Published: May 23, 2020 |
Category: Excitement, Composition, growing knowledge
Published: May 23, 2020 |
Category: growing knowledge
Exploring DAWS, sequencers and notation software.
.....
Read More
Published: May 15, 2020 |
Category: Excitement, Composition, growing knowledge, Technology
Published: May 8, 2020 |
Category: Uncategorized
The podcast and blog provided at https://switchedonpop.com is my go to podcast when driving. "Switched on Pop" is about the making and meaning of popular music hosted by m.....
Read More
Published: May 6, 2020 |
Category: Excitement, growing knowledge, Technology or Not
It seems to be that historical and cultural circumstances are huge influences in the way people have embraced growing knowledge.
Children all around the world love to play and enjoy social interaction. Who have they learned from? Perhaps society that surrounds them. Parents, grandparents, extended family, social gatherings outside of home celebrating life such as weddings, funerals, sports, church, scouts etc and eventually education. Although there are some horror.....
Read More
Published: Apr 28, 2020 |
Category: Uncategorized
I believe that the use of noise to make music will continue and increase until we reach a music produced through the use of electrical instruments which will make available for musical purposes any and all sounds that can be heard.
John Cage
Human Beings are cultural and social beings and they enjoy music making spontaneously, even if some won't admit it.
We still enjoy making music with our hands, our voices, our feet, and tongue. I .....
Read More
Published: Apr 28, 2020 |
Category: Composition, growing knowledge
LOCKDOWN!
I looked at this blog this morning, another day in lockdown, and was disappointed to see that my last post was a few years ago. Unfortunately my life of teaching took over. As well as teaching private students I also teach Y7-Y13 classroom music and NCEA Music and Y1-Y8 as a release teacher in a country school, as well as being an ORS Teacher for one young man. I also direct a choir, small vocal group and a jazz group at the college. .....
Read More
Published: Feb 17, 2017 |
Category: Excitement, growing knowledge
I am pleased to be the music specialist at Solway College. As part of my own professional development I keep a close eye on blogs and questions from like teachers in the musicnet. You can learn so much and get so much support from your own community and also from the young musicians who create their goals based on their ability and hopefully the dedication to achieving the goals.
Of course my goal this year is simply to understand NCEA standards, moderation,.....
Read More
Published: Apr 20, 2016 |
Category: Uncategorized
The best thing about teaching notation is using the IPad app PianoMaestro by Joytunes. It is a free app that creates a video-game like experience, which is great fun to use. This app is completely free for teachers and students, and the teacher can track the student's progress and set home challenges. It has 500 songs that can be learnt made up of exercise, backing tracks and method books. It listens and responds to students' playing and tracks their timing,.....
Read More
Published: Mar 13, 2016 |
Category: Uncategorized
I was asked by a very young student, when will I get a book!
I laughed and put a music book in front of this student. The student looked at the music with wide eyes, looked away from it and started playing what we had been going over. A melody without notes. I explained that playing without the music first is so the sound can be played, heard and enjoyed. This was accepted.
I get great pleasure out of seeing the kids sing along, dance along, .....
Read More
Published: Feb 13, 2016 |
Category: Uncategorized
Every day I learn more about why the composition works apart from tagging at my heartstrings. I am increasingly excited about the skills I am acquiring as well as realizing the importance of encouraging my students to compose.
I would love to find the time to compose every day. It is certainly a case of write, rewrite and polish.
Gee whiskers I am just up to rewriting draft 3.
I have had a joyful, exciting, frustrating, critica.....
Read More
Published: Feb 13, 2016 |
Category: Uncategorized
What a great week. Every day teaching amazes me. Especially teaching them what I am passionate about.
I love the "Sound before Symbol" idea which is the main theme for this term's teaching. Deciding the best way to motivate the different age groups is an exciting challenge every day.
As well as the different age groups, considering each diverse learner will only improve my teaching as I dig deep to support each learning styl.....
Read More
Published: Feb 6, 2016 |
Category: Excitement, Composition, growing knowledge
Today I felt blessed that I was able to talk to my sister and tell her about the waiata I have written especially for her. I am really proud of it now that it is finished and I am hoping that it will be recorded for her to hear before she departs. The process helped me to realise why those rules as avoiding consecutive 5ths and octaves, avoiding parallel voicing etc. are drilled when learning composition. Simply put, it doesn't sound at all nice.
.....
Read More
Published: Jan 20, 2016 |
Category: facebook
Yet another exciting day setting up Pam's Music.
Not only did I have a lovely day with a friend, but I have been offered work that I absolutely adore. Thank you Trudy offers like that certainly remind me of the many skills that I can draw on to enjoy being my own boss.
.....
Read More
Published: Jan 15, 2016 |
Category: growing knowledge
One of the most creative activity for me, as I have mentioned before is composition. Now I have the melody in place I am about to tackle arranging the SATB.
The words came easily for the waiata, but the music has not been quite so simple. I have changed the motif daily. Arranging for a melody in your head can be challenging at times. However, today I have been inspired by the gospel genre. The motif fits with
the te reo Maaori.
I a.....
Read More
Published: Jan 5, 2016 |
Category: Excitement
Wow, what a beautiful day it has been today.
Today has been filled with the word music. As well as cleaning up the office filled with paper from my last six years of studying, I also translated in to te reo Maaori some of the lyrics for the new waiata I am writing. It has been very healing to write as it is about the strength of someone very close to me.
It has been a great pleasure to explore the piano again with different chords that soon leads to improv.....
Read More
Published: Dec 17, 2015 |
Category: Composition
Last night was a great night for me. I started another composition.
Composition can be rewarding, frustrating and bewildering all at the same time. However, last night it didn't matter what I did it sounded right.
I have been asked to compose a waiata for an amazing choir. What a privilege! However, it is always difficult to decide whether you write the words first or the music. This time I have decided to write th.....
Read More
Published: Dec 16, 2015 |
Category: Excitement
I am really excited to be starting Pam's Music Blogs. Having just attained a BEd (Tchg) Prim/Dip. Ed. Studs, I look forward to what will be in the future.
I love teaching classroom music to Y0-Y8 children where they learn a variety of instruments and learn in a collaborative fun way. I am also passionate about directing choirs (57 members in one choir this year) and orchestra.....
Read More