Category Archives: Blogroll

Making Steady Progress
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Ask yourself if you are making steady progress on your violin or band instrument. Monitor the amount of time you are practicing and the number of days you are practicing. You can make your own chart or ask me for one. If you are falling behind in your class assignments that would be a sign you need to spend more time practicing at home.

Today we learned about playing songs in small sections and working on those 2-4 notes slowly and increasing speed until it felt good. Then we added one more measure or a few more notes. Always starting slow when adding more notes and then increasing speed as it becomes easier to play.

In band I had mentioned that we would want to be sure every note we play sounds beautiful. If it is not beautiful, stop are begin again at a much slower speed. Do not increase speed unless each note is lovely. This would be true for violin students as well.

Have fun practicing – but practice with a purpose – increase your ability each time you practice. You are your own competition. Can you beat yourself at playing tomorrow? If you don’t practice today then you will lose to yourself tomorrow.

Concert Announcement Image
Spring Concerts bring Excitement and Growth!

Music Game and Mrs. Reed’s Recorder
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We are going to play a recorder game at Nowlin. If you can tell me the name of the note Recorder Dude is fingering you could win a treat. Only one winner per photo.

Also, the recorder in this picture belongs to Mrs. Reed. She got this recorder when she was 9 years old. The recorder is 49 years old. How old is Mrs. Reed?

Which note is Recorder Dude fingering?
This is the recorder Mrs. Reed got when she was 9 years old. Notice that her last name is different now.

Music Games for sharpening skills
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Here are some fun links for music theory and note reading games to play to sharpen your music skills.

Music Cards

Music Theory Games

Name That Note

Note Names

I received a beautiful email this afternoon. A group of Scouts are working on their Junior Musician Badge and this particular scout found my blog page. She seems to have enjoyed the links I had posted here a yew years back and asked if she might recommend a few new resources for this page. It is very exciting for an educator to receive an email such as this. What a great way to begin this new school year.

So, for this young scout and her troop, here are the resources she shared with me. Best wishes to you all as you work toward this new badge. 😀

A Musical Glossary for Kids

A MUSICAL PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS: MUSIC THEORY LESSONS

Where will you find Mrs. Reed during conferences?
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I am available for conference in person or by phone. Since I am in three different buildings you will not find me in your building for all 3 of the conference dates. Here is my schedule for your convenience:

  • Nov. 7 – Maples Elementary School
  • Nov. 12 – Nowlin Elementary School
  • Nov. 14 – Maples Elementary School

I will not be able to be in the Becker building but would welcome Becker parents to call or stop by Maples or Nowlin to meet in person. You may also communicate with me through Google Classroom.

For all parents, you are always welcome to email me or communicate with me through Class Dojo. I am very eager to work with you for the success of your child.

Where is Mrs. Reed?

Redford Civic Symphony Concert
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The Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra has bern keeping three of Dearborn Music teachers buys this year. We just performed our first concert of the season: Theme from Gladiator, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8.

Three of Dearborn Music educators play in the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra concert: Mrs. Reed on flute, Ms. Holmes on clarinet, and Mr. Kwiecien on bassoon.
Three of Dearborn Music educators play in the Redford Civic Symphony Orchestra concert: Mrs. Reed on flute, Ms. Holmes on clarinet, and Mr. Kwiecien on bassoon.
Mrs. Reed’s flute is poised across some of her sheet music for the concert.
Mrs. Reed’s flute is poised across some of her sheet music for the concert.

Recorder Basics Class
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Nowlin 4th and 5th grade students will be participating in a Recorder Karate Challenge as we learn about the basic skills necessary to play an instrument well and musically. Letters have been sent home and also posted to ClassDojo with the information necessary to reserve a recorder for your child. Contact Mrs. Reed if you have any questions.

If you need a new Recorder Letter order form here is a PDF for you to print and return.

recorder-letter-2019.doc-1Download
Recorder Karate belt levels and requirements and posted on a display bulletin board outside of the music classroom. Recorder Dude is also on the board and has fingers that can be positioned to show various fingerings on the recorder.
As students earn their belt for each level they will sign our Karate Challenge Board.

Rhythm Testing Using Icons
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These rhythm sticks have Eyes grouped together to represent note values.
These rhythm sticks have Eyes grouped together to represent note values.
The flip side of the sticks has the answer to the rhythm.
The flip side of the sticks has the answer to the rhythm.
We are using fun Fall Themed images to create rhythms. The 4th and 5th grade will say Pumpkin for the one without the face and Jack-o-Lantern for the one with the face.

Practice clapping and saying these rhythms at home so you are ready for the rhythm assessment.

“Nowlin’s Got Talent!”
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We will be offering an Honors Choir option for Nowlin Students in grades 3, 4 & 5 this year. Rehearsals will be in the music room (28), Tuesday mornings, 7:45-8:30. Attached is the parent permission letter which is necessary for a student to join the choir. Please print the letter and return the letter to your child’s homeroom teacher or the office. They will make sure your permission letter gets to the correct hands.

Permission Letter (click here)

Does your child love to sing? This is the perfect group for your child to join!