Music Monthly - October 2008

This month's Music Monthly is all about making musical transitions in the classroom.

Making transitions from one activity to another in school is often when children lose focus, become distracted and perhaps even get into mischief. Valuable learning time is lost each day during transition times as the educator finds himself or herself in the position of redirecting student’s attention between tasks.

Music is an excellent way to make transitions run smoothly and efficiently. I challenge you to sing, sing, sing (no matter how you think you sound). Sing everything from "Good morning, good morning, good morning to you" to "Line up, line up, everyone line up" to "Pack up, pack up, everyone pack up" to “Math time, math time, everyone it’s math time.” You can even sing “get out your math books and turn to page 10” or any number of instructions. Any melody will do. Try singing high and low, fast and slow and soft and loud depending upon the mood you wish to create or the speed with which you wish the transition to take place.

I have found that if I use the same melody for all of my transitions, the students will, upon hearing the melody, automatically make the transition as self-directed learners. You will be amazed how well children listen to singing and how quickly they will join in the song. You will transform your class during transition times.

51st Grammy Awards

We are thrilled to announce that our new CD Dixieland Jazz for Children is listed on the first round of the 51st Grammy Awards ballot. This round determines which recordings move on to the Grammy Nominee round. We are listed on this first ballot as:

Field 18 Children's
Category 77 Children's Music Album
#021 Dixieland Jazz for Children, Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band

We are deeply grateful to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for this wonderful honor of being selected in this first round.

Wish us luck in moving on to the Nominee round!!!