Giving Thanks

I consider myself to be blessed beyond measure to come to work and make music with children everyday. While the world buzzes around us, I give thanks for the small, beautiful moments that happen in the classroom everyday. I give thanks for your expressive singing, your curiosity and your desire to learn.

Wishing all UPA families a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Melkonian

AMPP Exhibitions

Hello Music Students and Parents!

The AMPP Exhibitions are taking place tomorrow in the gym during the students' regular AMPP time. This is where they will show off what they have been doing in Art, Music, Physical Education and Theatre (Performing Arts) for the past trimester.

The AMPP Exhibition schedule is:

12:30-1:25--Kindergarten and First Grade

1:30-2:25--Second and Third Grade

2:30-3:25--Fourth and Fifth Grade

Looking forward to seeing you there. All are invited!

Mrs. Melkonian

Music Field Trips

I am happy to say that three entire grades of our school were out of the building last Friday to experience LIVE music performances! Nothing makes me happier than seeing our students getting on busses and heading out. And that's because they're having wonderful learning experiences, of course! :)

All of our Kindergarten and First Grade students took the long bus trip to Ann Arbor to see Keith Terry and his Body Slammin' Band at the historic Hill Auditorium. Keith Terry is an expert in body percussion. He entertained our students with his stomping, patting, tapping and popping. Though I didn't get to go, I heard the performance was

wonderful and the day was a success all around.

The entire third grade class took the short trip down Woodward to the Max M. Fisher Music Theatre to see a performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Our students represented our school amazingly well as they heard the "Instrumental Safari" program in the beautiful historical hall. Some of the highlights were hearing parts of Saint Saens "Carnival of the Animals" and the March from "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

I hope everyone enjoyed the performances and got to share their experiences with their families.

Mrs. Melkonian

The DSO warming up

Jeremiah and Drew at the

Max M. Fisher Music Center

Life Doesn't Frighten Me

Just in time for the spookiest time of the year, both Mr. Wetherbee and Mrs. Wagner's classes have created sound poems to Maya Angelou's poem "Life Doesn't Frighten Me." They are on the music player just to your right. They have similarities and differences, but both convey the feeling of the poem. Enjoy them! Which one is your favorite and why?

Mrs. Melkonian

Sign Language

Hello!

I just added the song "All I Really Need" to the playlist so you can practice your sign language. Try teaching a few of the signs to someone at home!

Can you sing and show the sign language at the same time?

Have a great day!

Ms. Ginger

Take Time In Life

I have really enjoyed listening to my students in grades 3, 4 and 5, sing one of my favorite songs this week, "Take Time In Life." This song is a West African song from the country of Liberia and has a positive message for us all. Our students have stated what is means to them to "Take Time in Life" and I hope they are able to share the song with their families and friends. Many classes have asked to perform it for their teachers, and of course I always love when students want to share and show off their beautiful music!

Can you sing this song for someone at home?

I was passing by, somebody called to me

And they said to me, "you better take time in life."

Better take time in life,

Better take time in life,

Better take time in life,

'Cause you've got far way to go.

Drumming

Congrats, fifth grade students, on a fantastic start in drumming this year. In our study of Ghanaian drumming, we've learned how to hit the drum (very light bounces) and where to hit it (closed and open tones). We've begun with simple echo patterns as well as question and answer patterns. Your musical responses have been very creative, but most of all danceable, as all Ghanaian music should be!

Although I miss hearing you sing through class, our short African songs are sounding really nice. The "School Registration" song has been so much fun to sing and "Take Time In Life" will soon be ready for instruments.

What has been your favorite part of class so far this year?