Paganini's violin concerto performed on face

Year 5 music: Consonance vs Dissonance

In music, when a combination of notes are played together and produces a nice sound/quality, it is called CONSONANCE. In contrast, when a group of notes are played together and produces a less-agreeing sound, we call it a DISSONANCE. Obviously, throughout music history, most songs are full of consonances as it is more pleasing to audience's ears. However, in the more modern world of composition, composers starts to experiment with dissonance as well. Listen to the following piano piece and see if you like it. How does this listening experience differ from your past experience with listening?

Year 5 music: Intervals

Major & Perfect Intervals

SO...WHAT'S SO PERFECT ABOUT PERFECT INTERVALS?

Click on THIS LINK to read an article that may give you the answer.

Example of a Chant

Example of an Organum

Bugs Bunny and Opera

Just for fun~

Year 5 music: Let it be

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom Let it be

And when the brokenhearted people

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted

There is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be

Yeah, there will be an answer let it be

Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom Let it be

Let it be, let it be Let it be, yeah, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom Let it be

And when the night is cloudy

There is still a light that shines on me

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Year 5 music: I'd like to teach the world to sing

What is the purpose/function of this pop song?

Music recommendations: Look at the world

Some music are simply beautiful that we don't need many reasons to play it. Here is an example. This is one of the classic song written by John Rutter. He is one of the most prominent British composer who has arranged and composed many songs, both sacred and secular.

Look at the World

Look at the world, everything all around us

Look at the world and marvel every day.

Look at the world: so many joys and wonders,

So many miracles along our way Praise to thee,

O lord for all creation.

Give us thankful hearts that we may see

All the gifts we share, and every blessing,

All things come of thee.

Look at the earth bringing forth fruit and flower,

Look at the sky the sunshine and the rain.

Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains,

Valley and flowing river, field and plain.

Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer

Bringing the harvest before winter’s cold.

Everything grows, everything has a season,

till it is gathered to the Father's fold:

Every good gift, all that we need and cherish.

Comes from the Lord in token of his love We are his hands,

stewards of all his bounty

His is the earth and his the heavens above

Super Mario Bros Theme Song: A capella

The Italian term a capella is means "in the manner of church" or "in the manner of chapel" - it refers to music designed to sing without any instrumental accompaniment.  Let's watch a version of this one-man-band performing the Super Mario Bros theme song a capella:

Year 5 music: Guitar and Ukulele



The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain



Ukuleles are commonly associated with music from Hawaii.  According to Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, the name means "the gift that came here," from the Hawaiian words uku (gift or reward) and lele (to come).

So where did the ukulele come from?  it was taken to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira and Cape Verde in the 19th century.

Ukuleles employ four strings and commonly come in four sizes, soprano, concert, tenor and baritone.

Since the ukulele is highly portable and inexpensive, it has become a popular instrument in different countries, such as Canada, Japan and the United States.  (Visist www.ukulelehunt.com if you want to know more about this cute instrument)

Adding to our Super Mario Bro theme collection - hear it on the ukulele.

How does the timbre of the piece differs when it's played on a guitar?

As for the guitar, it is hard to traced back to its orgin as string instrument that resembles the guitar has appeared as early as 5000 years ago in the Middle East, central Asia and India. There was not a single person who invented the guitar, it rather evolved over time from ancient guitar-like instruments into the modern guitar we have now. It was not until 1779 when the real first modern version of the guitar was "invented" by an Italian man by the name of Gaetano Vinaccia. The modern-day guitar usually has six strings; it is one of the primary instruments in blues, rock, pop and country music.

Year 5 music: TOP OF THE WORLD

The Carpenters was a very popular American vocal and instrumental duo in the 1970s. Karen and Richard Carpenter are siblings and they play different roles in the duo. Karen Carpenter is known for her low register in singing and therefore, a lot of their songs features Karen using her chest voice. The siblings have multi-talents in music which helped to lead to their tremendous success in their music career. TOP OF THE WORLD is the title of a song by The Carpenters from 1972.

All-in-one: Nick Pitera

Children, watch this video and keep count of the number of characters in it.

Now, let's see how many people were behind the scence during the recording:

Year 4 music: 康定情歌 (Kangding Love song)

The Kangding Love Song (康定情歌) is one of the most famous Chinese love songs in history. It is a traditional folk songof Kangding (康定). The town is located in the western part of the sichuan province in China, within the Tibetan Plateau.

Do you like the melody? Do you think it's romantic?



Happy Valentine's Day! =)

A famous Australian folk song

When you look at Sydney and Melbourne, you can see the very modern side of Australia; when you visit the Great Barrier Reef, you see how Australia was blessed by one of the most amazing natural wonder of the world. When you walk towards central Australia, you'd meet aboriginals who may not look like Australian to you but actually they were the first people who occcupied this vast land. Here's one of Australias's most recognisable icon, ULURU.

Ayer's Rock, Central Australia

If you can only learn one song from Australia, Waltzing Matilda has to be your choice! This song is known as "the unofficial national anthem of of Australia." This cartoon may help you define some of the Australian slang words that appear in the song! (words in purple are defined for you below)

WALTZING MATILDA

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong

Under the shade of a coolabah tree,

And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"

And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,

And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,

Down came the troopers, one, two, three,

"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,

"You'll never take me alive", said he,

And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,

"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Matilda: a romantic term for a swagman's knapsack.
swagman: a man who travelled the country looking for work.
billabong: a lake (a cut-off river bend) found alongside a meandering river.
coolibah tree: a kind of gum tree which grows near billabongs.
jumbuck: a large, naughty sheep.
billy: a can for boiling water in, usually 2–3 pints.
Tucker bag: a bag for carrying food ("tucker").
troopers: policemen.

Traditional Australian instrument - didgeridoo 

 When didgeridoo meets a western orchestra

Year 1 music: African songs

Music is one of the most natural channels to lead children in to the world of another culture. Young children, especially, enjoy songs from African heritage. Both African and African-American songs invovle a lot of percussion and movements, which makes them very suitable for lower primary music lesson. The lyrics are usually quite easy to pick up; in fact, many African songs are performed in the form of "call and response." African music is more about fun and communication than singing techniques or observing rules; its doesn't matter if one can sing well or not, everyone who participates get the fun out of it!

Here are 2 of the African songs that we have learnt this year:

1) Epo i tai tai e

2) Kye Kye Kule

Year 2 music: Christmas songs!!

Christmas songs make up an important part our childhood.

In Year 2, we sing two Christmas songs that are most suitable for their age! I love this old version of "Alvin and the Chipmunks", so do the children.



Christmas Don't be Late!

Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good, but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late

Just to spice things up, I also play them the new REMIX version~



The 2nd song I shared with them was "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Year 2 is the perfect age to sing this song, isn't it? =B

Year 4 Music: Silver Bells (from Lemon Drop Kid)

Christmas makes you feel emotional
It may bring parties or thoughts devotional
Whatever happens or what may be
Here is what Christmas time means to me

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughin, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you hear

Silver bells, Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, Hear them ring.
Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights, even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all this bustle you hear

Year 1 music: Bumblebee

I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm bring home a baby bumblebee
OUCH! It stung me!!

I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee
EEEWWWWW~It's YUCKY!!

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee
Won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee
Now my mommy won't be mad at me!

Before we learn this Bumblebee Song in class, we had listened to The Flight of the Bumblebee by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky- Korsakov. Most students could guess what the song was about just by hearing the sound! Here are a few versions of the piece played on different instruments by a few famous musicians.

1) On Piano (Performed by Maksim)



2) On Violin (Performed by David Garrett)



3) On flute (Performed by James Galway)

Rhythm in the body - Keith Terry

Recently, I attended an Orff workshop and heard the name Keith Terry.  (Visit his body percussion group CROSSPULSE) I've never heard his name before but was intrigued by his idea RHYTHMIC BLOCK so I spent some time looking it up (and try doing it).  Basically, he systemetically divides body percussion sequence into sets of 3, 5, 7 & 9.  The combination is simple yet it creates amazing effects and provides much room for variation and improvisation.  Here's a video of the very basic of Rhythm Block:

Here's another interesting video of Keith Terry playing along with himeself. You would here one of the part say words like "takita" and "takadimi," these words are actually rhythmic syllables used in Indian music counting.

Although I am quite clumpsy and not very good at body percussion, I do think it is important to incorporating it into music lessons. Music is dead if it is detached from the body. Western musicians aim at mastering reading skills and technical virtuosity. We run into a bottle neck phase when we have a deirable level of technical skills but lacks the ability to connect our mind and body to music. I've seen violinist practicing on a trampoline so that she can feel the weight of music working through the body; music becomes much more fluid and expressive. Therefore, I believe if children are taught to move to rhythm, they will naturally be expressive when they play an instrument because music lives not only on their little fingers but it flows through their body. It is evident in children from Africa and India where music and movement are inseparable.

Finally, I'd like to share a solo performance by Keith Terry.

For teachers, and parents:

Article by Keith Terry - Body Music

Names of Polygon with Rhythmic Blocks

Don't underestimate what LITTLE PEOPLE can do!



They laugh at me, these fellows, just because I am small
They laugh at me because I'm not a hundred feet tall!
I tell 'em there's a lot to learn down here on the ground
The world is big but little people turn it around

A worm can roll a stone
A bee can sting a bear
A fly can fly around Versailles 'cos flies don't care!
A sparrow in a hat can make a happy home
A flea can bite the bottom of the Pope in Rome

Goliath was a bruiser who was tall as the sky
But David threw a right and gave him one in the eye
I never read the Bible but I know that it's true
It only goes to show what little people can do!

Year 1 music: Teaching DO-RE-MI

The song DO-RE-MI is such popular song that a lot of children have heard of it before primary school, which means it's not a good idea to introduce it in class. (And for some reason I'm NOT a Sound of Music fan at all.)

I compare this song to DO-RE-MI (from Sound of Music), and see if they can use the right terms to describe the similarity and differences (melody, rhythm, words, etc). Then everyone is all set for a unit on "d-r-m-f-s-l-t-d'." =)

The clip of the original DO-RE-MI is quite easy to locate on Youtube.  I'd like to share another very popular version.  (It has over 19,000,000 hits on youtube!!)  It is a recent performance of a group of dancers at a train station in Belgium.  The dance formation is simply amazing to watch!