This week in Music Class

First week with fifth graders.  Much smaller and shyer than the 6th graders.  Quiet and thinking, and wanting to make a good impression.  I want to make a good impression as well.  So I give them a very fun project to show me how they understand dynamics: pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte fortissimo!  They wrote down their compositions and here are some I was privileged to witness at the end of the final class for the week!

1.) Everyone taps pencils on book. mp
2.) Kade and Tim drop book for subito forte
3.) Drum pencils louder for mezzo forte
4.) Everyone taps books on table loudly.  fortissimo
5.) Everyone taps pencils softly piano
6.)Everyone flips pages through book pianissimo
7.) Everyone slams book shut. mf
8.) Everyone flips through pages of book. pianissimo
9.) Tim and Kade drop one book each. subito forte
10.) Lucy and Antonio tap books on table loudly and then we stop and just hear page flipping.

Some just divided up instruments and then played in the different dynamic levels:
Dingaling: Claire
Door: Kateri
Chair: Emily
Pipe: Ella
Rap: Carlie
ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY LOUD, SOFT, LOUD, SOFT MEDIUM!

Some were quite short: Book Slam, cabinets, chair, dee-dee, snam, light cabinet bang, spoon tap ..with their names attached to whatever they were doing.  Very minimalist, some of them.
Quite impressive! Can't wait for the next week's groups!