universal language – Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life.

October 1st marks a significant milestone in the world of music as we celebrate International Music Day, commemorating its 50th golden anniversary next year. Launched in 1975 by the International Music Council and inspired by a 1973 UNESCO resolution, this day is dedicated to promoting music’s universal ability to bridge cultures and connect people from all walks of life. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow aptly said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.”

For the past five decades, International Music Day has championed music’s role in fostering unity and appreciation across global communities. It serves as a reminder of how music, in all its forms, transcends barriers and resonates with everyone, enriching our lives in countless ways.

Music and Nature: A Harmony of Sounds

In Saskatoon, we have the unique opportunity to blend music appreciation with environmental awareness by incorporating local natural landmarks into our International Music Day celebrations. Consider how music intertwines with nature in our city’s beautiful spaces like the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park. These areas offer an inspiring backdrop for exploring how natural sounds can be musical.

Drawing inspiration from the movie “August Rush,” Imagine the rustling of Trembling Aspen leaves as part of a soothing melody or the songs of Western Meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, and American Robins contributing to a natural symphony. Even the rhythmic drumming of Saskatchewan woodpeckers can add a percussive element to our compositions.

American Robin., Turdus migratorius — Downy Wwoodpecker Ddryobates pubescens

Activity Burst Ideas

Grades K-2 – Music Appreciation, Physical Activity, Creative Design

Nature Rhythms Exploration: Take students on a nature walk in the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Encourage them to listen to the sounds around them—rustling leaves, bird calls, and even the crunch of footsteps. Use rhythm instruments or homemade instruments like plastic bottles filled with varying levels of liquid to mimic these natural sounds. Have students create their own “nature symphony” by incorporating the sounds they hear.
DIY Musical Instruments: Provide materials such as cardboard tubes, straws, and construction paper. Guide students to create simple musical instruments representing different families of instruments—wind, percussion, or strings. Once completed, let students showcase their creations and explore how they produce different sounds.

Grades 3-5 – Music Appreciation, Creative Movement/Dance, Physical Activity

Dance to Nature’s Beat: Host a dance session in George Genereux Urban Regional Park where students can move freely to the natural rhythm of the environment. Play a selection of music that complements the sounds of nature, and encourage students to express themselves through dance. Afterward, have a discussion on how moving to different music styles affected their mood and energy levels.
Music in the Park: Invite students to create and perform a short dance or movement piece inspired by the natural sounds they observe in the park. Discuss how these movements might reflect the rhythm and flow of the environment.

Grades 6-8 – Music Appreciation, Vocabulary, Graphing, Research

Soundscape Projects: Students can research how different cultures use music to reflect their environment and heritage. Encourage them to present their findings in a multi-media format, incorporating audio clips of music from various cultures and their natural soundscapes.
Music and Environment: Create a project where students analyze and graph their favorite music genres and relate these preferences to the sounds found in local parks. For example, they could explore how the rhythm of a woodpecker’s drumming might influence their perception of a specific genre.
Composer Study: Introduce students to Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, the background music, to the interview between Richard St. Barbe Baker and Barrie Oldfield. Discuss how music can evoke the atmosphere of natural landscapes. Ask students to create their own compositions inspired by the natural beauty of Saskatoon’s parks, reflecting on how these environments can influence musical expression.

Additional Ideas

All Grades – Art, Technology

Instrument Design Challenge: Using basic materials such as boxes, cardboard tubes, and strings, have students design and build their own musical instruments. Encourage them to think about which musical family their instrument belongs to and how it will produce sound. Students can present their creations to the class and explain their design choices.
Nature and Music Integration: Create a project where students record sounds from nature and use them as samples to compose a piece of music. This could be a fun way to integrate technology with music and environmental studies. The Merlin smartphone app will identify bird calls to further the student’s appreciation.

By blending music with our natural surroundings, International Music Day in Saskatoon offers a unique opportunity to explore the harmony between nature and music. Let’s get ready to celebrate this golden anniversary by uniting through the universal language of music and appreciating the natural world that inspires us.

The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) Autumn colour of foliage CC 3 Walter Siegmund

Red Winged Blackbird. Chappell Marsh. West Swale Wetlands. Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Saskatoon, SK, CA — The Trembling Aspen is also referred to as the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx) Autumn colour of foliage CC 3 Walter Siegmund

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation