Ring out the year

 

Bells have been used for centuries to sound out important events – as well as be used to enhance dance and music. There’s no time like now to ring in the new year with these online activities about bells. 

CONNECT:

• Get the facts about bells at https://kids.kiddle.co/Bell
• Find out about the most famous bells at https://www.historyofbells.com/famous-bells/notable-bells/
• See 9 types of bells at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVtfZXDRNpU
• How large can a bell be? See the possibilities at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9YydhLiU8I

 

CREATE:

• Jingle bell away with these fun activities at https://handsonaswegrow.com/jingle-bell-activities-kids/
• The National Bell Festival suggests kid-friendly bell activities at https://www.bells.org/activities
• Create your own secret ball sound system with a coat hanger and a string at https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/secret-bells
• Make jingle balls dance and jump at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI2aKCtbBe0

 

CARE:

• The Salvation Army rings bells to help raise money to help families in need. Find out about this strategy – and how to become a volunteer bell ringer – at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-central-territory/bell-ringing/
• Get sound advice about caring for bells at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly43Q-8lQ24
• Ben’s Bells are colorful ceramic ornaments hung in communities throughout the world as symbols of kindness for people to find and take home. Get the details at https://bensbells.org/

CAREERS:

Do bells sound like music to your ears? You could make a living with them as a musician, a manufacturer or vendor, a dancer, or even a sound engineer. Maybe these sample job facts will resonate for you.

• Bell-ringing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9P5O4Myfxk
• Making church bells: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBQkLAWDIio
• Handbell ensemble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FanxHK61Cg

The Sounds of Music

The world is full of the sounds of music. Get in tune with music by doing these activities.

CONNECT:

• Trace the history of western music and their composers at http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/
• Read about famous operas at https://www.sdopera.org/Operapaedia
• Hear all that jazz -- from the musicians themselves: at http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/collections-and-archives/smithsonian-jazz-oral-history-program
• Musicals have been around for over 2000 years!. Musicals101.com features separate histories for musical theater, film, television and cabaret: https://www.musicals101.com/history1.htm
• Read how Canadian craftsmen create musical instruments at http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/arts/opus/opus201e.shtml  This site also shows historical instruments.
• How did composers write down their music? Here’s the history: http://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Musical_notation

CREATE:

• Listen and sing children’s songs found at https://www.kididdles.com/. Choose from 2000 lyrics, organized by alphabet and subject.
• Travel around the world in song at http://www.dariamusic.com/
• Discover music, including instruments, through games and other activities at http://www.discovereso.com/
• Explore the science behind musical sound at http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sound.html
• Have fun playing with music at http://www.creatingmusic.com/
• Watch this video to learn how to read music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCZ3qOnNOsk
• Try your hand at writing your own original songs with these tips: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/24798-how-to-write-songs

CARE:

• How do singers protect their voices? The BBC knows: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33184897
• Take care of your musical instrument following these tips: http://www.musicnotes.com/blog/2015/08/27/musical-instrument-care/
• Really loud music can hurt your years. Find out what to do: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=1442&np=152

CAREERS:

Want to make music and make money? There are lots of options: composing, performing, producing, teaching, even manufacturing. Here are some websites to tune up your career.

http://majoringinmusic.com/category/career-choices-and-planning-for-music-majors/

https://www.careersinmusic.com/music-careers/

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/careers-for-music-lovers.htm

http://work.chron.com/jobs-responsibilities-singers-18065.html