Ashokan Farewell, soundtrack for 'The Civil War' documentary by Ken Burns, was written by Jay Ungar. A true modern 'classic', this is my favourite version and comes from the BBC series "The Original Transatlantic Sessions". It features, on fiddles Jay Ungar, Aly Bain, Mark O'Connor, Charlie McK
1993 version by the Illuminated Film Company in an anthology called 'The World of Eric Carle' that included four other Carle stories: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Quiet Cricket, The Mixed Up Chameleon, and Papa Please Get The Moon For Me.
I haven't found the time to post anything since the baby was born. Charles "Hudson" Hubert Thomas IV was born on his due date, October 21. He's 3 months old now so time to get back to a normal routine!
I am loving the Bells collection this Winter and hope you all are too! We've already done a lot of the songs in the collection in class and you are all doing a fantastic job with them.
At the first class I asked all of the parents to make sure you sing with you child when putting the instruments away this session. A lot of you have been doing that and your children are already singing more in class! I can't wait to see what a wonderful impact that will have by the end of the session. Keep it up!
This week we talked about, and created our own, rhythm patterns. Try this activity at home with you child (even if they are tiny). Animal sounds are great to create rhythm patterns with. You will soon notice your child creating their own vocal rhythm patterns.
We played drums along with the song Hopping and Sliding and worked on feeling contrasting duple and triple meter in our bodies.
"Children learn by noticing differences - they are especially alert to contrast. By juxtaposing duple and triple meter as well as staccato and legato within one activity, we're giving children the opportunity to hear and experience these qualities. For children, putting these meters and articulations into their bodies is a powerful and direct way to learn about them."
Our dance was the Waltz from Coppelia. Click on the YouTube link below to enjoy it at home. I LOVE holing my little ones and waltzing around the house with them!
Our play along was Buffalo Gals by Pete Seeger. Enjoy!
"Peter "Pete" Seeger (born May 3, 1919) is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-20th century American folk music revival. Pete Seeger's life, music, and legacy encapsulate nearly a century of American history and culture. He has immersed himself in folk music and used it, like Johnny Appleseed, to "plant the seeds of a better tomorrow in the homes across our land." The songs in this collection of 139 American Favorite Ballads narrate tales of ordinary people and their extraordinary deeds, and show Pete at the crossroads of the past and the future putting his own stamp on America's folk song heritage while bequeathing it to generations to come."
