Sunday, May 18, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Hello Shiraniks!
We have been enjoying the happiness of the month of Adar, and are greatly anticipating the joys (and hamentashen) of Purim! From silly hats and pajamas to crazy hair, the kids have had plenty of fun celebrating the silliest month on the Jewish calendar! In addition, they have been learning cantillation from Cantor Korn (say that five times fast!), discovering new types of Jewish music that represent our Jewish values, and learning a new Hebrew vocabulary through movement and electives. In addition, Shira Studios is finally in production with our latest music video, Friday Night Lights (music by Eric Paslay and original lyrics by the Shira students). The students are very excited about this, and are having a blast videotaping all over our T.I. campus!
Also - a very important date to add to your calendar:
Here are a few of this month's scenes:
We have been enjoying the happiness of the month of Adar, and are greatly anticipating the joys (and hamentashen) of Purim! From silly hats and pajamas to crazy hair, the kids have had plenty of fun celebrating the silliest month on the Jewish calendar! In addition, they have been learning cantillation from Cantor Korn (say that five times fast!), discovering new types of Jewish music that represent our Jewish values, and learning a new Hebrew vocabulary through movement and electives. In addition, Shira Studios is finally in production with our latest music video, Friday Night Lights (music by Eric Paslay and original lyrics by the Shira students). The students are very excited about this, and are having a blast videotaping all over our T.I. campus!
Also - a very important date to add to your calendar:
- Sunday, April 6th - the Shira class will be performing at the Reutlinger Home for Jewish Living in Danville. Please make your own carpool arrangments, or take your child directly to Danville, arriving by 10:30 a.m. and picking up at 12:30 p.m. (parents are welcome to stay for the performance, but no siblings, per the request of Reutlinger). 4000 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506
Here are a few of this month's scenes:
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| Gyamfiah gets tahini cookies ready to bake |
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| Yummy cookie dough hands, Lauryn! |
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| Music with Joel in a preschool room(!) |
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| Mmmm! Ashley's making carob cookies! |
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| Watching music videos to prepare to make our own! |
Monday, February 10, 2014
New Music for Shira!
Happy February, everyone!
To wrap up 2013, we finished our lessons on the Jewish calendar, the elements of Jewish music and the origins of Jewish music. The students researched the lives of 20th century Jewish composers. In December and January, they "became" their composers, presenting what they learned to the class in the form of a first-person report.
In January, we began focusing on the middot (Jewish values) that are presented in the Psalms and Proverbs. Sounds a bit dull, yes? No way! We've been doing silly skits, creating meaningful art, writing praiseful poetry and (of course) making music together to enhance our understanding of how Jewish values can play a part in our lives today. Sage advice such as "Be slow to anger," "Judge others favorably," "Do good," and "Have an understanding heart" are ancient axioms, but are still very valuable lessons. Shira has been learning the origins, historical context and present-day meaning of these and other middot.
On another note, the students recently completed a "spoof" of a popular country song, "Friday Night" by Eric Paslay. Our version is entitled "Friday Lights," and the lyrics are all about getting ready for Shabbat. We are hoping to create a music video of the tune before the end of the year, and I have a favor to ask... Parents, if any of you have any experience with, or interest in helping us create our video masterpiece, please email me at teacherbloom@yahoo.com We hope to be in production by mid-March, if all goes well. Any help with camera work, audio, costumes, props,editing, or just an extra pair of adult hands would be greatly appreciated! Shalom!
Ask your child: What is his or her favorite psalm? What are the middot? How is the civil rights movement connected to Jewish values? What Hebrew words have they learned this week?
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To wrap up 2013, we finished our lessons on the Jewish calendar, the elements of Jewish music and the origins of Jewish music. The students researched the lives of 20th century Jewish composers. In December and January, they "became" their composers, presenting what they learned to the class in the form of a first-person report.
In January, we began focusing on the middot (Jewish values) that are presented in the Psalms and Proverbs. Sounds a bit dull, yes? No way! We've been doing silly skits, creating meaningful art, writing praiseful poetry and (of course) making music together to enhance our understanding of how Jewish values can play a part in our lives today. Sage advice such as "Be slow to anger," "Judge others favorably," "Do good," and "Have an understanding heart" are ancient axioms, but are still very valuable lessons. Shira has been learning the origins, historical context and present-day meaning of these and other middot.
On another note, the students recently completed a "spoof" of a popular country song, "Friday Night" by Eric Paslay. Our version is entitled "Friday Lights," and the lyrics are all about getting ready for Shabbat. We are hoping to create a music video of the tune before the end of the year, and I have a favor to ask... Parents, if any of you have any experience with, or interest in helping us create our video masterpiece, please email me at teacherbloom@yahoo.com We hope to be in production by mid-March, if all goes well. Any help with camera work, audio, costumes, props,editing, or just an extra pair of adult hands would be greatly appreciated! Shalom!
Ask your child: What is his or her favorite psalm? What are the middot? How is the civil rights movement connected to Jewish values? What Hebrew words have they learned this week?
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| Learning some Dan Nichols songs with Joel |
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| Tu B'shevat lessons in the sun! |
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| Can you say "orange" in Hebrew? (ask your child how!) |
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| The students take a break from researching their composers |
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| Pre-production meeting for one of the skits |
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| Singing psalms! |
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| The sages (note the "beards") share their wisdom |
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| A few of the middot |
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Monday, December 16, 2013
Shalom Shiraniks!
A big Mazal Tov to all who participated in last week's Shira Shabbatarama! The junior choir/Shira class did a wonderful job singing the tunes that made Shabbat so musical!
We've been a busy bunch in Shira. With the help of our TA's, the students are completing their Jewish Composer timelines in preparation for presenting them to the class after we return from winter break.
During Bring a Friend Week, the 5th and 6th grade classes combined to retell the Hanukkah story with a twist - the students each had a portion of the story to tell, but they had to do it in the style of a popular film, TV show, game or cartoon! (2013 was the world debut of classics like "The Hunger Games Hanukkah" and "Minecraft Maccabbees!"
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We also practiced the Hanukkah blessings and learned the Hebrew words for the things we use to celebrate Hanukkah.
COMING UP:
The students will present their composer to the class on our first Sunday back from winter break - January 5th. Parents - please help your child find a prop to use or wear that will help him or her "become" his or her Jewish composer (nothing elaborate required - a simple hat, a pair of glasses, a bowtie, etc. should suffice).
Also, we are beginning to learn the music of Dan Nichols in preparation for this year's Spring Fling, in which Shira will be Dan's "back up" group. To get a taste of what Dan Nichols does, here is a recent (November 2013) video of a performance of one of the songs we have been practicing with Joel - "Turn the World Around":
A big Mazal Tov to all who participated in last week's Shira Shabbatarama! The junior choir/Shira class did a wonderful job singing the tunes that made Shabbat so musical!
During Bring a Friend Week, the 5th and 6th grade classes combined to retell the Hanukkah story with a twist - the students each had a portion of the story to tell, but they had to do it in the style of a popular film, TV show, game or cartoon! (2013 was the world debut of classics like "The Hunger Games Hanukkah" and "Minecraft Maccabbees!"
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| 5/6 and friends getting instructions for their stories |
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| We broke into groups, choreographed and rehearsed the skits |
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| Then it was performance time! |
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After the skitswere finished, we all had a special Hanukkah tefillah in the Sanctuary.
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We also practiced the Hanukkah blessings and learned the Hebrew words for the things we use to celebrate Hanukkah.
The students will present their composer to the class on our first Sunday back from winter break - January 5th. Parents - please help your child find a prop to use or wear that will help him or her "become" his or her Jewish composer (nothing elaborate required - a simple hat, a pair of glasses, a bowtie, etc. should suffice).
Also, we are beginning to learn the music of Dan Nichols in preparation for this year's Spring Fling, in which Shira will be Dan's "back up" group. To get a taste of what Dan Nichols does, here is a recent (November 2013) video of a performance of one of the songs we have been practicing with Joel - "Turn the World Around":
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Fall Fun!
Wow! What a fall season we have had! Since the last blog update, we have been busy
- Adding new songs to our reportoire with Cantor Korn and Joel
- Learning how to critique a musical composition
- Formulating our own definition of what Jewish music actually is
- Experiencing the real meaning of tzedakah and writing a song about it
- Delving into the past to discover how music was used in the Temple in Jerusalem
- Listening to and learning about Sephardic music
- Becoming acquainted with the Psalms
- Practicing Hebrew through movement and hands-on activities
- Becoming more familiar with the weekday liturgy
EVERYBODY'S A CRITIC! (REALLY!) This month, the students learned how to identify the elements of a musical composition (tempo, melody, harmony, texture, etc.) and began to critique various compositions, both Jewish and non-Jewish. They particularly enjoyed the live performances by each of our Sunday TA's!
Listening to "Jerusalem of Gold," by Naomi Shemer, sung by Ofrah Haza
Jerusalem of Gold - Land of Promise
Ethan W. goes disco with his rendition of "Stayin Alive!"
Noah K. performs "Can't Stop" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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| WARDROBE FOR OPPORTUNITY - our 5th/6th grade tzedakah project was
quite a success! Temple member Wendy Dorband and her crew taught the
students about the non-profit's mission, and helped them evaluate and
sort clothes for use by those in need. The students then returned to
the Shira classroom and wrote lyrics for a song about tzedakah. |
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| The students learned about Maimonides' Ladder of Charity, on which the top rung is to help a person become self-sufficient. They determined that Wardrobe for Opportunity made it to the top! |
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