How to get to Library, PE, and Music activities for the week (UPDATED 4/10/20)

Hello families,

UPDATE (4/10/20): Due to some directions from the district, we have had to change how we communicate with you as specialists. You can check the following links/places for activities with Ms. McGee, Mr. Winkeljohn and Mrs. Harreld :)

Library - click here!
Music - click here!
PE - check your students' emails for invitations to Google Classrooms specially designed for each grade level!

We miss you all, and can't wait to see you again in person. In the meantime, if you need to reach us you can email us, or contact us via ClassDojo.

Stay safe, and take care,
Ms. McGee
Mr. Winkeljohn
Mrs. Harreld

Music Listening Calendar - ready to hear some great music?

Hello there! Below is a picture of a calendar with suggestions of music you can listen to each day. The Sunken Cathedral by Claude Debussy is especially good. Please enjoy :)

Music is everywhere!

Hello MTE families,

In this unprecedented time we are fortunate enough to have digital music resources to bring music with us where ever we are :)
First of all, you can check our music youtube page for videos on songs we're doing in class: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxgqDgA4DvMFo0nJTdneqA
Also, a friend of mine made some videos demonstrating music songs/games you can do at home. We've done some of these in the past:
Omochio Tsukimasho
Lil' Liza Jane
Pease Porridge Hot
E Papa Waiari:
Little Tommy Tucker

Next, you can check out the links below for a bunch of fun music-making experiences online:
- FLAT: a composition program that 5th and 6th graders already know how to use (youtube tutorial coming soon!). You do need to register with your student google login ID in order to get access.
- Groovepizza: a rhythm-based composition program that also reinforces shapes, and basic patterns (this is a good intro video to watch if you want to know how to use the website). This is a free site and requires no registration.
- Chrome Music Lab: this has a WIDE array of resources. The Song Maker and Kandinsky programs are especially interesting (you compose melodies based on how you draw lines, it's really cool!). This is a great resource for our younger students, in particular.
- Body Drumset Activities - in this series of videos you can learn how to adapt a drum set rhythm to your body while sitting down.
- Learn to Rap! - this video series gives you tools to start learning how to rap (either free style, or writing your own lyrics)
- Little Kids Rock - Jam Zone: for anyone that wants to learn popular music on ukulele, guitar, piano, or drums. Easy tabs and rhythms to strum/drum with (look for the songs labeled "Beginner"). You can also download song lyrics and sing along with "jam tracks" if you'd rather just sing!
- Incredibox: a beatboxing generator (this site is a classic, and the program is now also available as an app). Super easy. Click and drag the different outfits onto the different characters and they start making different beatboxing sounds.
- Drumbit: similar to groovepizza, but you can get waaaaaay more detailed with this website.
- Virtual Piano: this is simply a digital piano. Nothing too fancy, but if your student has no other instrument at home you can use this! The middle C on the piano is actually the letter "u" on your keyboard, and then you play the keys on either side in order to play the keys nearby (i.e. the letter "i" is the D next to middle C on the keyboard, and the letter "o" is the E closest to middle C on the keyboard)
- Music Map: an English-based resource that provides resources about all of the various genres in music. If your student is really interested in learning about a specific style of music this is a great, interesting to use website.

If you have the ability to purchase applications on an iOS tablet/phone these are also great resources:
- Garage Band: Always a classic, and still so good! Make your own song complete with drums, bass, guitar, and other instruments.
- Easy Music: this is a great resource for our younger students. It has kids play with musical elements within an age-appropriate setting
- Loopimal: a loop-based program, this is probably my favorite :) Students can click and drag different shapes into the loop to make the animals make different sounds. Seriously, this game is adorable, engaging, and fun even for me!

Lastly, if you are not able to use a device to access music you can always make your own or listen to the radio! Speaking of which...
Tomorrow (March 13, 2020) at 7:00pm I'll be speaking on KING FM (our local classical music radio station)! I'm speaking on a program called Musical Chairs with host Michael Brooks, wherein I get to share some of my favorite classical music pieces. I also get to discuss my wonderful job here, at MTE, and how fortunate I am to be in a position to share music with our students every day. You can listen to the program by clicking here: http://player.streamguys.com/classicalking/king-fm-3/sgplayer/player.php
In case that doesn't load properly, you can go to the main "listen" page: https://www.king.org/listen/ and select "desktop" or "mobile" depending on the device you're using to listen.

Check the youtube page semi-frequently for uploads the next few weeks. Happy music making!

Japanese and African Shack Art Center artifacts have arrived!

Hello everyone,

I hope that you are finding some peace in your days as we are all dealing with a lot. We will be spending time with artifacts from Japan and various African countries over the next few days in music class.
We do a lot of music from around the world at MTE. It's important students make meaningful, respectful connections with the countries the songs are from. So, each year I try to get artifacts from countries we experience music from.
Last year we got to look at artifacts from the Philippines to make connections with tinikling (click here to see a demonstration), and artifacts from the Northwest tribes to learn more about Margie's performances of Tlingit music (Margie is our fabulous day custodian, makes traditional drums and used to lead a local dance team).
This year, we are looking at artifacts from Japan to make connections with Ekaki Uta (click here to see the 2 we've learned so far), and artifacts from many countries in Africa to learn more about our Zimbabwean marimba song, Tatenda (kids actually get to use one of the real instruments!). Some of the items this year are personal items from my trip to Japan last year, and the Hosho the students get to use is from my own collection.
As I continue to develop the music program at MTE I am always interested and looking for music that reflects our community’s heritage and cultures. If you're open to sharing more about your family's musical traditions with me I’d love to speak with you. Our students are musicians of the world, and I am eager to contribute to their global understanding of music.
Stay safe everyone :)
Here are some photos of some of the artifacts we get to use courtesy of the Schack Art Center and my personal travels:

A selection of kimonos and obis (sashes to tie the kimono closed)

A calligraphy set (in the purple box) next to some wrapping clothes, as well as some slippers and an old text

Coins, train tickets, and a packaged toy from Japan next to a stack of the same 2 books (one in English, one in Japanese)

A selection of cloths/textiles from Zaire, Kuba, Kente cloths, and an Adire cloth from Nigeria, Yoruba.

A Maasai beaded collar from Kenya near a beaded collar and bracelet from Egypt

A doll from South Africa, Ndebele