Before we get our instruments...
Before we get our instruments...
The first couple of weeks of the school year are always a little chaotic, but once options start it is usually about 5 classes before I give the students their instruments and we begin playing.
The first few days are what I jokingly call Band Bootcamp...
I use a lot of sports analogies and compare this to hockey.Â
First we teach you to skate, then we give you the stick, then you join the team....
Rhythm is the building blocks of music and the most accessible for all students. I find my kiddos with dyslexia and processing disorders seem to be able to read rhtyhm, it's the addition of pitch that can pose more challenges. I want the kids to experience success when engaging with music theory before we move on to note reading which can be more challenging.
We start with reviewing note and rest values, and some flashcards. I ask the kids how they would say the rhythm. Most answer with Ta's and Ti-ti's...I explain that that is a great way to count when we wanted to learn each individual notes length, but now we want to think in musical sentences, so we want to think about each note as being part of a bigger picture. We clap and say rhythms as ta's and ti-ti's and then we begin using numbers.
I follow up with a write in the counting worksheet. We do the first 2 examples on the board and then i begin asking for who is brave enough to share an answer. I always make a big deal of the first volunteer. After every couple of examples I ask the kids for thumbs up, side,or down to assess understanding...when most have it we pair up to complete the worksheet.
I hand out the following and make a big deal about it being a "cheat sheet"...this is because I want them to get used to it being ok to look something up....because...soon come fingering charts
We work through naming notes using the above infograph. For kids who already know how to read music, I encourage them to be helpers, but they have to use the questions ans prompts and not just give them the answer. I find this reinforces it for both the mentor and mentee.
We then discuss notes not on the staff. I use a trick I learned from "Ukulele for Children" by Christina O'Brian
Middle C - is a cat with whiskers
and how to use the alphabet and counting up or down to solve a mystery note.
I usually do one day of treble clef, and one day of bass clef.
Some FREE worksheets I have found useful were these Fall themed name the note sheets.
One of our favorite games is "Duelling Ducks"
What you need
4 sturdy chairs
a set of flashcards with the answers on the back
The approach one another as ducks and count down 3-2-1, then reveal their flashcard.
The first one to shout out the correct answer graduates to a walker....the other remains a duck
Before moving on students exchange flashcards
Walkers face off with Walkers...winner becomes a chair stander...once all 4 chairs are occupied, walkers challenge chair standers...
losers ALWAYS go back to being ducks
Before moving on students exchange flashcards
After a few minutes of play, give a 10 second warning...
the 4 on chairs at the end of the time become the "Ultimate Ducks"
reset and go again
I found this amazing resource on TPT that helps you create google slides that appear as an app for parents.
it does not push out notifications when updated, but if parents check i