Hello there! My name is Brandon Milner and I am excited for another year of music making at LRES! I have been a percussionist for seventeen years now, but I also enjoy playing many other instruments, including piano, guitar, ukulele, and singing. One of the main principles I instill in my students is that music is an easy thing to do and something you can enjoy for your entire life. I accomplish this by giving authentic musical experiences by singing and/or with instruments in each and every one of my classes. This Summer I completed level 1 of the teaching approach for Orff Schulwerk. The Orff approach is a child centered way of learning that combines music, movement, drama, speech into lessons that are similar to the child's world of play. I cannot wait to get your students excited about music this year!
If you have any questions, please contact me at milnerba@pwcs.edu or message me on Class Dojo.
6/8-6/12 Weekly Activities
1. Create a song in Chrome Music Lab's Song Maker. Go into the setting and change the length, beats per bar, split beats into, scale, or range. You will see that changing those will make the app look a little different. https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/
2. Creatability - This is another awesome music website google has made with sound experiments. Explore the different apps on this website. They are a ton of fun! https://experiments.withgoogle.com/collection/creatability
3. Practice rhythms in the rhythm randomizer.Remember, if you can say it, you can play it. If you can the rhythm really well, try clapping or patting the rhythm. http://www.rhythmrandomizer.com/
4. Play a few games on New York Philharmonic Kidzone website - https://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml
5. Try to sing a different part of the round with one of my singing videos.
6. Do any of your favorite activities from the weeks below.
6/1-6/5 Weekly Activities
1. Jamming with Homemade Instruments - Find an item in your house that you could use as an instrument and jam along with this song I created! I used a combination of items in my house and instruments from the how to make your instrument videos to make this song. Remember when you improvise your own music, there are no wrong notes! Have fun!
https://youtu.be/WKNIhMpk924
2. Explore the instruments of the orchestra with this interactive game. https://www.classicsforkids.com/music/instruments_orchestra.php
3. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while exercising for 10 minutes.
4. Play a few games on New York Philharmonic Kidzone website - https://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml
5. Create an instrument, practice rhythms, or sing in a round with any of the videos below if you have not done so already.
6. Explore the apps Melody Maker and Arpeggios on Chrome Music Lab https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
7. Feel free to do any of the activities from other weeks.
5/26-5/29 Weekly Activities
1. Creatability - This is another awesome music website google has made with sound experiments. Explore the different apps on this website. They are a ton of fun! https://experiments.withgoogle.com/collection/creatability
2. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while doing a chore around your house for 15 minutes. Listening to music while doing an activity can make that activity more enjoyable. :)
3. Watch a BrainPop video about one of these genres of music and play a game along with the video.
https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/musicalgenres/blues/
https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/musicalgenres/jazz/
4. Listen to this song and draw and picture or write 3 sentences about what it makes you think about.
5. Create an instrument, practice rhythms, or sing in a round with any of the videos below if you have not done so already.
6. Feel free to do any of the activities from other weeks.
5/18-5/22 Weekly Activities
1. Caveman Rhythms - Watch this video to learn how to do the activity and then try to create the rhythms below. After you create my rhythms, you could always create your own. If you would like to, send me a picture on classdojo or my email of your caveman rhythm! Remember you can always clap, stomp, snap, pat, or use an instrument you have made to also play these rhythms. Have fun!
https://youtu.be/vwA3uWSHsjE
2. Sing in a round with me. Watch this video to learn to sing the song, "The Frogs". We will practice singing in a 2 and 4 part round. Remember you can rewatch the video and try to sing the different parts in the round. You could also try to sing in a round with a family member, parent or guardian, or a friend!
https://youtu.be/XOCctyj_eiU
3. Listen to this song and draw and picture or write 3 sentences about what it makes you think about.
https://youtu.be/-OAQ6rAs9DA
4. Explore the timeline on the Classics of Kids website. If you click on the composer, most of them have listening examples so you can hear music that they composed!
https://www.classicsforkids.com/composers/composers_timeline.php
5. Finish your adventure in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra if you have not already.
https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
6. Play a few games on New York Philharmonic Kidzone website - https://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml
5/11-5/15 Weekly Activities
***Please just pick a few of these activities, do not do them all. Just pick what you would like to do most!***
1. Continue or finish your adventure in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
2. Create a song in the song maker or explore apps on Chrome Music Lab.
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/
3. Explore the Classics for Kids website. You can read about a composer or play the games that are on it. This website has so much information about famous composers and a lot of them have listening examples!
https://www.classicsforkids.com/
4. Build an instrument in any of the videos below that you have not created.
5. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while exercising for 10 minutes.
6. Practice rhythms in the Rhythm Randomizer http://www.rhythmrandomizer.com/
7. Listen to this song and draw and picture or write 3 sentences about what it makes you think about.
8. If you have not done so already, watch one of my rhythm play along video or sing in a round. They are in the weeks below. If you have watched a rhythm play along video, try it with a new instrument!
9. Watch one of these BrainPOP videos and complete a game/quiz.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/ludwigvanbeethoven/
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/louisarmstrong/
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/yoyoma/
5/4-5/8 Weekly Activities
1. Create your own instrument with me. This week we are making a cup harp. Remember to send me a picture or a video of you playing it if you would like. I'd love to see it! You can either send it to me on class dojo or to my email. The material you will need to make the instruments are listed in the video. Have fun!
https://youtu.be/u-lmpVbysBk
2. Let practice some rhythms together! There are a lot of different ways you can play along in this video. You could use an instrument you have made, use pencils as drums sticks, or even use body percussion sounds, which are clapping, snapping, patting, and stomping. Have fun!
https://youtu.be/R6h9Xdy-ma0
3. Let's sing in a round together! Watch this video and learn to sing "Sally Go Around the Sun". Then we will practice singing in a round together. You could even try to sing in a round with this song with your family or friends!
https://youtu.be/5dGxZsuuwVU
4. Continue or begin your adventure in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra for 20 minutes. If you have not started your adventure, look at activity #4 in 4/20-4/24 weeks weekly activities.
https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
5. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while doing a chore around your house for 15 minutes. Listening to music while doing an activity can make that activity more enjoyable. :)
6. Feel free to do any of the activities that you have not done from the weeks below.
4/27-5/1 Weekly Activities
1. Create your own instrument with me. This week you can either make a maraca or a shaker, or both! Remember to send me a picture or a video of you playing it if you would like. I'd love to see it! You can either send it to me on class dojo or to my email. The material you will need to make the instruments are listed in the video. Have fun!
Maraca
https://youtu.be/DscUHXsDqE4
Shaker
https://youtu.be/IW77tXcMH0k
2. Lets make some music together virtually! You can play your maraca or shaker that you just made, or if you did not make an instrument you can clap, pat, or snap along with these rhythms. First we will practice saying a couple of easy rhythms, because if you can say it you can play it. Then at the end of the video we will jam out together with me playing the drums and you playing your instrument or patting, clapping, and snapping along!
https://youtu.be/AYZbD1cxBzQ
3. Continue or begin your adventure in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra for 20 minutes. If you have not started your adventure, look at activity #4 in last weeks weekly activities.
https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
4. Listen to a family member or friend's favorite song. Ask them what their favorite part of the song is and why it is their favorite song. Then show them your favorite song and explain why it's your favorite and what's your favorite part.
5. Explore the Classics for Kids website for 10 minutes. You can read about a composer or play the games that are on it. This website has so much information about famous composers and a lot of them have listening examples!
https://www.classicsforkids.com/
6. Feel free to do any of the activities that you have not done from the weeks below.
4/20-4-24 Weekly Activities
1. Create your own instrument with me. Watch this Youtube video I made and learn how to create your own pan flute step by step. After you make it, please send me a picture or a video of you playing your pan flute! I would love to see it! You can send me it on class dojo or to my email. All you need is straws, scissors, and tape.
***Before you start, ask yourself this: Which straws will sound lower, the big ones or small ones?
Which straws will sound higher, the big ones or small ones?***
https://youtu.be/-iX2CjVKsRM
2. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while exercising for 10 minutes.
3. Watch this Brainpop video about string instrument family and play one of the games for it.
https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/makingmusic/stringinstruments/
4. Start an adventure in The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra game. Make sure you click register first and create an account so you can go back to where you left off for next week. Write this down somewhere so you don't forget your username and password! This game teaches you about all the instrument families and has a game that goes along with each instrument. It is an awesome way to learn about the different instrument families. Begin your adventure for 20 minutes this week.
https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
5. If you did not do some of the 4/14-4/17 weekly activities, feel free to do any of them!
4/14-4/17 Weekly Activities
1. Listen to your favorite songs/musicians while doing a chore around your house for 15 minutes. Listening to music while doing an activity can make that activity more enjoyable. :)
2. Explore apps or create a song in chrome music lab for 15 minutes. If you make a song in songmaker, please send me the song to my email! I would love to hear it! All you have to do is click the save button and copy and paste the link in the email to me. Chrome music lab is found below in online learning opportunities.
3. Watch this Brainpop video about the famous composer Mozart.
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/wolfgangamadeusmozart/
4. Play games on the New York Philharmonic Website for 15 minutes. The link for the website can be found below in the online learning opportunities link.
5. Practice rhythms in the rhythm randomizer for 5 minutes. Remember, if you can say it, you can play it. If you can the rhythm really well, try clapping or patting the rhythm.
Online Learning Opportunities
Here are some websites with music games. I cannot wait to be back in music room to create music with my LRES musicians! Until then, I hope this helps you create and learn about music! I will continually update this so please check back often.
PBSkids games - http://pbskids.org/games/music/ - Great for KG and 1st
Classics for Kids - https://www.classicsforkids.com/ - Awesome website with a ton of information about composers. Pick a composer, read about them, and listen to a piece of music they wrote. There are also great games for all ages on this website.
Chrome Music Lab - https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/ -This is for sure one of my favorite interactive music websites. If you make a song in the song maker, click the save button and send me the link either on class dojo or email. I would love to hear your song!
Listening Adventures - https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org - This is a great website to learn about the instrument families and the instruments that are in them. Each instrument has a game that goes with it. It is a long game, but you can save your progress if you register.
Rhythm Randomizer - http://www.rhythmrandomizer.com/ - This website is great for practicing rhythms like we have done in class.
Rhythm trainer - http://www.therhythmtrainer.com/ - This is a challenging rhythm game. Before you begin, it allows you to pick rhythms. Please pick the rhythms we have learned in class, not ones you do not know. Good luck!
New York Philharmonic Kidzone - https://www.nyphilkids.org/games/main.phtml - A cool website with some fun music games.