Musicplay

Are you doing assessments for your end of the year report cards?  One of the areas that I want to assess is how well children perform music in choirs, Orff ensemble, on unpitched instruments, recorder, ukulele or guitar.

Assess a Choral Performance

When you're conducting a choir, it's almost impossible to assess the performance of an individual child during the performance.  But you can video the performance, and use it to assess some aspects of performance.
* are students watching the conductor?
* do students use good posture in performance?
* are students singing with an open mouth?

Discuss the Performance with your Students:  (Musicplay 3, song#1)

- “Did we use good diction?”
-  “What could we do to help the audience hear our words more clearly?”
- “How can we sing softly and stay in tune?”
- “Did we all breathe in the same places?”
- “Did we sing the phrases the same way?”  “Did we start and end phrases together?”
- “Did we match pitch?”
- “Did the voices sound nicely blended, or were there individual voices that you could hear?”
- “Were the vowels pure?”
- “ Was the tone pleasant, open and resonant or was it sometimes “shouty”?”
- “Did the class maintain a steady beat and perform rhythms accurately?”
- “Could you hear the dynamic contrast at the end of the song?”
Ask the students to think of compliments and comments about their own performance.   

I NOTICED...........    I WONDER..........

Brian Burnett suggests the use of the words “I noticed” and “I wondered” when making comments about performances.   I liked this because it frames statements in a positive way.

THREE STARS AND A WISH

Another way to assess performances that I like is 3 stars and a wish.
If a group has performed in class, invite students to share 3 things they liked (3 stars) and a wish for what they might do differently.
* . ______________________________________
* . ______________________________________
* . ______________________________________
I wish ____________________________________

Quick self assessment for students:

Show me your fingers.  Ask them to hold them against their heart, so it's just between you and them.
4 fingers - I did an awesome job
3 fingers - I did pretty well
2 fingers - I tried my best, but made mistakes
1 finger - I could have tried harder and could have done a lot better
 
Part of an assessment or a performance can be a student self-evaluation:

Student Self-Evaluation of Choral Performance

3 Second Listen Part of the Assessment might be done in rehearsal. I use the 3 second listen for large groups or for a very quick assessment.  I have the class line up in class list order. (alphabetical).  Then I have them sing as a group, often with a recording.  I walk up and down the rows listening to each child for about 3 seconds, and record their grade on my class list. X = excellent VG = very good, with a few pitch slips S = satisfactory - somewhat close, but is not fully in tune NY = not yet - the child is wildly out of tune, speaking or not trying

Teacher Assess Orff Ensemble

I've used this rubric to assess performance in an Orff ensemble. If possible, video the performance, then assess each child.

And you can have students do a self-assessment.

Student Self-Assessment in Orff Ensemble

Recorder Solo Assessment

This is a very detailed assessment.  I'd probably only use this once in a term.

To the Teacher: Since it is very time consuming to assess a complete performance of a solo by every child, assess one skill in isolation every week and assess only 1-3 solos or parts of solos per term.  I seat my students in alphabetical order, and grade directly to my class list.  Instead of calling attendance, I identify the skill to be performed, and give them a short exercise to perform it on.  For example, I assess tonguing on a short rhythm pattern:ta ta ta ta | too-oo too-oo    I can assess legato connections at the same time.  I assess rhythm reading by holding up rhythm flashcards and having each child read one. Pencil and paper exercises are given in the kit and should be marked and grades recorded.  Use the mad minutes as a  tool to assess note names by cutting off the top part and having students complete them in a given time (I use 3 minutes).

This is a much quicker rubric to use:

Rubric for Assessing Student Playing:

Purchase our great set of Melody Flashcards

USA and International - Melody Flashcards

Purchase the Print version of Match the Melody, with many printable assessments and projectables:

Match the Melody - USA

Purchase our great set of Rhythm Flashcards

TeachersPayTeachers - Rhythm Flashcards
Order Cardstock Flashcards – USA   

Purchase Which Rhythm Do You Hear?

Are you doing assessments for your end of the year report cards?  One of the areas that I want to assess is how well children perform music in choirs, Orff ensemble, on unpitched instruments, recorder, ukulele or guitar.

Types of Voices:  Speaking, Singing, Whisper, Shouting, “Thinking”

In most music curriculums, children in K-1-2 are expected to be able to:
1. use each of the types of voices
2. identify each of the types of voices.
I really enjoy teaching about timbre - types of voices, timbre of classroom instruments and timbre of orchestral instruments and orchestral instrument families.  For an informal assessment, put the posters on the ledge and say a phrase using one of the voices.  Have the children point to the type of voice they hear.
 

Song #9 This is My Speaking Voice 

This is a great lesson in Musicplay for Kindergarten on types of voices.   The lesson includes many opportunities to assess informally if children perceive and understand speaking, singing, whisper, shouting and thinking voices.
In the activity, children learn a simple poem, and then say the poem using two kinds of voices - one voice for the first two lines, and another voice for the last two lines.  You can do this activity with the PDF printables (the posters shown above) as manipulatives.  Or with the Interactive activity below. 

The posters are printables on MusicplayOnline (song #7 in Kindergarten)

To purchase:
- Order them in the Vocal Exploration Card Set on TPT.    
- Order Vocal Exploration Cards Canada
- Order Vocal Exploration in USA
 

You can do the activity interactively from the SMART Board	If you want to do a formal assessment, this is a printable assessment on types of voices In Musicplay K (This is My Speaking Voice)  - or Musicplayonline, song #7 in Musicplay K

 
 
Timbre of Classroom Instruments

In most music curriculums, children in K-1-2 are expected to be able to:

1. Identify classroom instruments visually
2. Identify classroom instruments aurally
3. Classify rhythm instruments as woods, metals, drums or shakes/scrapes

In the Instruments Unit at www.musicplayonline.com there are interactive activities:

Classroom  Instrument Bingo   Order in Canada     Order in USA

Rhythm  Instrument Fun   Order in Canada     Order in USA

 
 
Timbre of Orchestral Instruments

In most music curriculums, children in Grades 2-6 are expected to be able to:

1. Identify orchestral instruments visually
2. Identify orchestral instruments aurally
3. Classify orchestral instruments as woods, woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion

 
Orchestra Bingo 

This resource is a great way to learn about instruments of the orchestra and instrument families.  (There is a version of the game at www.musicplayonine.com.) . This game has always been my last lesson before a holiday.
 

Order either print/disk Or download version     Order in Canada   Order in USA

Notes were sent home with the children.

The classroom teachers were supposed to do the screening of applications.  We had guidelines, and most teachers did a great job.  But there were a few that let any child that brought a permission form participate.  To limit performances to the more serious and better prepared acts, I’d suggest that you hold auditions after school hours.  Then, you can include several teachers of TAs from your school as audition judges.  It’s a good idea to hold auditions on Wed. Or Thurs. and post the results list on Friday at the end of the day.  You should also send notes home with successful applicants so that they have all the information on date, time of show.

Here is one possible Audition Rubric

Send home the audition list.

At the auditions, if you are able to, make copies of  any mp3s that students use, so you’ll have it on the day of the performance.    After the auditions, judges need to make up the list of acts that will be in the talent show.   Post the list of acts that made the cut, late Friday afternoon, and give all students who auditioned a note of congratulations or sorry, please try again next year.  I try to accept as many acts as possible.  We have a 2 hour time frame, but try to keep the show to no more than 90 minutes.   Create your program from the list of acts that you’ve approved.  You can use student MCs, but it will be easier if you have an adult MC.  Sometimes the local radio station will send an announcer to be your MC, and this is fun for the kids.  Often, our principal will be the MC.  If you’re using student MCs, give them the program of acts that will be in the show so they can write introductions.  You'll have to work with them before the show to be sure they're ready to do this.   A dress rehearsal is really great if you’re able to do it.  But at Grandview Elementary, we never had a rehearsal because that last week of school was crazy and there were always lots of field trips and special activities.   If you’re able to get the music needed for the show on your computer, it will make the running of the show much smoother.   On the day of the talent show, check with all your performers to be sure they have their music, costumes, etc.  Set up and test out your sound equipment.   Set up video equipment - if you have classes after the talent show, they always love to see a re-run.    Call the students who are in the who to the gym about 20 minutes before your start time and seat them in order, with all their props that they need.    Have FUN!!!    I'll post fillable PDF versions of my parent letters at Musicplay Teachers Facebook Group!   Talent shows are fun - share your ideas for making talent shows a success at Musicplay Teachers Facebook Group!

Purchase Classroom Instrument Bingo

Order in USA    Order in Canada
 

Purchase Orchestra Bingo   

Purchase our great set of Melody Flashcards

Purchase the Print version of Match the Melody, with many printable assessments and projectables:

Purchase our great set of Rhythm Flashcards

Purchase Which Rhythm Do You Hear?

Solfa Note Challenge - use to Read and Name Solfa Notes: 

This was one of the first interactive solfa activities that we created for the online site.  In this activity, students drag the soccer balls  (the notes) to the net to show that they know which note is so and which note is mi.  Almost every reading song in Musicplay has a Solfa Challenge activity.  If you do not have Kodaly training and are unsure what the answers are, each challenge includes a play button and a singer sings the song in solfege, giving you the correct answers.  (Another great way to learn to read solfege yourself is to use the Note Highlight videos, part 2)

Match the Melody Game - use to circle the pattern that you hear:

In Match the Melody, you choose the level you’ve been working on.  There are 14 levels in the online game.   The Print version has been divided into Level 1 and Level 2.   Level 1 includes sm, ls m, smd, mrd and ls m d patterns.   Level 2 includes:  s mrd    ls mrd,  mrd l,  mrd l,s,   drm sl d'   drmfs  drmfsl d' sltd'   t'drmfsltd'

You can choose to have the melody sung in solfege (voice) or you can choose to have the melody played on a keyboard.  The keyboard version is great ear training in classes with teachers who don’t use solfege.  If you’re assessing the solfege, play the solfa pattern and have students choose the pattern that they heard.  We were careful in creating this activity to use the same rhythm pattern for each answer, so students are assessed on their melody reading ability - not solfa.

Additional printables and assessments are included in the print version - Match the Melody 1-2   This is a printable assessment of the Circle the Melody Assessment.

This is another additional printable included in the print version of Match the Melody.  The starting pitch is given, then students write the rest of the melody on the line.   If you're using the online game, give the students a piece of paper and pencil and have them number 1-5.  Then play the pattern that you want them to write down, and they write it using letters.  For example:  ss m ss m

 
Teaching music reading using solfege is more difficult than teaching children to read rhythms.  When teaching time is very limited, teachers may have to leave out this aspect of the music curriculum.  (And some teachers choose to teach letter names.) But the reward of having a 6 year old look at a simple so-mi song like, “Hey Hey Look at Me!” Or “Bye Lo Baby Oh” and be able to sing it at sight, is to me well worth the time I invest to teach solfege.

 
Quick Solfa Teaching Tips 

This newsletter is about assessment, but you can’t assess unless you’ve taught, and those who see their students once a week or less, need strategies if you want to teach this.

1. Start every class with a solfa activity.  The Solfa Practice section at www.musicplayonline.com has enough activities you could do a different one every class for the whole year.  Start with echo, then poison melody, then read flashcards, then read handsigns, then Listen and Sing, then Assess.  Five minutes every class, and your students will read solfa by year end.
2. If you don’t start your class with solfa, use solfa flashcards as an exit-ticket activity.  That’s where the printed cardstock flashcards are great.
3. When you teach a reading song, have the students read it!  I have them read rhythms first, then words in rhythm, then solfa pitches, then sing.
4. Use solfa and simple reading songs as a part of your music class - not the entire class!  Lois Choksy said that reading songs should comprise 1/3 of the repertoire in music classes.  They should be experiencing folk songs and other songs that use a wider range of pitches than just so-mi.
5. Remember that there are 3 ways to teach a song:  rote, reading, immersion.  If your students USE their solfa reading skills to learn new songs it will be more meaningful.

This graphic illustrates where I think that rhythm assessments fall on Blooms taxonomy.  Naming the rhythm as ta or ti-ti would be remembering.  Reading rhythms with a steady beat would fall into understanding/applying.  When you do rhythm dictation, this is even higher up the taxonomy - this is applying/evaluating.  When you have students create their own rhythm compositions, you're at the highest level.

Purchase our great set of Melody Flashcards

Purchase the Print version of Match the Melody, with many printable assessments and projectables:

Purchase our great set of Rhythm Flashcards

Purchase Which Rhythm Do You Hear? 

Did you know Musicplay Online has a new Easter Unit AND a new Spring Unit?

Easter Egg Games with songs

Gr. 2 #79 Hide the Easter Eggs - piggyback tune

Gr. 3 #79 Hide Those Eggs - original song 

Compose a word rhythm using Basket/Egg 

Easter Egg Word Chain - how to play the game! 

This Egg Shaker Matching game is one that I've used with K-5.    K-1 students:  Shake the egg and see if they can guess what's in it.  I used an interesting variety of materials in the eggs including popcorn, rice, dried peas, small screws, tums, pennies.   Gr. 2-5 students:  Give each student one egg as they come in your classroom.  Have them find the matching egg by listening carefully to the sounds their egg shaker makes.     To make it easy to check if students have found their match, I marked the pairs --- but most students don't notice the markings the first time they do this.  I also made a Key of what's in the eggs, because it is hard to tell!

Find the Easter Basket 

If you use the interactive Beat and Rhythm activities for Find the Easter Basket, you'll see that our team has now created a menu for the activities.   Now you can jump right to the activity that you want to do with the students.   The new Beat Chart (activity 2) is new.  Turn "off" the beats you want children to put "in their heads" and they sing out loud only for the beats that are "on." Developing audiation is fun!!!

John the Rabbit in PreK 

Little Rabbit Foo Foo 

Hurry Easter Bunny 

The Easter Unit at Musicplayonline.com also includes

Related Songs

There are lots of Easter and Bunny/Rabbit Songs:

Compose a melody for Easter or Spring!

There's a so-mi version, a do-re-mi version and a drm sl or CDE GA version.

Easter Egg Hunt

Practice Rhythms as you go on an Easter Egg Hunt! There are 8 levels of rhythm practice. And there's a cute surprise after reading all the rhythms.

Music Math

Egg Shaker Matching Game

K-1 students: Shake the egg and see if they can guess what's in it. I used an interesting variety of materials in the eggs including popcorn, rice, dried peas, small screws, tums, pennies. Gr. 2-5 students: Give each student one egg as they come in your classroom. Have them find the matching egg by listening carefully to the sounds their egg shaker makes. To make it easy to check if students have found their match, I marked the pairs --- but most students don't notice the markings the first time they do this. I also made a Key of what's in the eggs, because it is hard to tell!

Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks

To introduce the piece in PreK-K-1 I have the children pretend they are chicks in the shell pecking their way out. It's hard work, so when the long note comes, that's when the chick is resting. View the kids demo! After active listening, have the kids complete the listening glyph. Enjoy!

There are many great games for Easter in Musicplay! Here are notes on just a few of them:

Find the Easter Basket

If you use the interactive Beat and Rhythm activities for Find the Easter Basket, you'll see that our team has now created a menu for the activities. Now you can jump right to the activity that you want to do with the students. The new Beat Chart (activity 2) is new. Turn "off" the beats you want children to put "in their heads" and they sing out loud only for the beats that are "on." Developing audiation is fun!!!

John the Rabbit in PreK

Little Rabbit Foo Foo

Hurry Easter Bunny

The Musicplay Team hopes that you enjoy the new Easter activities as much as we enjoy making them for you!!!

Did you know Musicplay Online has resources to teach ukulele? This week on the blog and newsletter, we will share with you what is available online and in our print resources for ukulele.  

Introduction Video

Here is a short introduction to the ukulele. It includes the history, explains the different types and sizes of ukulele, the parts of the ukulele, playing position, how to read chord charts, and how to strum. 

Tuners

Three different tuners are available.   

Projectable Materials and Recordings 

The Easy Ukulele Song book is available for you to project in your classroom in both C and D tuning (32 songs in each section).  Click the tabs at the top of the ukulele section in the website.  There are also links to POP SONGS in both C and D tuning. 

Printable Chord Chart 

This is available to download with your subscription to Musicplay Online.

 See the video below for a tour of the UKULELE section on MusicplayOnline:  

UKULELE PRINT RESOURCES:

Click the picture below for print resources available on the Musicplay Store.

To purchased the EASY UKULELE SONGBOOK click the cover below:

As teachers are approaching the end of their recorder units, we wanted to share a rubric to use for solo assessments.  This rubric is available to print, or you can download a fillable PDF.  This is a great option if you want to save paper and quickly type in comments. Click the links below to download the rubrics.

Click here for the printable rubric!

Click here for the fillable rubric!