February Theme: Marching Band

This month in the music lab check out the stations for Marching Bands. If you didn’t know, OSU has the largest band in college football with 228 members. Local high schools also have marching bands, perhaps you’ve seen them at the games.

Marching bands make interesting shapes and move during the music. Below are a song and a show done by Marching Bands to give you a good idea of what the students are learning.

Keep On Rockin’

Two weeks ago we at MTMS shared about our new Rock’n’Roll history station, and we also brought in composition and a playlist station (which you’ll hear about next week).

This composition station is so popular with the students! We have a short bit of instructions, because mostly we need specific instruments in rock: vocals, electric guitar, electric bass, and drums. Note that we aren’t limited to just those, but that’s where we start.

https://www.noteflight.com/music/titles/8b4c78e1-bc0f-4b64-9412-e28fd4835493

I seem to only be able to link the song above, because it is public. Click the play button on the top of the sheet music. Enjoy this version, and I have a few screenshots of other pieces to share. I’m amazed at how many students have tried this already in the first week, and also how much creativity they bring to the songs. Ask your student about their rock’n’roll experiences and if they wrote or are going to write a song. Maybe they’ll share it with you, too!

Music Aids Memory

It turns out that music education can help you learn more than just music. Music can be used to learn many different subjects through the use of mnemonics. Mnemonic devices are used to assist memory, and there are nine types: Music, Name, Expression/Word, Model, Ode/Rhyme, Note Organization, Image, Connection, and Spelling Mnemonics. Continue reading “Music Aids Memory”