Observation #6

0. 3/7/15

0. Relaxation
   ·      Pat different body parts
   ·      Stretch
   Alignment
   ·      Lower one vertabre at a time, then back up
   ·      Hands up in the air, then back down. That’s where the posture should be.
   
   
   Breathing
   ·      Activity: Someone we care about baked us a pie, and we’re going to silently smell the pie by taking a low, long, deep breath. Use a hand gesture to cue when to breath in, and when to exhale. It is important to first have the class exhale before inhaling. The pie smells so good, we want to eat it but it’s too hot – we need to blow on the pie to cool it down. Use a hand-gesture to indicate when to inhale and when to exhale, making sure the exhale is relaxed and get longer each time.
   ·       “breathe in four” while I conduct. Class breathe in 4 and hiss out 4, 6, 8, and 12 to start.  
   
   
   Phonation
   ·      Activity: Picking up from the “Motor” activity, we are going to take a bite of our pie. As we chew on our pie, we are also going to make vocal sounds that express our enjoyment of this pie. Start low at first, and then work upwards in pitch with each bite. Once the pie is gone, have the class siren from the top of voice down to the bottom of the voice.
   ·      Vocal sigh. High to low.
   ·      Line sirens. Pick a few people to come up and lead the sirens.
   ·      Lip trills (123454321)
   
   
   Vocalization
   ·      Ee, eh, ah, oh, oo.
   ·      Alphabet. Through alphabet on 1-5 pattern. Using different emotions and tone colors on each repetition. Go faster as you go. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Reflection:
   
   
   Wow. That was so much fun!!! I didn't make as many mistakes as I had thought. It actually went really well. :) I went up with a smile on my face and just had fun. I remembered everything on my lesson plan, and the kids were really respectful and went with my ideas. I played the scales in both hands instead of bass notes with my left hand. I will need to work on this for the future. The kids said they loved my voice and are excited for me to teach a lesson. I am so happy right now. 
   I only did warm-ups that went up the piano. I need to do a warm-up that moves down perhaps? I don't know if that's good for middle school, though. I'll have to ask Bethany. I started at D major for the first two exercises, then Bb for the last one, and that was pretty low for them. 
   I forgot to have them "hiss" on the breathing exercise. 
   I think teaching is a time to learn. Learn what to do wrong, but also what to do right. I'm so excited to be a teacher. 
   Elementary is my passion, but I'm considering middle school. 
   
   
   Dance Evolution
   Played a recording of "Bye Bye Bye" (Nsync) and "Hey Ya" (Outcast?). 
   Then had them speak the rhythm.
   Bethany played the part on the piano as they sight-read on the words. I would do this a little differently... I would have them maybe try on a neutral syllable first. The notes were very hesitant, and so were the words. 
   Bethany went nice and slow so they could learn it.
   
   "Shake it, shake, shake it" chant on the words.
   
   Then solos were practiced, and they played heads up seven up..........