Reflection #2

This week we learned about rhythm and steady beat. Rhythm is the combination of long, short, and silent sounds. Steady beat if the constant repetition of the same beat. We went over both of these concepts by using rhythmic sticks and the hand drum to keep a simple beat. Each student also had to perform a rhyme of their name, while first keeping a steady beat and then a more rhythmic beat. We also went over rhythmic notation by using the greeting song that we learned during the first week of class. As a class, everyone had to mark either a small or large X to represent how many sounds/beats were in each word. On Friday, we began to learn how to play the recorder. We learned the notes G, A, and B and played each of these notes as a class. We played Hot Crust Buns all together and were also split up into three different sections. Each section was assigned to one note and could only play that note during the song. Everything this week was taught to us by our teacher. Like I stated earlier, we were given hand drums and rhythmic sticks to help us learn the difference between a steady beat and a rhythmic beat. I also learned a lot this week from my fellow classmates by listening to their rhythmic poems. The students also helped each other with learning how to play notes on the recorder. I feel that it was important to learn these concepts because steady beat and rhythm are two of the most important concepts in music. It you can't keep a steady beat or be able to feel the rhythm to a song, then you aren't going to be able to understand music. As a teacher, how would I help my students with music if I couldn't even keep a steady beat myself? I feel that it's always good to go over even the basics to completely understand all concepts. Plus, our teacher gave us some great ideas on how to incorporate music into our classrooms. Using the rhythmic sticks and hand drums are two things that can simply be obtained to teach children the basic concepts of rhythm and beat. The rhythmic name poem was also a good idea because it teaches students to be creative and practice the basic skills that they learned in class. I like how in this class, we're doing the activities that our students will be doing. This class is a lot of fun and the time seems to blow by. I don't like to sing, but this class is already making me feel more open to singing in front of my peers. I hope that when I become a teacher, my students will be able to feel completely comfortable with playing and singing music in front of their peers.
List 10 children's songs that you are familiar with:
1. Mary Had a Little Lamb
2. ABC's (The Alphabet Song)
3. Ants Go Marching
4. Hokey Pokey
5. London Bridge
6. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
7. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
8. Polly Wolly Doodle
9. Row Row Row Your Boat
10. If You're Happy and You Know It
11. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
12. Yankee Doodle

Phone Number

1-847-494-6030

My Name Rhyme

My name is Stephanie.
I enjoy excersizing.
Come and join me running.
It will be exciting.

My Music History Journal Entry #1

My name is Stephanie LaMantia and I'm from Cary, Illinois. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, being with my family, dancing, running, listening to music, and just doing anything that makes me happy. I love the Caribbean and have been there six times in my life. I'm a huge animal lover and have a shitzu named Frasier and a lion head bunny named William.
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I have been playing the trumpet for ten years and have been teaching myself how to play the piano. I was in band for eight years and in jazz band for six years. I have performed in two high school musicals and have taught children how to play the trumpet for three summers. I even had the honor of playing Taps on Memorial Day for the towns of Cary and Fox River Grove. When I was in junior high and high school, I participated in cheerleading, color guard, and poms. We always needed music to perform to at the football and basketball games. I listen to music constantly and my favorite band is Aerosmith. I really do listen to every type of music except I'm not a huge fan of rap. My ipod has 558 songs and I usually listen to it once a day when I'm at the rec center. Otherwise, I play music through my computer or in my car.
I have really enjoyed the first week of class and think it will benefit me when I have to teach young children. We have already learned some new ideas on how to incorporate music into our classrooms. Music is important for students to learn and to be put into the school curriculum because it helps them academically and have an appreciation for music.