Primary Music

Minute Marvels –The introduction of FlipGrid. 

As mentioned last week, I have been looking at other ways to have our lunch-time groups continue. I wanted to flag with you the introduction of using FlipGrid. After speaking to classes, some students indicated that it would be difficult for them to record a video at home. 

To ensure equal access to participation I will use the lunch time to help students record a video of their performance on FlipGrid. When all students who wish to participate and have sent me an email to confirm. I will help them make a video of their performance.  I will release the videos at the end of the Term. This will be a trial only lasting until the end of Term 2. 

Your child will not need an account but will receive an email to the Minute Marvels FlipGrid. The email will include a message from me with a log in code which gives them access to my FlipGrid. 

Fiddlesticks

The Primary School string group Fiddlesticks has resumed at lunchtime on Wednesdays. We will continue to run Fiddlesticks during lunchtime until the end of the Term. This will be revised in Term 3. Luke Plumb and I have been looking forward to getting the group of players back together. They were making excellent progress before the lockdown and continued to make good music yesterday.

Grade 6 Pop Group

Grade 6 Pop Group had not been up and running for very long before the lockdown. It is held on Friday at lunchtime. There were some difficulties with attendance for some students who have leadership roles and for those who wish to participate in other activities or groups.  On the basis of this, I will be reviewing this group/s and replacing it with another ensemble. Currently Grade 6 have the option of joining the Middle Years Voices and if their standard is good enough, the College Orchestra. 

Music Online Learning 

It was a daunting prospect to move online as music is an experiential with group music making  activities conducted in real time. Although we could not play instruments and sing songs together, the lockdown provided time for Primary students to have other musical experiences. Luckily, with access to videos of orchestral performances for children, songs and games, it was possible to keep music education  in their lives by listening responding and creating. I wanted to share with you one of the favourite online  music activities: the Chrome Music Lab. Students of all ages could create music quickly but also learn about sound, beat and rhythm. The added benefit was the visual aspect to the music making. Music has patterns and so students experimented with visual patterns and sound patterns. If you would like to view it for yourself simply click here.

Here are two examples of compositions using Song Maker in the Chrome Music Lab by Grade 3 students  Naeve Riches and Ruby Jager.

Dorothy Lincoln

Primary Music Teacher