Picasso Guitars - 4th grade

After working on Picasso inspired self portraits, students then created 3-D guitars.  Students had the option of working alone or with a partner (if working with a partner they had to figure out who would get to keep the guitars to avoid any arguments later). 
First, students had to study and draw a guitar in their sketchbooks.  Then, after learning what materials they would have available (cardboard, tape, glue, tooth picks, Styrofoam, straws, packing peanuts, pipe-cleaners, string), they had to plan on how they would build/assemble their guitar.

All the students dove right into the activity and seemed to be very happy with the results.  My room was always a disaster area after the 4th graders left, but through this activity they had a cross-curricular art experience, learned to work with a partner, had to problem solve, and were extremely creative.

Picasso and Stravinsky = Art + Music in the 20th Century

Students in art class have been examining the art work of 20th century artist, Pablo Picasso. They will be making their own guitars and musical instruments in the style of Picaso using cardboard and other materials.  In music class, students have been listening to the music if Picasso's friend, Igor Stravinsky. Both men had major influences on art and music in the 20th century. Being able to make these connections between the two classes has been fun!

iPad + Gershwin + Second Grade

Students in the second grade have continued to polish their xylophone pieces aided by the iPad Virtuoso app.  After demonstrating the notes on the iPad and examining the notes on the staff, students find it easier to find their way on the xylophones. Their version of George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm has really been terrific!

Pi Day & YouTube in Music Class

YouTube & Music Class:   Pi Day!

Last Monday, March 14, was Pi Day. Students were able to view "What Pi Sounds Like" via YouTube and our Epson projectors. The creator of this piece assigned a pitch to each number and then played the progression of notes on various instruments, staggering the entrances as in a fugue.

I was able to use this example to point out several composers who have used mathematical formulas like this for creating music, from Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) to Paul Hindemith (1895 – 1963).

IPAD in Pre-K - March 3

In celebration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss, I read the book A, B, C to Pre-K B.  Each page of the story focuses on a letter of the alphabet by using many words (both real and Seuss) and pictures that start with that specific letter.  Students then created an art project that was based on the first letter of their first name.  After writing their name on a white sheet of paper students had to fill the remainder of the page with pictures of things that also started with the first letter of their first name.  For this project I downloaded the app PictionaryHD, which is like a visual dictionary.  When kids ran out of things to draw or were not sure what something looked like, we were able to pull up a picture of it within a few seconds of scrolling.

Charlie needed help coming up with more "C" words so with the help of the ipad he was able to draw a cactus. 

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

  During our Discovery training we learned how to make digital versions of ourselves.  I don't really play the drums but I wish I did!

Music, Week of February 14, 2011

Classes this week were exploring the music of American composer, George Gershwin. After listening to a terrific performance of his Rhapsody in Blue with Earl Wild and the Boston Pops, students viewed, via  the Internet, several advertisements by United Air Lines in which they cleverly used the Rhapsody in Blue as the background music.

Moving on to Gershwin's I've Got Rhythm, I was able to show the students, via Virtuoso on the iPad, how to find the five notes (pentatonic scale) of that piece on the keyboard. They transferred those notes either to the xylophones - with the identical set up to a keyboard - or to the recorders (same notes on the staff).

It has been nice being able to switch back and forth from CDs to YouTube examples to hands-on performance of pieces to help students absorb and learn the music of some these terrific composers.

Zychowka 2/16

Today 5A looked at and discussed the art of Russian Abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky.  Kandinsky first learned to paint in the style of Monet and Van Gogh (the Impressionists) but eventually his art evolved into a non-representational style  full of line, shape, and color.  He was strongly influenced and inspired by classical music.

After our discussion, we reviewed the principles of design and then students broke up into pairs.  Together they were given the challenge of creating a unified and successful abstract design.  Classical music played in the background (thanks to my ipod and Pandora) while students collaborated and set the foundation for their paintings. 

Getting back from a work, especially a large one, helps you to see it more clearly.  It's a good habit to get into when making art. 

iPad in Music Class

Week of February 7, 2011

This week I started using the iPad app Virtuoso to demonstrate to the classes the notes for their xylophone pieces. This app has also allowed for me to show that the pattern of keys on the xylophone and piano are exactly alike. Therefore, they can transfer the pieces they learn in class on the xylophones to a piano (or iPad!).

I have also been able to show that the higher notes on the keyboard are represented on the treble staff and the low notes on the bass staff. Hearing the difference in pitch helps to reinforce the concept behind the Grand Staff.  Additionally, the students have been able to see more clearly how their vocal  "scale" warm-ups relate to the keyboard or xylophone.

The piano has always been  available for these demonstrations, but the iPad is much more compact and easier for all of the students to see.

Of course, there is always feedback from the students recommending apps that I should get for this iPad. We're learning from each other.

General Music Class
RSPS

Ms. Zychowka - jan 4

Below is a sketch of the mural I painted.  This was done on the ipad in a simple note taking app.  I used a stylus which allowed for a little more accuracy of line placement.  The scale and color of the work aren't accurate, but the drawing was a great reference when I worked on the actual painting .