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...