Recently Mrs. Ranney's Class had a special treat for Fun Friday:
A flute recital by Mikayla!
Not only did we enjoy listening to the music she played for us,
we learned a little about the flute as well!
 |
| Mikayla showed us how to hold the flute. |
 | |||
| She told us she has been playing for 8 months and practices about 4 times a week. |
 |
| We looked at the music to the tunes she played for us. |
Please enjoy the music as much as we did by watching the video below!
 |
| When she was all finished, she showed how to clean the flute... |
 | ||
| and pack it up! |
Thanks so much, Mikayla!
************
What did you enjoy most about Mikayla's flute recital?
If you play a musical instrument too,
share something about it with us!
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteYou are an excellent flute player! I enjoyed listening to your music, and I admire your determination.
The part I took pleasure in the most of your recital was that I got to (finally) listen to you play and hear what a wonderful musician you are.
I play the drums, but I just practice once a week. I enjoy playing the drums, and I would like to play in a marching band. I have been playing the drums for about one year. I’ve learned many beats and rudiments.
I hope we get to play together in the A.C. Stelle band! In the meantime, next time you come to my house, you could bring your flute, so we can play together. Would you like that?
Your friend,
Ella
Dear Mrs. Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed listening to how enthusiastically Mikayla played the flute. I also enjoyed listening to the wonderful songs she played. It would be great if you let me take a sports survey for my blog post, from the last family blogging month. First, we have to plan when I can survey the class about their favorite soccer, baseball, football and basketball teams. In a couple weeks will be fine. Please let me know what you think about my spectacular idea.
All the best,
Aidan
Dear Ella,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliments! I'll ask my mom if she would let me bring my flute to your house, because it is a fragile instrument. It sounds like fun. By the way, what songs do you know how to play on the drums?
Your Friend,
Mikayla
Dear Mikayla:
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing video Mikayla! I am so impressed with your flute playing ability. Your diligent practice efforts are paying off.
I, too, played a wind instrument when I was younger. I played the clarinet in middle school (which was from 7th-9th grade when I was in school!). The flute and clarinet are both part of what is called the woodwind section of an orchestra.
Did you know that there are four sections in an orchestra? They are:
String Section: This is the biggest section and these musicians sit closest to the front of the stage and to the conductor. This section includes the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Woodwind Section: These musicians sit behind the string section and they play the flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon.
Brass Section: This section is located behind the woodwind section and they play the trumpet, trombone, French horn, and tuba.
Percussion Section: In the back, because they are SO loud, is the percussion section! These instruments includes all the varieties of drums along with the cymbals, tambourine, triangle, castanets, woodblock, claves, xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, and marimba. I will admit that I have never heard of the last three instruments listed. Perhaps one of you can do some research and teach us an interesting fact or two about the glockenspiel, vibraphone, or marimba.
Finally, the piano is sometimes included in an orchestra, but it is not considered a specific section.
Best regards,
Suzanne (Leah’s Mom)
Dear Mikayla:
ReplyDeleteWow, I thought that you sounded fantastic playing the flute. It seems like it is a hard instrument to play.
I do not play an instrument, but I am interested in the piano. I am thinking that I might want to take lessons sometime in the future, but first we would need to buy a piano for my house!
My favorite instrument in an orchestra is the harp. It is part of the Strings Section (read my mom’s comment for more information on the four sections of an orchestra).
The first time I saw a harp was at the Hollywood Bowl. I went there last summer, the music and fireworks were incredible, and I got to stay up until midnight! I had never stayed up that late in my life!
I enjoy the harp because the music it makes sounds so pretty and soothing. It is also an amazing sight to see the harpist’s fingers strum and pluck the strings.
What is your favorite instrument in an orchestra?
Sincerely,
Leah ♥
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteYou did an outstanding job! I really enjoyed your performance! You looked very confident playing the songs!
I noticed that you played Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, and I play it too. I play it on the piano though. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas is in the second piano book that I learned to play, I am on my fourth book now.
Right now I am trying to perfect a song called The Caravan. It is an interesting song, and it is really fun to play!
I have been playing for two years, and I practice for about half an hour to an hour three times a week.
Maybe we can get together and have our own mini band!
I have a question for you:
Do you like practicing?
Your friend,
Hannah
Dear Mrs.Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed listening to Mikayla play the flute.I want to learn how to play the flute,but I can't because I am learning how to play the piano.I have lessons to day after school.
Warmly,
Raelynn
Dear Mrs. Ranney and Mikayla,
ReplyDelete@ Mikayla you did an amazing job! It was music to my ears! If I had to play an instrument, it would definitely be the flute by far! It must have been amazing to hear in person. If you've been practicing for 8 months and 4 times a week! That's a very long time.
@ Mrs. Ranney, She's amazing I hope that you have a fun time teaching.
Keep up the good work,
Ariel ( in Mr. Avery's class)
Dear Mikayla, Mrs. Ranney and students,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, wow! Mikayla, you play the flute amazingly well! I am so happy to hear you play in the video on this great blog post. You get quite a lot of sound out of the instrument and your intonations were spot on! You have a very good ear. That is, you are able to play the notes in tune very well.
The flute can be a difficult instrument to play in tune. The posture required to play the flute takes discipline. Practicing in short sessions with lots of stretching breaks will help you.
As you grow, it will become easier. The flute, while smaller than many other instruments, has keys spaced to fit adult sized hands, shoulders, and arms. This can be very challenging for a third grader.
You are doing very well. It is clear you are enjoying musical success. Have fun! And, keep up the hard work!
By the way, I began to study the flute at age 9. Then, when I reached adulthood, I did not play for 30 years. In 2009, I picked it up again. I am learning again how fun it is to play, and I am happy to entertain others with music.
Why did you choose to play the flute?
Flute-fully yours,
Janis
(Mrs. Ranney's sister)
Hi Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me figure out getting on the blog. I listened and saw you on the web site. You are amazing. You are so talented. I know that the playing of your flute as well as you do, takes a lot of practice. Keep up the good work! I am so proud of you. Love, Grandma
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteI liked listening to you play the flute. My favorite song was, "America." Do you have a favorite song that you play, or would like to play?
I am learning how to play the guitar. I hope to learn how to play "Hey Soul Sister."
Thanks for sharing your music with us.
Michael
PS. My mom really liked your video.
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteI understand if your mom says no because you’re right, the flute is a very delicate instrument.
I know how to play many songs like That Thing You Do, Back In The USSR, Come Together, and Brain Stew. I know some more songs, but I just want to mention these songs because they are the best songs I play. I especially like to play Beatles songs.
Your friend,
Ella
Dear Mrs. Ranney's class,
ReplyDeleteDid you know that playing a musical instrument can actually help you become better at math? The same part of the brain that listens and interprets classical music is the same part that you use for mathematical problems.
Also, if you ever want to see some inspirational stories of amazing musicians, ask your parents to rent the 1980 documentary, "Mao to Mozart." It's a great film. Another tremendous talent that you can see right here in Los Angeles is the newest conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel. He came to us all the way from Venezuela. In Venezuela, they have a national children's orchestra that introduces children to classical music at a very young age. Mikayla, you would be shocked how much these children practice every day! It has certainly paid off, since the children's' orchestra is world renowned. If you look on youtube, you can see some great video clips of their performances.
Sincerely,
Mikayla's Mom
Dear Mrs.Ranney,
ReplyDeleteI have piano lesson today so I wanted to make a coment before I go to my lessons.My music teachers name is Mrs.Willson.
Warmly
Raelynn
Dear Leah's mom,
ReplyDeleteI did not know that much information about an orchestra, until I read your comment. Did you like to playing the clarinet when you were in middle school? Do you still play the clarinet now?
@Leah
It is great that you want to play the piano. My favorite instrument in the orchestra is the flute. You may know that because you saw me play.
@Hannah
That is so funny that we learned the same song. Sometimes I like practicing, but other times I am tired or would prefer to play. So, I don't have to practice on the weekends.
Do you like practicing?
@Ariel
Thank you for the flattering compliments.
@Janis
I can't believe that we both play the flute. I am nine, so I started to play the flute at the same time.
Did you play in the orchestra in high school or college?
@Michael
I like the song "America" too. Especially, since we learned the words with Mr.B. I hope some day, I can learn to play my favorite songs by the Black Eyed Peas. Although I'm not sure if that music can be played on the flute.
Yours truly,
Mikayla
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed watching your amazing video because it was so thrilling! I LOVED all of your songs that you played on the flute! It was intriguing to watch you play because I never knew you were so magnificent at playing the flute.
The instrument that I used to play was the playful piano. My sister Madison also played piano with me, but also stopped playing. I did not continue to play a few months after my other sister Allison started. She still plays right now, but Madison and I don’t play anymore.
I hope that you continue playing that fabulous flute.
Warm Regards,
Carly:)
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing flute player! I
enjoyed listening to you play the
flute. You played it very well!
I used to play the drums. My favorite song was America. It is a
very nice song! I actually thought it was better than normal fun Friday.
Warmly,
Shawn
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteHi, this is Sydney and Mikey. Sydney likes America too. So we both like America the best, but we enjoyed the other songs too.
Sydney is learning the guitar too. Mikey knows the six strings for the guitar. Do you want to know them? They are A,B,D,G,and there are two E.
We like your flute a lot. It is very long ,and it is brilliant.
Your Friends,
Sydney and Mikey
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteYou are a great flute player. Your music is so nice. It sounded great! When you showed everyone how such a long flute fits in a small box, I realized that the flute could come apart. I used to play the piano before I started to take soccer lessons, so now I don’t have time to play the piano. I could tell my mom liked your video, because she silentlywatched it.
Warmly,
Shawn
Dear Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteYou were really amazing when you played your flute for us in class! I really liked that you didn't give up, and you were determined to accomplish your goal. Anyway I think you are a great flute player. Keep up the good work!
Your friend,
Emily:)
Hi Mikayla,
ReplyDeleteThose songs that you played were pretty good.:)+