June 18, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Azanga" track #1 from local group Shumba Ya Rira, the Lion that Roars, (Zimbabwe) by the Shumba Youth Marimba Ensemble. Recorded and mixed in Port Townsend, WA


From the liner notes: "Music and dance traditions have been deeply ingrained in Shona Culture from ancient time and are passed down from oral tradition. Much of shona music is based on the mbira, a hand-held ideophone with 22-28 metal reeds attached to a board that are plucked when played. The mbira plays a prominent role in many types of ceremonies, including traditional rituals for communicating with ancestral spirits. Some of the pieces on this recording draw upon traditional mbira music from Zimbabwe, and have been translated for marimba.
Marimbas are finely crafted xylophones made from hardwoods such as vermillion, mahogany and paduak. The keys are fine-tuned to reflect the tones played in African societies. Each key has a resonator which amplifies the sound, producing a unique musical effect --- from the clear, bell-like tones of the soprano to the deep, percussive tones of the bass. Marimbas are about five feet long, and their heights vary from two feet to more than five feet. The ensemble of instruments creates music that is exciting to listen to--and wonderful for dancing! The music has a universal quality that appeals to all ages and backgrounds."
http://www.shumbamarimba.org/

Mozart's Concerto for 2 pianos, K.365, 3rd movement

"Flying Machine" from Father Goose's It's a Bam Bam Diddly!

June 11, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Gahu" (Nigeria, Ghana) from Bakongo! Drumming Music for Dancers and played our triangles.

"Here we Go Zudio" performed by Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem from the album Many Hands, Family Music for Hati

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
then I let it go again,
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
which finger did it bit?
The little finger on the right!

June 4, 2011

Today we listened to:
 "Kudi Kudi" from Bhangra: Original Punjabi Pop

Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 2 k. 417, 3rd movement

Preschool class also listened to:

Camille Saint-Saens' "Aquarium" from his carnival of the animals

May 21, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Kpatsa" (Ghana) track #1 from the album Bakongo! and played along with our drums.

"Jig Jog Gee" track #7 from Father Goose's album It's a Bam Bam Diddly!

This is my right hand, I hold it high,
This is my left hand, I touch the sky,
Right hand, left hand roll them around,
Left hand, right hand, pound pound pound!

Silence: Music to My Ears

When was the last time you listened to nothing? No kids, iPods, dvds, phone calls; just quiet. It may it hard to remember. Our ears and brains are always engaged in listening to something. Children are also constantly bombarded with sound. In our attempts to keep them learning and entertained, they too aften have little chance to appreciate silence. Quiet time can be valuable for children.children in the pre-language stage can have a chance to practice sounds and words, children who are talking can have a chance to practice new words, and it gives all children the chance to quietly reflect on their day.

Silence can help to direct behavior as well. Often, using a quiet voice to speak to children will calm them down, or at least get them to use quieter voices. If they need to be quiet to hear something interesting they will. Think about how quiet they get when we sing the verse on "Wheels On the Bus" when the parents say "shhh, shhh, shhh." Children can easily be overstimulated by noise, causing them to act out or to cry. Silence gives their ears a break and maybe yours too!

May 14th, 2011

Today we listened to:

"Pa Manen Fanm Nan" by Michel Martelly with Haiti Twoubadou from Putamayo French Carribean

"Croque" by Thomas Ferson from Putamayo's French Playground

Sing to Your Baby

I heard this review on the NPR. It may be interesting for parents who need a music confidence boost!



May 11, 2011
If you'd like to sing to your baby this Mother's Day, but think your voice is enough to make a small child cry — or an adult, for that matter — fear not. A new CD just might boost your confidence. Sing to Your Baby is a collection of simple songs for parents who are convinced they're singing-impaired.
The songs were written by Grammy winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. The collection features 11 songs, but each one appears twice: once in a key intended for moms and once adjusted for dads to sing. Cathy Fink says most of the tunes are what's known as "zipper songs," written so it's easy to zip out a line and zip in one of your own.
"It's really important for parents to realize that your baby is not judging your singing voice," Fink says. "You are a rock star from day one, so as long as you're having fun and enjoying the moment, the baby's going to have fun and enjoy the moment."
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136028850/sing-to-your-baby-fighting-parental-stage-fright