In the Junior classes, we use the So-me stories written by Stuart Manins as the basis for our sol-fa learning.
Below are links to the stories, read by the author.
Your children may like to hear the stories again.
They could also write their own So-me story or song.
Please share them with me at rosea@ptchev.school.nz. I’d love to see and hear them!
Book 1 - So-me goes missing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5nqEK8lgUg&t=238s
Activity - look at the picture on the first two pages of the story.
What things make sounds? Can you list them?
Book 2 - So-me and the spider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR2C-LzCUFM
Activity - Can you name or draw or collect pictures of things that make different sounds?
Can you find two things that make very soft sounds?
Two things that make very loud sounds?
Two things that make very high sounds?
Two things that make very low sounds?
Two things that make beautiful sounds?
Two things that make ugly sounds?
Book 3 - So-me meets the boss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIHa73mRDlE&list=PLUHSGLkaHbGJAtaaTjyyKaxssHKGqv_Vr&index=4&t=0s
Book 4 - So-me ... oh and Romeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYcYHlfuywI&list=PLUHSGLkaHbGJAtaaTjyyKaxssHKGqv_Vr&index=4
Activity -
How many times can you find a cat in the first three So-me books?
Think of some words that describe this cat.
Write a so-me song about this cat, or your cat.
Book 6 - So-me in space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-FT7SSjdYY&list=PLUHSGLkaHbGJAtaaTjyyKaxssHKGqv_Vr&index=6
Activity -
Where else could So-me and La-me go in their space rocket? Can you tell or draw or write a story about their travels?
Find some interesting objects at home that can be used to make cool sound effects for your space story.
Book 7 - So-me and the dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvOpaFz-l0Y&list=PLUHSGLkaHbGJAtaaTjyyKaxssHKGqv_Vr&index=7
Activity -
Make up a dance to your favourite piece of music. Practise it and perform it for your family.
Watch this clip of a sasa dance. Can you make up your own?
Here are some intermediate school kids showing you how they made their sasa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC0gCTZFvx4
We have been watching a clip of the music of Edvard Grieg, In the Hall of the Mountain King, from the Peer Gynt Suite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIz3klPET3o
We were looking for the dynamic marks. Dynamics are the volume in the music.
p is piano and means the music is quiet or soft.
f is forte and means the music is loud.
There are others as well - pp (pianissimo - very soft), mp or mf (mezzo piano or mezzo forte - medium soft or loud) and ff (fortissimo - very loud!).
Watch the clip again, and see which of these dynamics are NOT included in the music.
pp p mp mf f ff
Here is another clip for you to enjoy. It's by Beethoven this time, and it's from Symphony number 5. Do you know any other pieces by Beethoven? (I think you do!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcBn04IyELc&t=93s
Look out for the dynamics. Also see if you can spot the word 'cresc' - it's short for crescendo, which means to get gradually louder.
See if you can spot some sideways > signs. They are accent signs, which means that those notes will be a bit louder.