John Taylor Musicians Visit Buchanan!

Today we were fortunate to have the John Taylor Jazz Band, Choir and Drumline perform for Buchanan students! They played some Christmas favourites such as "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Joy To The World", as well as some classics such as "In The Hall of the Mountain King". The choir performed the song "Walking On Air" from the 1982 film The Snowman, as well as another exciting piece accompanied by the djembe drum. The drumline also dazzled us with their funky rhythms! Thanks John Taylor students!!

The Nutcracker Ballet!

For the week following our winter concert, students are learning about The Nutcracker Ballet. The music was written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a Russian composer who is also well-known for his other 2 ballets, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. He was born in 1840 and died in 1893.

In class we are watching the ballet as performed by the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Though we will not have time in class, students may enjoy watching an old cartoon version of the Nutcracker, called The Nutcracker Prince, at home!

Buchanan Staff Presents: What Does The Teacher Say?

Buchanan teachers like to have a little fun too, so we made our own parody of "What Does The Fox Say"! Enjoy!

Winter Concert: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Congratulations to all Buchanan students on their fantastic performance at our 2013 Winter Concert: Crazy Little Thing Called Love! Students did a wonderful job of bringing the audience back to the 80's!

Sally Singer Is All Better!

Our Kindergarten students have been very concerned about their partner in singing, Sally Singer. She has been broken and unable to join us for a few weeks. But I have good news! She has been all fixed up and is excited to join us once again! :)

Announcing...Buchanan's Winter Concert 2013!!

Remembrance Day At Buchanan

Today, at 11:00am, was Buchanan School's Remembrance Day ceremony. We began the ceremony with O Canada, led by Sgt. Grenon, followed by the playing of the Last Post and Reville by Sgt. Belanger. Next, Sgt. Grenon spoke to us about why we wear a poppy, and how soldiers work to keep peace in our world.

Following Sgt. Grenon, Mrs. Jenner spoke about the letters and postcards Buchanan students wrote to send to Canadian soldiers. As the choir sang "My Letter To You", representatives from each class placed their letters in our cardboard mailbox to symbolize sending our letters away.

My Letter To You

Words & Music by Ashley Queen

Following the choir, Sgt. Grenon shared video messages of thanks from soldiers serving overseas.
This was followed by "A Pittance of Time":

A Pittance of Time

Words & Music by Terry Kelly

The assembly wrapped up with a slideshow of Buchanan friends and family members who have served or currently serve in the armed forces.

The WSO Visits Buchanan!

Today we were fortunate to have a "Bach To School" string group from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra perform for Buchanan students! We learned a little bit about the violin, viola, cello and double bass. We heard some great music, and also learned about the different ways the string instruments can be played. The string group played several well-known pieces, included "Ode To Joy" by Beethoven, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart, and surprised us at the end by playing the Angry Birds theme! It was definitely an enjoyable performance! Thank you WSO!

Hungarian Dance #3

Students in Grades1-3 are pleased to present their final products for Hungarian Dance #3! It is amazing how different each of the stories are! Enjoy!

Room 1

Room 9

Room 10

Room 11

**Room 4's project is still to come! :)

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything

Kindergarten students have been using classroom instruments to enhance storytelling. In anticipation of Halloween, our most recent story was "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything" by Linda Williams.

Students had a lot to remember during their performance! They tried very hard to keep their instruments quiet when it was not their turn to play. They also had to concentrate so that they would be ready to play when it was their turn! We hope you enjoy!

Hungarian Dance #3 by Brahms

Students in our grade 1/2/3 multiage classes have learned all about Beethoven and his famous Fifth Symphony. Now we have started to learn about the composer Johann Brahms and his composition, Hungarian Dance #3.

First they listened to the music and discussed what images and stories it brought to mind. Next, while looking at a chart showing the FORM of the music (the musical pattern or recipe), the class made up a story to act out while the music was playing. Our final piece was to illustrate the story and share it with you! Enjoy!

Recorder Hero

Yes...you heard right...Recorder Hero! This year grade 4 and 5 students are working on their recorder skills and hoping to earn the ultimate title of "Recorder Hero".

Students progress through a series of levels individually, with each level becoming increasingly difficult by adding more notes and varying rhythms. For most of the levels students are given a choice as to which song they want to play out of a group of choices. Each group of choices offers pieces that vary in difficulty to ensure that all students have an opportunity to succeed and move on to new levels.

Each time a student passes a level, he/she earns a badge on a certificate.

Students who have achieved Recorder Hero status gain access to the "Unlocked Songs".

Song choices are as follows:

Fan (Notes: BAG)

Hot Cross Buns
Sleep, Baby Sleep
Merrily We Roll Along
Au Clair de la Lune
All Through the Night

Groupie (Notes: AGE)
Lucy Locket
Acka Backa

Backstage Pass (Notes: BAGE)
Who Has Seen the Wind?

Roadie (New Note: High D)
Mary Had a Little Lamb

Opener (New Note: High C)
Lightly Row
Ding Dong Merrily On High

Record Deal (New Note: F#)
Skip To My Lou
Paw Paw Patch
Polly Wolly Doodle

#1 Single (New Note: Low D)
Down By the Station
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Hush Little Baby
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Touring Artist (Notes: C'BAGF#ED)
Happy Birthday
Yankee Doodle
Aura Lee
'Tis the Gift To Be Simple (D'C'BAGF#ED)

Sold Out Show (Any Combination of: D'C'BAGF#ED)
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Ode To Joy
Alouette
Home on the Range

Recorder Hero (New Note: Low C)
Frere Jacques
Auld Lang Syne

Unlocked Songs
He's a Pirate (from Pirates of the Caribbean)
Pirates of the Caribbean 2
William Tell Overture
Call Me Maybe
Hedwig's Theme (from Harry Potter)
Donkey Riding
O Canada
My Heart Will Go On (Titanic Theme)
Wake Me When September Ends
Dynamite

Sounds Can Go Up, Sounds Can Go Down

Kindergarten students have been learning about high and low sounds, as well as learning to tell the difference between ascending and descending sounds. They have practiced responding to high and low through movement, verbal description and drawing.
Students sorted pictures on the Smartboard into things that were up high and things that were down low. They also listened to the piano and decided if the sound was high or low by placing leaves on the tree on high or low branches.

Students also listened to music and decided whether or not the sound was ascending or descending. If it was going up, they placed the package in the plane, and if it was going down they placed the package in the train. Students also practiced drawing lines to show the patterns of sound.

And finally, the moment all of the kindergartens have been waiting for....
The BARRED INSTRUMENTS! We used the book "Up, Up, Down" by Robert Munsch and demonstrated how the characters climbed up and fell down by playing ascending and descending patterns on the barred instruments. Here are some photos of the proud kindergarten students playing their instruments!

K1 - Ms. Barnabe's Class

K1 - Ms. Barnabe's Class

K2 - Mrs. Thorsteinson's Class

Composing Melodies!

Students in our grade 1/2/3 classes are working on composing and playing their own melody to go with the poem "Legs and All".

Check out these photos of Room 10 students working on their compositions!

Kindergarten: Listen To the Ducks

Right at the very beginning of school, kindergarten students began learning how to accompany themselves by playing a short rhythmic pattern on an instrument while singing. Here is their first song (performed by K2 on September 10th, 2013), Listen To the Ducks!

Make Way For Recorders!

Grade 4 and 5 students are getting ready to start playing the recorder for the year! To kick off the learning of this instrument, students have been learning about the history of the recorder as well as the different kinds of recorders. I showed them 5 different sizes of recorder (from smallest to biggest): Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. The recorder our grade 4's & 5's play is called the Soprano Recorder.

Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Bass Recorders

I was also able to show them my collection of recorders and flutes from around the world, including India, Germany, Hungary, the Ukraine and Ireland.

Students also learned how the recorder is made from this video:

Last, students were given an example of how beautiful the recorder can sound once we learn how to play well by watching this video from Taiwan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61y38DZZ4A8

Rhythm Picks

Students in our Grade 1/2/3 classes are demonstrating their ability to recognize rhythms when heard aurally. First we did a sample Rhythm Picks sheet together on the Smartboard. After listening to me clap a rhythm pattern, students had to decide which rhythm I clapped from the list of choices.

Next, students received their own Rhythm Picks sheet and I posted a new set of rhythm pattern choices. This time, students were instructed to keep their papers and their answers "Top Secret".