Virtual
Programs
available live or pre-recorded
Story
Reading and Music
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Math and Music – geometric shapes, fractions, and patterns At the Math and Music presentation, you'll learn how to play popular hand drum rhythms from West Africa, and how to create your own drum patterns using Phil's on-line drum machine. In addition, you'll hear Phil's five favorite fractions with a musical journey around the globe. Along the way, you'll hear instruments and songs from Indonesia, China, Ghana, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Phil will also show you some of his geometric-shaped instruments, and teach you how to fold those shapes into an origami popper for a music making activity! Check out Phil's video on his five favorite fractions: https://youtu.be/LqCQIaF8_mY
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Homemade
Music – math and measurement In Homemade Music, Phil demonstrates all of his wacky homemade instruments, and shows the students how to transform common household items into musical marvels using math and measurement! Phil features straw oboes, sprinkler pipe panflutes, and water bottle xylophones, along with his online follow up activities. Before the presentation, please have on hand: an empty soda can, or an empty water bottle. This will be used to make a homemade shaker to play rhythm games together during the program! Check out Phil's YouTube video on measuring liquid volume to make and play a water bottle xylophone: https://youtu.be/-T8M2Ld7DP8
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Journey through the Mind – mindfulness, brain science, and social/emotional skills In Journey through the Mind, Phil begins with an entertaining musical exploration of the brain, focusing on vision, hearing, emotions, memory, and movement. Then he leads the kids through a series of fun activities on imagination, patterns, and memory games. Throughout the program, Phil shows the students his mindfulness breathing exercises for emotional balance, focused listening, and successful learning. You can see a YouTube video of one of Phil's breathing exercises here: https://youtu.be/zD0d0Bf8rRc
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Math and Mariachi pie fractions, equivalency, and syllables In Math and Mariachi, your families participate in an Aztec percussion group and perform musical phrases written in Nahuatl (pronounced naw-wa-tul), the language of the Aztecs. But first, they learn how musical rhythms are based on equivalent fractions—from traditional Mariachi folk songs from Mexico, to popular selections by Los Lobos and Carlos Santana. After that, the kids make their own homemade shakers and join together for an exciting concert of Aztec rhythms and indigenous melodies from ancient Mexico! Here's a sneak preview of this presentation: https://youtu.be/i2oIKt7rjAQ
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Drum Language in Ghana and the
Congo – cultural music and drumming activity In Phil's cultural music class on Drum Language, students learn how cultures in Ghana and the Congo communicate using rhythms. They visit an elementary school in Ghana and hear how drum language is part of their school day. They also visit the Congo and hear actual Lokele drummers communicate using rhythmic patterns. Your students will read, sing, and play along with Phil as they participate in this fun and highly interactive activity. Before the presentation, please have on hand: a can or water bottle, and a pencil. This will be used as a homemade drum during the program! Here's one of the drumming activities on the Congo: https://youtu.be/Q4H7vwm2m3g
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Morse Code Music – patterns, communication, and history In Morse Code Music, Phil shows how language and patterns are used to communicate over long distances. From the covered wagon days of the 1800's, to modern-day messages sent into space, Phil shows how we have digitized our alphabet into a code that we can read, hear, and now play as music! Your students will visit the Voyager spacecraft and experience images and languages on NASA's Golden Record. They will also make a homemade musical instrument and join Phil in playing his Morse Code Mambo song! Before the presentation, please have on hand: a card, and a comb or brush. Check out a portion of this exciting presentation: https://youtu.be/N7R3FMTO_GU |
After School Enrichment
Phil offers after school classes that feature engaging cultural content and interactive
hands-on learning.
After
School Drumming Classes learning about diverse cultures through music Phil's after school classes blend hands-on learning, interactive games, and energetic drumming patterns that students perform with body percussion and homemade shakers. Each of his lessons revolves around one unique rhythm, the people who developed it, and its place in their culture. Schools may choose any of the lessons, and in any order. Ancient Mexico - Log Drum Song: this rhythm was played on an Aztec log drum, or teponaztli (pronounced tay-po-nawtz-lee), and was used to accent syllables in poetry. - Song of Tlaltecatzin: Tlaltecatzin was famous for writing songs and poems. He was also the son of the Aztec king, Montezuma II. Vietnam - Chay Dalim: a song that tells the story of the Cham people of Vietnam, accompanied by the Baranung drum. - Butterfly Dance: this rhythm is played on a Ganang drum, and is heard on special occasions and holidays. Ghana
- Kɔtɔkɔ, mommra:
a Twi phrase that is played on Atumpan drums
at grade schools in Ghana.
It welcomes the students back to class after recess and
lunch.
Middle East - WaHida: named after the word "WaHid", which means "one" in Arabic, since this rhythm has a single low accent at the beginning. - Taaqasiim: based on the Arabic word "taq-sim", which means "split" or "divided", since this rhythm is divided by two low accents. Indigenous peoples of North America - Ute Bear Dance: a dance at the beginning of Spring, when the bears come out of hibernation. - Chippewa Moccasin Song: a song that is sung while playing a guessing game with moccasins. Ireland - Jig: a lively Celtic dance rhythm in 6/8 time that is played on a Bodhran drum. - Hornpipe: a bouncy rhythm in 4/4 time where you "step-dance”, or step the rhythm with your feet. |
How to schedule a Virtual Program |
* All of the above programs are available live or pre-recorded.
Assemblies/Family Nights/After School Classes