Around the World in Dance

This term students are working on a unit called Around the World in Dance.  As the name suggests we are looking at different dances from around the world.  The countries selected for this unit have particular significance - some of our students were born, raised or still have family living there.  This is a wonderful way to learn about and further celebrate our cultural diversity at Linwood North School.

Our focus has been on the two elements of dance; body and space.  One activity the junior classes participated in was dancing on a piece of newspaper that gradually became smaller and smaller as the dance went on.  This activity made students aware of being in one space and that they can dance in one spot.  Lots of laughter in this lesson!

Look how big our piece of newspaper was to start with.  Now look how small it became!

Music and Playdough

Classes are preparing to create their own sea/class shanty.  We discussed the structure of a sea shanty.  Students discovered that a good sea shanty was repetitive and had verses and a chorus.
We are going to create the rhythm first.  We are keeping it simple by focussing on crotchets (Big Brother Crotchet), quavers (Little Quaver Twins) and beat rests. Students were then given some playdough to mould their favourite rhythm notation. There were some fabulous looking notes.
Next week we are going to repeat this task.  We will be putting our notations in an order so to create the rhythm for our 'shanty' writing.

Warming Up for Choir

Each week before we start singing, both the Junior and Senior Choirs warm up.  This is something that will gradually be lead by choir members.  This past week's warm up was called Buzzing Fly.  Buzzing Fly reinforces the need for students to watch the conductor for choral instructions and it assists them in creating different vocal sounds.

Target Practice

Senior classes had a team 'rhythm' competition this week.  The class divided into small groups.  Each group was then issued with cards with various rhythms printed on them. Mrs O then played a rhythm on the keyboard.  Students had to listen carefully and correctly identify the card displaying the rhythm being played. To add an extra dimension to the game, students were issued with a Nerf suction bullet.  Students could then stick the bullet on the correct card.

What Shall We Do With the Grumpy Pirate?

Junior classes were able to select an instrument of their choice and play the rhythm of a new sea shanty, 'What Shall We Do With the Grumpy Pirate'.  Once the verse finished students then got to move around the circle and play a different instrument.

Warm Ups and Rhythm Sticks

Each music lesson this past week has seen the addition of a 'warm up' before we've got into the nitty gritty of the lesson.  We've been using an app called gonoodle to assist us with our warm ups.  This has proved to be very popular and engaging.

We've also got a reasonably good understanding of rhythm now.  We've been working pretty hard on developing our understanding of both beat and rhythm, and how they are different. Here are some photos of a junior class and a senior class using rhythm sticks to tap out the rhythm of a song.

Keeping a Steady Beat

Having fun 'keeping the beat' in a creative way with a buddy.

What is a Sea Shanty?

This term we are using Sea Shanties as our topic for Music.  Each week classes will look at a different element of music such as beat, rhythm, pitch, tempo, tone and dynamics.

Our first Sea Shanty we are learning is called John Kanaka.

Welcome to The Arts for 2016

All students particpate in Linwood North's Music, Dance and Drama programme once a week, for an hour.

Each class will be taught by Mrs Ogilvie in the Library - what was formerly known as the computer suite.

Our focus for Term One will be Music.