Dance with Do, Re, Me

More than 200 dancers were performing there version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of march 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music".

Recorder music#2

Recorder music#1

Questions for Chapter 9 Curriculum

Questions for Chapter 9 Curriculum


1. What is the “optional” curriculum? An “ideal” curriculum? the “formal” curriculum? the “instructional” curriculum?
2. Discuss the concept of multicultural music and the effect that this idea has had on music education in North America. What does “multicultural” mean within the context of music education? What are the possibilities, problems, and pitfalls of a multicultural approach to general music instruction? What resources are available to teachers who choose to deliver such instruction? What does the research literature reveal about multicultural music education practices? Finally, describe how the multicultural approach may or may not be relevant in your native country.
3. What are the three curriculum models discussed in Chapter 9? Describe what a music class will be like in each of the curriculum models respectively.
4. What is the background and the concept of “comprehensive musicianship”? What practical actions did the advocates of this concept attempt to achieve? Discuss how it may be utilized in the following: general music class, theory class, and ensembles.
5. What are the justifications for the use of music in early childhood programs?

Journal Week#12

For those who have completed 10 journals, this is optional. Do it, you'll get 10 points extra...

Let's talk about the group project for cihldren's literature! From finding the book to finishing the lesson plans, respond to the following questions: How did you work together? What did you accomplish? What is the challenge? What is the most exciting part of the process? Overall, take this experience as an example and tell what children can benefit from such an activity.

World Music Concert April 5 (Sunday) 3:00 pm

A self-promotion...

You are cordially invited to be part of the Annual Spring World Music Concert in Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at NIU on April 5. The concert will begin at 3:00 with a collaborative music selection, Hands without Borders, by three Chicago-based percussionists specializing in drumming styles of different cultures: the Syrian-born Omar Al Musfi on the Middle Eastern drums and Venezuelan-born Javier Saume and Mexican-American Ruben Alvares on Latin-American percussion instruments.

Following this modern world music fusion trend is a series of traditional Chinese music featuring Taiwanese pipa soloist, Mrs. Wang Chen Yung-Hsin, flutist; Ms. Santina Sheng-Ting Lin; and vocalist, Ms. Vicky Yu-Kuan Wang. The NIU Javanese gamelan ensemble will again present a mixture of traditional and modern compositions on the gamelan, featuring soloists Shari Heda on the clarinet, Robyn Sutton on the flute, and Dennis Dziekan, vocal.

The Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai is the next performance group invited to showcase the folk music and dance tradition of Okinawa, Japan. NIU Percussion majors Maggie Bergren and Clarice Cast will perform folk tunes from two cultural regions, Spain and Brazil, respectively, on the same instrument, the pandeiro (tambourine). The concert will be concluded by Dr. Greg Beyer of the NIU percussion faculty playing a modern composition incorporating yet another world music element, the Venezuelan maracas.

Come join us to discover this diverse soundscape in our community and to share this wonderful multi-music feast our musicians and performers have prepared for you this year. We look forward to seeing you all then. Children of all ages are welcome. Please contact Dr. Jui-Ching Wang (jcwang@niu.edu) if you have any questions.

Journal Week#11

We're still working on integrating musical activities into children's literature. Creativity, apparently, is the main thing we want to focus on. But in addition to creativity, what else can be done in a story tellilng activity (with musical accompaniment) like what we did this week? Reflect on all the activities we did this week and tell what can children benefit from these all-in-one story telling/acting/dramatizing project?
We also learned a new musical concept, Binary form this week. Briefly review what makes a binary form? What kinds of music we listen to are written in this form? Give me some examples of it.

Have a good weekend!