Strings at Sea

Last week we ventured out to "sea" with Lobster Laura and the Portland Symphony Orchestra! This was one in a series of shows that travel around to different schools and teach about music and instruments. This time we learned about four of the string instruments and many different musical concepts. Lobster Laura also taught us all about Lobstering in Maine! It was educational and fun!! Here are some pics:

Here Lobster Laura wants the kids to use their little lobster pinchers and follow along with the music:

Emmy enjoying the show:

Here she is telling the kids how you tell if the lobster is a mama (black eggs all over the belly) and how the lobsters that are too small can escape the trap through a special door!

The group with the quintet and Lobster Laura:

A couple of short video's:

HERE is a link to the other concerts in this series if you want more info!

Boy's With Guitars!

Week four of music class with Mountain Top Music was all about guitars! Electric and acoustic, although the kids only got to play the acoustic!

James went first along with two others:

That is the electric guitar instructor in the back who did some really cool jammin' in the beginning to show the kids what you can do on one!

Here the boys are watching their friends strum along with the electric guitar!

Ethan was up next:
He had a great time banging away and doing "air guitar" as he calls it (although he really did have the guitar in his hands!)

More Mountain Top Music Fun!

This week the kids learned about the drums! Again the class was well done and the instructor was great! He taught the kids all about beats and notes and then had them tap out a rhythm with their hands and feet while counting the notes out loud. Once they got the hang of the rhythm he let them give it a try on the drum set. Ethan was thrilled, (as you can imagine) here he is taking his turn:

And a short video too:

James got to bang out a rhythm on the bongos! I don't think he was as into it as Ethan but he did a great job! That's Elijah in the back on the drum set!

He wanted them to do their assigned rhythm and stay together! I was very impressed at how well all the kids did. I don't think I could have been a drum player!!

Here the kids are waiting patiently for their turn!
Oh did I say patiently.......all except for Ethan who was being silly with his buddy sitting next to him!
When Ethan saw James on the bongos he just had to have his turn!

And for everyone who is wondering NO I did not get a turn this time either but like I said I don't think I could have been a drum player! The girls and I sat up front and tapped out the beats. Emmy was not feeling well so she was in my lap the whole time!

Week Two of Music Class

We are taking a five week introduction class at Mountain Top Music where the kids learn about a different instrument each week. Last week we learned about the violin but I forgot my camera! This week was the Cello and it was so much fun! They learn what family it's in, how to hold it, what it sounds like, what it feels like to play, some of the notes, and even a short song. Four at a time the kids get a chance to play the song, here is Ethan's turn:

Here he is checking out the notes.

They even tell the kids what it is like to take lessons, here Ethan is doing an exercise with the bow that is done with younger children in lessons to teach how to hold it.

James was up next.

I also got this short video of Ethan playing the song they learned:

The Mom's even got a turn this time!

All but me! Yes I am pouting about this!! I really wanted to try but I was too slow. The other Mom's even tried to take Mollie for me but by the time I passed her off the seats were filled! Oh well maybe next time =(