Rock Your Beat!
Summer Reading Theme - Music & Musical Instruments
Focus: Musical Instruments
In Your MakerSpace: International Make Your Own Instrument Day is June 21. Reach out to colleagues to plan a lively construction / performance project to celebrate. Think outside the box -- ask your music teacher; marching band leader; stage musical director; pep band advisor ...
Making Instruments:
- Instructions from Dariamusic.com
- Kids’ Corner from Bash the Trash – instructions with videos
- PBS Learning: The Junkman – meet a man who makes instruments from junk
Making Music:
- PBS Learning : Learn to play the Spoons
- PBS Learning Media Chuck Vanderchuck’s Explosion Music Appreciation videos
- African Drum Lessons by Farai Malianga - Kennedy Center
Focus: Songs and Sing-alongs
Listen, Create, Sing - available to everyone:
- KidsTube has hundreds of free sing-alongs for younger children
- Flocabulary offers many free videos on its Youtube channel
- Several government agencies feature songs on their websites. Check out the National Institute of Health's Kids' Health songs ... even karaoke versions of Broadway tunes from Les Misérables, The Lion King, and more!
Listen, Create, Sing - exclusively for Media Library subscribers:
- Flocabulary - Students can listen to rap music videos, study the vocabulary, read the lyrics, then write their own.
- soundzabound - Find the perfect music bed for presentations and performances. You get "... Dance, Rap, Blues, Swing, Themes, Loops & Stingers, Game Show Themes, TV, Movie, Cartoon Themes, Sports James, Groovy Loops, Stingers and Sound Effects ..." and that's just in ONE of their 12 volumes.
- TumbleBooks Library features TumbleTunes for sing-along time -- use those homemade instruments for a full-body experience.
- Learn360 includes an astounding collection of 77 different series on music, 24 of which were produced within the last 10 years.
Focus: Musicans & Musical Styles
Collaborate with ELA, Science, Music Departments: We have access to many excellent online resources to teach about musical genres, instruments and performers.
- Gale's Research in Context features more than 1000 biographies of musicians.
- Encyclopedia Britannica has leveled articles on musical genres, perfect for differentiating instruction in blended classrooms.
- Kids InfoBits clearly describes popular instruments and musical styles (K-5).
Local Connections: Chances are, there dozens of talented musicians right in your district! Ask the director of your school's recent drama production to host a mini-review in your library. Or invite a hometown celebrity or popular alumni to come perform for your summer reading kickoff event (East Rochester native Alyssa Trahan landed songwriting contract in Nashville).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=uI-ZUC2Tu-4
Bring in a Guest Speaker or Host a Special Event:
Catskill Mountain Music
This is just one of many performers in the NYS Performers list.
Bash the Trash
Traveling performers teach students how to make and play instruments from recycled materials.
Host a Kazoo Concert
What sounds better than a room full of low-cost kazoos? The laughter of students and staff!