the students about the different instruments and had several of the members perform solos or duets so that the students could hear the individual instruments. The youngest member was only 5 years old and played a solo for everyone! His older brother, two older sisters, and his mother are also in the orchestra. Another great example of how music connects us to our family! Our small community is extremely lucky to have such talented musicians.
Week 4: Music Connects Us to the World
This week got cut short due to Easter, so I only saw each of my classes once. We talked about different instruments from around the world and I showed my 4th grade recorder class a video of another 4th grade class from across the world to demonstrate how 4th graders all over the world are learning recorder just like they are. They thought that was pretty neat.
Also, question four on the questionnaire asked students to contact someone from outside of our community about their favorite childhood song. I had students contact people from all over the United States as well as the following countries: Norway, Kuwait, the Philippines, Germany, Poland, Brazil, China, the Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico, and Russia!!!
Music Trivia
I also featured a trivia question on my door each week. Students could put their answers into the trivia bucket and 10 winners were drawn each week to receive another prize. I had over 100 students answer each week! The questions were: Name this tune (showing the notation for "Happy Birthday), How many strings are on a standard acoustic guitar? What was Elvis Presley's middle name? Where is the didgeridoo from?
And I almost forgot! Staff members got prizes, too! One of the local businesses donated much nicer items such as earrings, homemade chapsticks, handmade bags, and gift cards. I had a bag in the staff lounge for teachers and staff members to put their name in every time they did something to promote music in their classrooms or around the building. This included playing music, wearing a musical t-shirt, talking about their musical experiences in life, or just engaging in a conversation about music. At the end of each week, two winners were drawn from the bag.
I have to say, this was definitely another successful Music In Our Schools Month!! I can't wait until next year!
