Shelburne Community School
Shelburne, Vermont
Unified Arts K-2 Music News Homepage

Teacher: Diana Burritt  

"Building Bridges With Technology" 
Video Selected For National Award!

Diana Burritt and David Cranmer (RETN)  present at the Florida Educational Technology Conference 

     Kindergarten Classes 

The kindergarten students have completed their Music Detective Notebooks. They wrote the rhythm to 4-beat patterns as they were clapped. A variety of rhythmic elements were used, including quarter and eighth notes, quarter rests, the G-clef, time signature, bar line, and double bar line.  Each student composed their own patterns on the last page of their notebook.  At the completion of the books, students played their patterns, using several keys on the keyboards, and performed their favorite for the class.  Our young composers will continue creating new rhythm patterns (Adding measures to their patterns) and experimenting with melody.
 
   First and second graders have participated in four interactive programs with students from Hinesburg and Charlotte.  Thanks to RETN for making these programs possible.
Hinesburg 6-8th graders presented, on live television, the Brass, Woodwind and Percussion Families. (Kindergarten students participated in the first) Shelburne and Charlotte were connected by phone. It was fascinating to have the students ask questions, and hear their voices on television! 
On February 22, 2002, Charlotte hosted our interactive program, with students retelling the folk tale, "Bouki Dances the Kokioko." (From "The Singing Sack," 28 song-stories from around the world, by Helen East) Students from Shelburne and Hinesburg assisted with singing during this broadcast.
   Shelburne hosted our final interactive broadcast of the school year on April 10th. Shelburne first and second grade students demonstrated the use of sign language to 2 classes in Hinesburg, and one in Charlotte. We began our program inviting all the students to sing, "Put Your Hand in My Hand," while the Shelburne students performed the song using sign language.  Small groups of students presented phrases of the song to the participating schools, having the students practice signing along with them.  After the lessons were completed, all students sang and signed together.  We concluded with questions from our viewers.

First and second graders completed their keyboard unit, learning more than 15 songs, which use both left and right hands. We read music using both the treble and bass clef. As each song is completed, it was made available for students to take home. 
Here is the first song from our notebooks:

Our next unit will include composition, using the available technologies in our school, and guitars.  Students will be composing songs for their instruments, using the notes/rhythms they learn.

Throughout the year, all students have the opportunity to study a variety of composers.  Through guided Internet use, students will research their lives, as well as listen to sound files of their music. Please check out our composer page for some great information about the lives and music of the composers we study.