Fashion Friday: Jury Duty

Happy Friday!  Another fun week at camp except this week I couldn't go on Wednesday because I had jury duty... It did give me an opportunity to dress up and pretend to be a fancy business employee working downtown ;-) I've got to be honest with you, what I wear to camp is not blog worthy.  I brought my larger black bag to bring my computer with me to start writing some marching band drill and also to catch up on Netflicks.  My new "How I met your Mother" addiction is running it's course.  

Shoes - Target

Skirt - Target

Top - Loft

Cardigan - J.Crew

Bag - Target

Necklace - Nordstrom Rack

I love a good pencil skirt.  This skirt has a weird fit though and it too big in my waist and looks strange when I tuck shirts into it.  I'd love to have a white button up tucked into the waist if only the skirt fit me there.  Fortunately my professional attire, and general look of business plus my name being called last gave me an advantage and I wasn't called to be a juror on a case.  After a day playing "dress up in the city" I decided I much prefer the unexpected kid filled days that being a music teacher allows.  Sure I'd like to imagine being a business women who takes the metro to work everyday and has a desk job working for any non-profit but after a glimpse into a day full of adults I'll take my kids any day.  Just after writing this post a kindergarten group came in for their class and I had a few run up to me and tell me how much they missed me when I wasn't there on Wednesday.  It's moments like that which make me so happy to be a teacher.

Thanks for reading,

My Home’s in Montana

My home’s in Montana is a great western folk song in three that I used with rising Kindergarten to Second grade this week at camp.

Photo Credit

I found this song on This website originally and used the visual cues to create my own visual cards.  

This song is great to learn new western vocabulary!  I’ll go over what a bandana, spurs, ranges, horseshoe, stirrup and gallop means.  Then once the kids have a general idea of the words I’ll give the cards to students to hold up in the front on the room.  I make them get themselves in order.  After they’re in order we use this Video to sing the song.  When we sing the lyrics on the card a student is holding they’ll hold it up.  After one try we do it again and I encourage the students to sing what their card says by themselves.  Then students pick someone else to do their card.  

Once students have learned the works to the first verse we learn a square dance.  We go over the steps and I draw the directions on the board for where they will step.  They are step - together - rest for each step.

My Home's in Montana Square Dance

Forward together

Right together

Back together

Left together

Sway right

Sway left

Sway right 

Sway left

Forward together

Right together

Back together

Left together

Sway right 

Sway left

Sway right

Spin around

I teach the dance to them individually at first and we try it while singing (2nd Grade and up).  Then I'll have them get with a partner and do the dance.  I had taped square corners on the floor for the younger kids to use.  The one child stands in the top right corner and the other in the bottom left so they are diagonal from each other.  I call this their "happy spot" or the spot they should be at when they finish making the square.  The kindergardeners had difficulty keeping their shoulders square to the front but otherwise they were all excited to learn that they rotated around each other!  

Once they got the dance I added a "merry-go-round" part.  Students would touch their right hands together in the middle and go around one circle stopping on their "happy spot" during the music interludes in between the verses.  

This song turned out to be a lot of fun for the kids while demonstrating phrases, beat, singing melody, and partner dancing.

Thanks for reading!

Fashion Friday: Farmer's Market Find

Happy Friday!  I realized when I was talking to my roommate last night as I took a photo for the blog that this is more a "Fashion" Blog with some music education articles.  That is definitely not my original intention and I'm hoping to write some articles about the songs and games I'm doing with summer camp but I just haven't yet for some reason.  I have a couple started but finishing them up hasn't been very high on the to do list.  My goal is to have a couple for you next week!

Here's an outfit that could work for a warm day at school.  The shirt I found at a Eastern Market and thought it was a fun, not my usual solid color, but still neutral design.  Plus it has pretty silver beading at the top.

Silver Sandals - Nine West

Black Capris - Marshall's

Top - Eastern Market

I tend to have a difficult time finding outfits for really warm days at school.  Especially next year when I'll be teaching pre-school to third grade music and will probably be sitting "criss cross apple sauce" on the floor most days.  This outfit would fit the bill for those days!  

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for reading,

Fashion Friday: Red White and Something Blue

Happy Fourth of July!  Here’s an outfit inspired by the National Holiday!

Shoes: Sperry

Shorts: J. Crew

Shirt: Lucky Brand

Necklace: Unknown

Ribbon: Off a gift box

Hope you’re all celebrating with friends, fireworks and grilled food!  I’m excited to have some new friends over to watch the DC fireworks on my roof.  I’m sure it will be a great show!  

Thanks for reading,

Fashion Friday: Black and Olive Shorts!

Happy Friday!  I found these shorts recently on a trip to Marshall’s, where I’m finding most of my more recent clothes have come from.  I bought them to wear for summer camp since I’m getting a bit too old for my usual athletic shorts and the camp T-shirt ensemble (or maybe I’m not).  Once I got home I realized that I had no idea how to style them so I went onto pinterest for some inspiration.  Here’s the look and it’s inspiration!

 

Sandals: Bought in a shop in London

Shorts: Express Brand from Marshall’s

Top: Nordstrom Rack

Necklace: David’s Bridal

Watch: Fossil

Inspiration photo

The necklace was bought when I went to try on wedding dresses and realized I didn’t bring something fancy to wear with the dresses I tried on.  I ended up liking it so much I bought it.  I really like the look!  The shorts are a bit more brown than olive but it still pairs well with the black.  Also, those shoes in my inspiration picture are beautiful but I tend to shy away from heels, because I’m practical, and 5’11”.  I wish I had a tolerance for heels but sadly that will have to be for my next lifetime.  

Thanks for reading!

I’m back!!

So after a somewhat prolonged hiatus I’m back to the blogosphere! The reason for my un-announced break was because my boyfriend  and I got engaged!

Then I decided to accept a job in Alexandria, Virginia teaching pre-school to third grade general music and elementary / middle school choir!  So a total game changer for next fall!  Instead of being at three schools I’ll be at one working with younger children than the last couple years.  To say that I’m excited is an understatement.  It’s not that I was completely thrilled at the idea of leaving my band and orchestra students it’s more that I’m excited about moving to Virginia next year before the wedding and being in a more convenient area for my fiancee and I.  Plus, I’ll be working at the school that I teach music for summer camp at and the students are so talented and excited about the performing arts!  Each week of summer camp there is a show on Friday that is just the tip of the music and dance iceberg which is unveiled at the end of camp in a “Grand Finale” performance designed and orchestrated by the dance instructor and myself.  It’s a pretty incredible show considering the performers are ages 3 - 13.

I’m so excited to work with such incredible children and staff in a private school setting.  The love and appreciation for the arts at this school is a large part of why I feel so privileged to be working there in the fall.

This position will place a different focus for the blog.  I’ll be putting ideas for general music and choir on here now as well as finding new ways to teach concepts that I didn’t have the time or resources to introduce teaching instrumental music.  In the next few weeks I’ll be going through some of my summer camp activities which are music related activities for ages 3 - 13 that make music a fun part of the day without making the concepts they’re learning realized.

I will also be bringing back the fashion portion of the blog!  Maybe I’ll even do a “Wedding Wednesday” portion as I plan the wedding.  You all know I love a good alliteration! Who knows but I’m excited for the new direction!

Thanks for reading,

Fashion Friday: Preparing for Rain... no, Snow

To say that the weather has been crazy is a bit of an understatement.  Last weekend was beautiful, sunny and perfect for an outdoor barbecue, throwing a football around and celebrating birthdays.  Then monday I decided to wear shorts and a t-shirt and wash my car.  Then came Tuesday and rain / sleet / snow and our flag football game.  Our game started right when it started to snow and ended when it stopped.  One of those “are you kidding me?” moments in life.  Can’t complain too much, I did score a touchdown and we won the game!  

This outfit is the perfect combatant for rain or snow, you know, whichever decides to show up in April.

 Rain Boots: Kamik from DSW

Socks: Purchased in Switzerland somewhere

Black Skinny Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Lace Cami: Abercrombie

T-shirt sweater: American Eagle

Scarf: Knit by me 

Trench: Coach

Umbrella: Target

I’m looking forward to this weekend!  We’ve been on spring break all week and I’ve been pretty busy with crafts.  I finished a cowl I knit (different from the one pictured above) and sewed a skirt with a 1941 sewing machine my mom gave me.  It will definitely be featured on the blog once I wear it.  Tonight I’m going to a drive in movie at Union Market in DC and then the boyfriend and I will be celebrating another birthday on Saturday.  Today’s goal is to find a new knitting project!

Happy Easter!