I hope everyone had a good weekend. Last week I mentioned I would continue to post videos we looked at while studying the various instrument families, (cause I know you're missing watching these videos!) Here is a link to The Canadian Brass playing a beautiful piece of music; "Quintet" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjBT8ElQ7Pw. We sure didn't sound that nice on the French horn when we all tried playing the instrument! A lifetime of practice brought these players to this point. As with anything; practice makes perfect (or as close as we can get to perfection). 

This past week I asked you to look at the posted website where you see the instruments in the percussion family. Hve a look at this link: This is a good one to start with since it features both the brass family and a few percussion instruments: the timpani (kettle drums) the bass drum and crash cymbals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLMVB0B1_Ts.  This next video features the mallet instruments. Can you recognize which of the mallet instruments this guy is playing? Stay Tuned!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix-QW-BShPY

Grade 6H- I trust the Easter Bunny found everyone this weekend? I am posting this video for your enjoyment. This is a duet featuring a violin and viola player. At 1:54 pause the video and you can clearly see that the viola is larger than the violin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_YrGjSwowQ  (and if you're wondering?- the viola player, Richard O'Neill is of no relation to me!)  Do you remember other distinct differences between these two instruments? These two young men are very gifted musicians. Share this with your parent or even a pet! I know my cat used to love to listen to the great composer, Beethoven! Tomorrow-I will add more information for the week. Stay Tuned! Remember this is not mandatory work. 

General Message for All Students:- Hi everyone. I hope you and your family are doing well during this time. I miss you terribly and look forward to returning to school to make music with everyone. I know I don't have to tell you this, but music is the absolute best thing ever! (although chocolate milk is a close second!). I am hoping everyone is listening-singing- or watching music videos during this time. I am working out of my basement with just a laptop at my disposal. I have my guitar but no piano. Really missing my piano. If any Grade 7s or 8s have a guitar at home and have questions-just pop me an email and I will help you. Try your hand at writing song lyrics. I can definitely help with that. We can put your lyrics to music on the guitar. 

Grades k-5 - I will be posting music videos from time to time for your interest. Stay "Tuned"! Hopefully you are listening and/or singing and dancing and shaking your butt to music every day!! I know some of the grade 5 students have a recorder at home. That is great but please remember-you only have to blow with enough force to move a tissue. Anything more produces a harsh, shrill sound that can harm your parent's ears! 

Grade 6H- In your free time maybe you could look up our favorite artists on youtube demonstrating the instruments we have studied to date. (Remember Kenny G? or those two cutie pies playing the viola and violin duet?) The final instrument group we will look at is the Percussion family-which will also include the keyboard instruments. This will not be mandatory work. I will go over all of this again next year. Just something to do in your free time. Your parent(s) can pop me an email if you have questions. By the way, hold on to those new duo-tangs that I was harping about! You will need them for next year-I promise!!  

Take care everyone. We will be in contact very soon. 

Our videos are now posted on the CBC youtube channel. You will see the Grade 6-7-8 video, The Grade 4 classes with the grade 3-4 immersion classe and the Grade 2-3 group. You may have to subscribe to the CBC youtube channel. Will see if we can just copy the link so everyone can enjoy our performances and hopefully give us a thumbs up!!