Update 34
- Howie Gordon
- Jun 5, 2020
- 2 min read
The days come and go, festivals enjoyed by all as we put our heads into gear for the last stretch.
Lots of news and updates today.
Our site has a newish look and I am working on a special component called Disney Classics. There you can find songs that you and your students will love. I am in the process of adding lesson plans and ideas as well.
Today I was reminded by Ross Herner and Rafi Stern, two special Masa students that created amazing songs for their pupils when they were here a few years ago. Here are two examples -really inspiring.
Our online Learn in Tune course came to an end and the general feeling was that the teachers learnt a lot about using music and song in the classroom and gained a lot about using different digital tools to assist the teachers. I will post info about next year’s course when I have exact details.
Unfortunately, no one really knows how this is all going to pan out. One can only hope for better times. Stacy Horn wrote this article in 2013, it is still very relevant today. Link to article
“When you sing, musical vibrations move through you, altering your physical and emotional landscape….The elation may come from endorphins, a hormone released by singing, which is associated with feelings of pleasure. Or it might be from oxytocin, another hormone released during singing, which has been found to alleviate anxiety and stress. Oxytocin also enhances feelings of trust and bonding, which may explain why still more studies have found that singing lessens feelings of depression and loneliness. A very recent study even attempts to make the case that “music evolved as a tool of social living,” and that the pleasure that comes from singing together is our evolutionary reward for coming together cooperatively, instead of hiding alone, every cave-dweller for him or herself.”
I really agree with her and one of the best “lifter uppers” is singing in a group. The Covid era has changed this yet one cannot ignore the multiple examples on Youtube of invidual singers singing together via Zoom or long distance. Here is an example that Koolulam did in April.
and there are many more. Have a look at this amazing playlist.
Digital Tool of the Week
Clideo
Make a video by combining photos, videos, GIFs and music together — it's free & online. Use it as a Facebook or YouTube
You can make simple slideshows, movies. You can merge videos on Youtube and much more.
Before I sign off, I want to remind you that you all have access to wonderful online lessons that were created for pupils by teachers from all over the country.
Elementary
Junior High/High https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wn4XzfdaoPhhN0qU2YAfLaBH1gM3wF17SoJ4UzKdCr8/edit
That is all for this week. Please feel free to share this message with your colleagues and friends that are not on this Whatsapp Admin controlled group.
If you forgot and or just didn’t know, here is the link to our site
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