Learning Objectives: Students will explore First Nations and Métis music through listening, singing, and dancing.

Steps:

1. How do you connect with and celebrate God? Do you pray? Do you talk to Him? Do you share the gifts and talents that He has blessed upon you with others? Do you share stories of the Bible? Do you sing to Him?

2. Singing is one way that we can connect with God and learn more about Him. It is also a way that we can connect with other people and cultures in our diverse world to learn more about them. Through music and song, we can all be united.

   • Sing along to “Music Alive!” composed by Sherryl Sewepagaham. The music for this English/Cree song can be found here and the recording to sing along with can be found here.

3. Many favourite worship songs have been translated to different languages and are sung in different countries and nations across our world.

   • Video 1 shares “As the Deer (World Edition)” sung in 8 different languages.

   • Video 2 shares “Amazing Grace” sung in Inuktitut by Inuk singer/songwriter Susan Aglukark.

4. Luke 6:31 reads, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Even though there are differences among us, we are each made in the same way - knit together in our mother’s wombs - and we are all interwoven in this world.

   • If you want to try weaving in the literal sense, check out “How to Fingerweave” from the Gabriel Dumont Institute Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture.

   • Watch Video 3 to learn about the History of the Métis Jig Dance.

   • Page 19 of “Celebrating Canada’s Indigenous People Through Song and Dance” outlines how to do some basic steps of the Red River Jig. If you want to try it, use the music in Video 4 by the well-known, master Métis fiddler John Arcand.

Learning Objective: Students will experience working with rondo form.

Steps:

1. Did you know that there are 66 books in the Bible? We are so blessed that we have God’s word to turn to during all times! And, if we make time in our day to read and learn scripture we will always have God’s truths in our hearts.

2. Time is a tricky thing. Sometimes it seems to drag on forever, like a long drive where you keep wanting to ask, “Are we there yet?” Sometimes it goes by in a flash; this especially seems to be the case when we are doing things we really love. In this activity we are going to take the time to try and learn all 66 books of the Bible. As you will hear in the song, they are time-tested and reliable! Watch Video 1, “Books of the Bible Song,” paying close attention to the names of all the books. Can you open up your Bible and find all of these books as you listen to the song? You may want to listen once first, then play it again and pause as you located each book in your Bible.

3. Time to create!

   1. Write down 3 of your favourite verses and where they can be found.

   2. Look up and record 3 more short, powerful Bible verses that speak to you and where they can be found (maybe they are new to you and maybe ones you already know).

   3. Watch Video 2 of Mrs. Richard to find out what to do next. Following this video, you will want to watch “Viennese Musical Clock” (Video 3) as directed (a link to the listening map is provided below), then watch Video 4 of Mrs. Richard to continue with the lesson.
      **Videos of Mrs. Richard or any portions of them may not be posted to any social media platforms or any electronic media outside of this Alternative Learning space.
      
      You can find the listening map for "Viennese Musical Clock" here.
      

Just for Fun!

If you want to try to memorize all 66 books of the Bible, these are a couple other fun videos for you to view.

• Old Testament books

• New Testament Books

• The B-I-B-L-E song. Can you figure out what the form would be for this piece by assigning letters to each section? It's not rondo, but it's very close. Remember, when a section repeats it gets the same letter.

Learning Objectives: Sing in-tune and discover the meaning of a song through its text.

Steps:

1. Psalm 105:2 says, “Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works.”

2. There are so many ways that we can connect with God. Lifting our praises to Him through song is just one! People have been singing worship music for many years and through the years the style of this music has changed. Watch “Evolution of Worship Music” posted by David Wesley (see Video 1) to listen and get a small glimpse into these changes of sound.

3. Do you have a favourite worship song? Why do you like it? Have you ever wondered what inspires composers to create their music? Are they inspired by a certain act or experience? Are they inspired by a conversation? Does inspiration come from an overwhelming love for God to share with all? Or is it something much smaller?

4. Think about what you have been doing at home these last few weeks. Would you be able to create a worship song to last through the ages inspired by an everyday experience? This is exactly what William Runyan did when he wrote, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” While reading through some poetry sent to him by his good friend, Thomas Chisholm, Runyan was captured by the words in the poem “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Within the year, Runyan had created a melody and published his completed hymn. See what reading can inspire us to do! Listen to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" posted by Maranatha! Music (see Video 2) and pay close attention to the words. You can read more about the history of this hymn as well as an explanation of the lyrics here.

5. Try singing along to the Music Mashup (Video 3) of songs we have worked on these past few weeks. Don’t worry if you haven’t completed all the activities - you can still try singing along. Can you add any instrumental accompaniment to your singing using found instruments you have at home?

Just for Fun! Caleb + Kelsey (Anthem Lights) have created a number of worship music mashups. Two of these (Videos 4 and 5) have been shared in this activity for you to enjoy.

Learning Objectives: Name and explore different parts that may be used in a song (melody, harmony, percussion). Identify and explore new world instruments.

Steps:

1. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Watch the first video, “Kids Worship: This Is The Day (Psalm 118:24)” posted by Arts Delivery. If you sing along to the whole song, you will have this verse memorized by the end guaranteed!

2. There are so many things each day to be grateful for. What are you grateful for today? What thing, big or small, can you give thanks to God for? On days where you find yourself worried or scared, remember that God is there to listen to you. Talk to Him; God wants to have a relationship with you. He tells us not to worry about anything, but instead to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6).

3. Last week you watched a video clip about the pentatonic scale showcased by Bobby McFerrin. One of the songs Bobby McFerrin is most well known for is “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” You can explore all the different parts of the song and how they combine to work together here. What is the “melody” of a song? What does “harmony” mean? How does Bobby create the percussion parts of this song? Try some of the parts along with Bobby. Can you do them too?

4. Okaidi and Playing for Change have also recorded their own version of “Don’t Worry Be Happy” (see Video 2). It showcases young singers and musicians from all over the world coming together to unite in song. Watch the recording and follow these directions:

   • How many different countries are the musicians from in this recording? Can you locate all these countries on a world map?

   • How many different instruments do you recognize in the recording? Are there some instruments that are new to you? Name and write down as many instruments as you can. Two instruments that may be new to you are the balafon and talking drum featured in the clips from Ghana, Africa. Take some time this week to research these two instruments. What do they sound like? How are they played? How do they create their sound? How are they made? What kind of instrument is it, how would it be classified?

   • Can you explore any other world instruments this week? Challenge yourself: how many new instruments can you name and learn about?

Just For Fun! Check out CBC kids and explore 6 very unique instruments.

Learning Objective: Name the pentatonic scale and practice creating with it.

Steps:

1. Genesis 1:1 says that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” As you look at the world around you, isn’t it truly amazing all that God has created? Watch the first video “Creation (Genesis 1-2)” posted by Saddleback Kids. We will be coming back to this verse later in this lesson.

2. How many days did it take God to create our earth and everything on it? He worked for 6 days and then rested on the 7th and it was good! We know that the numbers from this story in the Bible are important. Did you know that numbers are also important in music for lots of different reasons? Numbers help us with rhythmic values, grouping notes into time signatures, counting up or down to determine notes on the staff, and more. In this lesson you will learn why the number 5 is particularly special when it comes to working with scales in music.

3. Watch the second video, “Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale” posted by World Science Festival. Then watch video 3 of Mrs. Richard to learn more about the pentatonic scale.
   **Videos of Mrs. Richard or any portions of them may not be posted to any social media platforms or any electronic media outside of this Alternative Learning space.

4. In honour of Earth Day, you can learn how to build your own pentatonic instrument by reusing glass beverage bottles. Using the interactive bottle xylophone on the website, or your own if you create one at home, create a melody using the words of our Genesis 1:1 verse at the beginning of this lesson. Experiment with how the melody can change if you play different notes each time. Watch video 4 of Mrs. Richard to see how she created a melody for Genesis 1:1 using a bottle xylophone she created in her home.

• Special note: If for some reason the interactive water bottle xylophone graphic does not appear (try back another day), the following is how much water you will need in each bottle to create your xylophone. Doh=570ml, Re=390ml, Mi=330ml, Soh=240ml, Lah=180ml. If you don’t have any glass beverage bottles at home, you can make this with open glasses as well, but please make sure you ask your parent or guardian first!

Want to learn more?

• Check out this website for even more information on water instruments.

• These following links will teach you more about improvisation as it can be used in jazz music. Both are posted by Jazz at Lincoln Centre’s Jazz Academy.

  1. • Jazz Fundamentals: What is Improvisation?

     • Exploring Improvisation in Jazz

Learning Objectives: Practice rhythms that include sixteenth and dotted notes. Identify how lyrics of a song contribute to its meaning.

Steps:

• Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” You just celebrated Easter and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross to take away our sins. Remember this verse this week. Maybe even challenge yourself to commit it to memory.

• Listen to the first video “Nothing But The Blood” posted by David Wesley. Discuss with a parent or guardian what the song is about. This particular recording is a great example of how we can be brought together through music, how we can continue to praise God and worship Him even when we cannot physically gather together.

• Watch the second video of Mrs. Richard and follow along to help you with the remainder of this lesson. See video 3 to access the version of “Nothing But The Blood” used in Mrs. Richard's video.
  **Video of Mrs. Richard or any portions of it may not be posted to any social media platforms or any electronic media outside of this Alternative Learning space.