Repertoire and Links

Here are some ways you can adapt your learning in music class:

• If you're feeling overwhelmed,

  • Hum the melodies instead of singing the words

  • Pat the beat instead of the rhythms 

  • Consider using noise cancelling earphones 

  • Consider using a fidget while you listen and participate if your body needs more movement than we are doing with the activity

• If you're ready for the next step,

  • Add a body percussion ostinato 

  • Add the curwen hand symbols 

  • Check in with your performing posture, breathing, and eye contact while you sing and play instruments

  • Consider the dynamics, tempo, and texture of the music we're working on

FUN LINKS:

Chrome Music Lab an interactive electronic music tool

SOME OF OUR MUSIC LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Ohio state marching band, Hollywood favorites

Steve Reich, Marimba Phase (musical minimalism)

Anat Cohen, Quartetinho

Wintergatan, Marble Machine

Kiffness, Mozart Cat

Overtone Singing

Evelyn Glennie, Clapping Music

Vivaldi, The Four Seasons

Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker

Country Chicks, Wide Open Spaces

Saint Saens, Danse Macabre

Kung Fu Piano

New Zealand Rugby Team, Haka

Wynton Marsalis

Stevie Wonder, Sir Duke

Indonesian Gamelan

Shostakovitch The Nose (dance sequence)

Some Songs and Games we do in K, 1, 2

• Follow the Leader

• Cookie Jar

• Hop Old Squirrel

• Old King Glory

• Beat Keeping with songs (using clapping, patting, stomping, snapping, skipping, galloping...)

• Playing instruments (tambourines, rhythm sticks, drums, shakers...)

• Freeze Dance

• Movement with classical music

• Patriotic songs (America the Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee...)

• Rattlin' Bog

• El Coqui

• My Little Rooster

• Folk songs (Twinkle Twinkle, Mary Had a Little Lamb, I'm a Little Teapot...)

• Jump it Jodie

• Circle Roun the Zero

• Doggie Doggie Where's your Bone?

• Circle and Contra dancing (Noble Duke, Chimes of Dunkirk, Alabama Gal, La Bastringue...)

• Here Sits a Monkey

• Pity My Case

• Sneaky Snake

• I Like Spinach

• Pass the Pumpkin

• Frosty Weather

• Julie Ann Johnson

• Pizza Pizza 

• Tideo

• Chickama

• Old Woman All Skin and Bones

• On a Mountain

• Kookaburra

• Page's Train

• Sarasponda

• Down By the Bay

• Jump Jim Joe

• Be Kind to Everyone

• Hand Clapping Games (Miss Mary Mack...)

• Wishy Washy

• Skip To My Lou

• We Shall Overcome

Some of our Activities, grades 3-6

• Listening to and discussing music from a variety of genres, historical periods, and cultures

• Learning some Music Theory (or how music is commonly notated)

• Playing Instruments

  • September and October: rhythm reading and snare drum sticking technique

  • November and December: piano keyboard basics

  • January and February: Ukulele basics, chords, and accompaniment

  • March and April: Guitar basics, chords, and accompaniment

  • May: Concert Prep for Arts in the Park

• Singing

  • Rounds, Canons, Caccia (many can be found here)

  • Patriotic Songs

  • Harry Styles: Treat people with Kindness

  • Seasonal Songs (Turkey Trot, Winter Wonderland, etc)

• Moving

  • Circle and Contra dancing (Chimes of Dunkirk, Alabama Gal, La Bastringue...)

  • Sarasponda

  • Weevily Wheat

  • Four White Horses

  • Sei Sei Sei (Japanese game with Rock, Paper Scissors)

  • Freddi Oka

  • Acka Backa

  • Sansa Kroma

  • Al Citron

  • Charlie Over the Ocean

  • Cups (pattern and passing ostinati)

• Discussing our Question of the Week (some examples)

  • What is your favorite song?

  • What is the first song you remember?

  • Why don’t you like some music?

  • What have you never listened to before that you're curious about?

  • What makes instruments sound different from each other?

  • If you could be a performer or a music writer, which would you be and why?

  • How does music affect history?

  • Do you think knowing the story behind a piece of music would change the way you perform it?

  • If you could automatically be an expert in one instrument, what would it be?

  • Why do some things sound good and some things sound bad?

  • What’s the difference between music and sound?

  • How do you feel about cover songs?

  • What is your favorite song about feelings?

  • What music do you listen to to relax?

  • Does knowing the musician change the way you listen to it?