2/4 Tuesday- Exciting Music Apps!

Link up with me for another 2/4 Tuesday! All you have to do is blog about 2-4 ideas and link-up!

I am on the hunt for great music education apps for my new iPad! Here are four apps that I am excited to use in my classroom.

1. Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra APP!

I am really excited about this app because our grade two classes are going to the orchestra this year and will be listening to excerpts from Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Check it out! I will let you know what I think!

2. ABC Music APP

This will be a great one for my little grade one and Kindergarden students. This looks like an app that would really be fun for kids to explore various instruments.

3. Jelly Band 

This looks so fun! I think this would be excellent for my young students to prepare them for Garage Band compositions in grade 6. I plan on using this with my Grade 3 students this year.

4. DoReMi 1-2-3

This looks fantastic for all sorts of reasons! Pitch matching games, composing and more!

I will try this out with my K-2 students.

Has anyone tried these apps out? I am looking for more apps for my older students. Any ideas?

Don't forget to link up and to check out the linked up bloggers!

Connecting with Students through Summer Stories!

My husband and I just returned from an amazing trip to Europe! We spent three weeks visiting friends, family and new places. I thought I would connect vacay to school stuff in this post!

For me, making meaningful connections with my students is the most important element as an effective and engaging educator. Listening to stories and sharing my own stories and experiences helps my students see me as a real person. These moments really build on the essential relationships with my students. 

I have made a vacation highlight list to share with my students as well as some photos from my trip! I have included musical and personal connections for each of the cities. I will expand on the musical information when I discuss with my students. 

PRAGUE

Personal:

Prague is on of my favourite cities! My favourite place is the Charles Bridge with all of the buskers, artists, vendors and the beautiful Vlatava River that flows through Prague's centre.

Musical:

Czech composer Antonin Dvorak lived in Prague for much of his life! 

BERLIN

Personal:

Berlin is a city rich with culture and history. We ate dinner at the revolving restaurant at the top of Berlin TV Tower on our first night. I also had the amazing opportunity to watch the German Musical "Hinter dem Horizont", a profound love story set during the East/West Germany era. 

Musical: 

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach spent 30 years in Berlin! He worked as a member of the Royal Orchestra at the time and also composed much music for orchestra and piano. 

DRESDEN

2 pics just because it's my fav!

 (Dresden Semper Operahouse)

Personal:

I lived close to Dresden for a year on a student exchange ten years ago. Dresden is officially my favourite city in the world! Not a lot of tourists, a beautiful old city and an unbelievable history. Love, love, love this city.

Musical:

Many composers spent time working here including Wagner, both Clara and Robert Schumann, Strauss, and Rachmaninoff. 

SAXONY SWITZERLAND

Personal:

Incredible landscape and history here, near Dresden. Breathtaking views. We spent time at the National Park, Rathen. Lovely!

Musical:

Wagner lived in Leipzig and Dresden, but also spent time in the Saxon Switzerland region, gaining inspiration from the beautiful area for his compositions.

PARIS

Personal:

We took in many sights in Paris. It was a jam packed two and a half days! Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, La Seine, Champs-Elysee, L'Arc de Triomphe, Sacre-Coeur, Notre-Dame, and the Catacombs!

Musical:

I am sure there are many, but I thought it was pretty funny that I had the song "Champs Elysee" in my head from the moment we arrived until the day we left!

What stories do you plan to share with your students? How do you make personal connections with them?

Summer Music Festivals!

Have I mentioned that I love summer? I love summer. I love summer. 

I LOVE SUMMER!!!!! But seriously, I do. 

One of the best things about summer is being able to listen to live music outdoors! Here in Manitoba we have quite the list of outdoor music festivals, with my favourite by far being the 

WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL. 

There are 8 stages of wonderful music to choose from!

I took the entire festival in once again this year, and also camped where it took place, at Bird's Hill Provincial Park. What a great five days of music, dancing, friends, food, and the outdoors. And all of that to enjoy in such a warm, friendly and positive environment. 

A beautiful structure that extends above the trees was created this year as a meeting place.

I can't wait to share stories back at school and hear which students had a chance to get out to the festival. These conversations always lead to great discussions about local/Canadian artists. I love to create listening activities for my students that incorporate musical gems that I have found at the festival.

 The Big Blue stage at night. A TRIBE CALLED RED was getting a fantastic dance party going!

Last day at the festival. 

We're checking out NIYAZ, KAKI KING and my favourite fest find, COLD SPECKS.

What do you do in the summer? Please share the Music events you enjoy in the summer time! I'm always looking for fun music things to do and see in the summer! I looooooove summer!