Today we began class with our Hello Song! Then we warmed up our vocal chords with a slide whistle.
Next we sang a song in three different modes. The first song, "Russian Dance", was in a minor or aeolian mode.
Then we danced to a song in Mixolydian, You Really Got Me by The Kinks.
Next we sang a song in a major or Ionian mode, a folk song called "Down Came a Lady".
Next we sang Pitter Patter together, in preparation for solo singing.
We tried out our Arioso's. Today many of the children came up with their own Arioso's and created beautiful music.
We sang the song- Caney Mi Macaro, a song in spanish that focuses on call and response.
At the Piano:
Today we learned a part of the song London Bridge. Track 32 on your CD. See the worksheet I sent home that will show you where to guide your child's hand placement. Listen to the student part of track 32 to hear the rhythm that these notes shall be played. Enjoy!
Back in circle:
"Bill Grogan's Goat"-This is a very fun echo song. The children echo each verse of the story.
The Statue Game: I asks all the students to stand very still and make a statue pose. As I beat my drum the children change poses until I stop drumming. Wherever the student is, they must freeze in the new statue position.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Do Re Music June 10th
Much of Today's class was a development of last week's class, therefore, some activities were repeated in order to reinforce concepts. We began by singing our hello song, "Hello Everybody" and continued into our vocal warm ups.
We improvised melodies in e harmonic minor. There are many songs that are in minor keys. Toccata and Fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach is one example. Ominous, isn't it? Well, not all minor pieces sound that way, some minor key pieces are very peaceful and reflective such as Chopin's Mazurka in b minor, beautifully interpreted here by Vladimir Horowitz. Some minor pieces are playful and light such as Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca which is in "a" minor.
We sang "Little Brown Beagle" (mixolydian). See June 3rd. The theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation is another example of a piece in Mixolydian. =)
I played the piano piece called "Silly Willy" (track 31) by Marilyn Lowe for the children. Please listen to track 31 this week. I did not send home the info sheet for the piece because I simply want the children to be listening to the piece in preparation for next week. Continue to work with your child on "The Woodpecker" and "The Apple and the Worm" at the piano this week.
To close the class, I sang the story song, "Kitty Alone", and played my Uke. This story is a quiet song, and is really a lullaby. The children listened intently and were very relaxed. You'll find a beautiful recording of the song, as sung by Jean Ritchie in 1956. (Track 7)
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone a lye
Saw a crow a flying low
And a cat a spinning tow
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
In came a little bat
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
In came a little bat
Kitty alone a lye
In came a little bat
With some butter and some fat
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
Next came in was a honey bee...
With a fiddle across his knee...
Next come in were two little bats...
Fixing around to have a dance...
Next come in was little Pete...
Fixing around to go to sleep...
We improvised melodies in e harmonic minor. There are many songs that are in minor keys. Toccata and Fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach is one example. Ominous, isn't it? Well, not all minor pieces sound that way, some minor key pieces are very peaceful and reflective such as Chopin's Mazurka in b minor, beautifully interpreted here by Vladimir Horowitz. Some minor pieces are playful and light such as Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca which is in "a" minor.
We sang "Little Brown Beagle" (mixolydian). See June 3rd. The theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation is another example of a piece in Mixolydian. =)
I played the piano piece called "Silly Willy" (track 31) by Marilyn Lowe for the children. Please listen to track 31 this week. I did not send home the info sheet for the piece because I simply want the children to be listening to the piece in preparation for next week. Continue to work with your child on "The Woodpecker" and "The Apple and the Worm" at the piano this week.
To close the class, I sang the story song, "Kitty Alone", and played my Uke. This story is a quiet song, and is really a lullaby. The children listened intently and were very relaxed. You'll find a beautiful recording of the song, as sung by Jean Ritchie in 1956. (Track 7)
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone a lye
Saw a crow a flying low
And a cat a spinning tow
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
In came a little bat
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
In came a little bat
Kitty alone a lye
In came a little bat
With some butter and some fat
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
Next came in was a honey bee...
With a fiddle across his knee...
Next come in were two little bats...
Fixing around to have a dance...
Next come in was little Pete...
Fixing around to go to sleep...
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Do Re Music Notes June 3
We began class by singing our hello song today, "Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed":
You will find the hello song on your class CD Track 1 as sung by children's folk singer Rachel Buchman from her CD entitled "Hello Everybody" I really love this CD and fortunately it's now available on iTunes. I grew up with this on LP in the early 80's. I believe it was released in the 70's although I can't seem to find an exact release date.
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
We warmed up our voices today by drawing vocal maps on the white board. Some of our maps looked like roller coasters and some looked like mountains. We sang the shape we drew by singing "oooh" and changing our pitch as the vocal map went up or down.
Our minor key song was "Leaves are Falling" Track 33 on your CD. It is the second melody on the track and falls between the seconds (0:19-0:26)
We had lots of fun with the Mixolydian song, "Little Brown Beagle" Track 33 (2:25-2:41). In this song we clap and jump after many of the phrases. The Mixolydian mode is like the Major (Ionian) scale except that the 7th pitch is lowered. Parents:"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks is based on the Mixolydian mode. Give it a listen and I think you'll begin to realize that you've probably heard this mode before but may have not known know it was called Mixolydian! Many of Jazz, Blues, Latin and Rock music also utilizes this mode.
The children took turns singing a "Frog in the Meadow" Solo. We are also learning a new song this week "Pitter Patter". Today the children were invited to listen to me as I sang the song for the first time.
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
Listen to the Rain
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
On my Windowpane
Today we improvised musical conversations (arioso). The children are beginning to sing their ariosos. Some are using "Frog in the Meadow" as their arioso which is a very good start!
We listened to Orff intsrumental recordings as we moved to music today Track 28. As we listened to the music we moved, danced, bounded, skipped around the room, changing movements as the music changed. Feeling the music and using our imaginations to decide which move to do next.
Today's rhythmic chant:
Bate Bate Chocolate
Bate Bate Chocolate
Con arroz y con tomate
Today's story song was Jenny Jenkins. Each child took turns picking a color that Jenny might wear. However, it seems she didn't like any of them! We had fun trying to figure out what rhymed with Orange and Purple. A couple of students thought of Porridge for Orange. And Burple for Purple! There's a wonderful recording of Jenny Jenkins on your CD by the late Jerry Garcia and David Grisman from the "Not Just for Kid's" CD: which is, true to it's title, very listenable!
You will find the hello song on your class CD Track 1 as sung by children's folk singer Rachel Buchman from her CD entitled "Hello Everybody" I really love this CD and fortunately it's now available on iTunes. I grew up with this on LP in the early 80's. I believe it was released in the 70's although I can't seem to find an exact release date.
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
We warmed up our voices today by drawing vocal maps on the white board. Some of our maps looked like roller coasters and some looked like mountains. We sang the shape we drew by singing "oooh" and changing our pitch as the vocal map went up or down.
Our minor key song was "Leaves are Falling" Track 33 on your CD. It is the second melody on the track and falls between the seconds (0:19-0:26)
We had lots of fun with the Mixolydian song, "Little Brown Beagle" Track 33 (2:25-2:41). In this song we clap and jump after many of the phrases. The Mixolydian mode is like the Major (Ionian) scale except that the 7th pitch is lowered. Parents:"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks is based on the Mixolydian mode. Give it a listen and I think you'll begin to realize that you've probably heard this mode before but may have not known know it was called Mixolydian! Many of Jazz, Blues, Latin and Rock music also utilizes this mode.
The children took turns singing a "Frog in the Meadow" Solo. We are also learning a new song this week "Pitter Patter". Today the children were invited to listen to me as I sang the song for the first time.
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
Listen to the Rain
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
On my Windowpane
Today we improvised musical conversations (arioso). The children are beginning to sing their ariosos. Some are using "Frog in the Meadow" as their arioso which is a very good start!
We listened to Orff intsrumental recordings as we moved to music today Track 28. As we listened to the music we moved, danced, bounded, skipped around the room, changing movements as the music changed. Feeling the music and using our imaginations to decide which move to do next.
Today's rhythmic chant:
Bate Bate Chocolate
Bate Bate Chocolate
Con arroz y con tomate
Today's story song was Jenny Jenkins. Each child took turns picking a color that Jenny might wear. However, it seems she didn't like any of them! We had fun trying to figure out what rhymed with Orange and Purple. A couple of students thought of Porridge for Orange. And Burple for Purple! There's a wonderful recording of Jenny Jenkins on your CD by the late Jerry Garcia and David Grisman from the "Not Just for Kid's" CD: which is, true to it's title, very listenable!
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