David Thaxton, one of the instructors at this summer’s Musical Mosaic Course, is a creative powerhouse known for original rounds, innovative digital/hybrid lessons, and joyful music-making.
This lesson draws multiple arts integration entry points from scientific concepts related to physics, astronomy and rocket science for an engaging series of lessons that create evocative music and movement in the general music classroom. An emphasis is on student-centered creation where scientific concepts are interpreted through a creative, artistic lens. The elemental process is embedded throughout, giving students both access and agency to create layered music, movement and instrumental explorations.
The unit is also modular in nature. The basis is a composed round, “Gravity.” Each accompanying component can stand alone as its own lesson and/or performance piece. But are compatible with each other and can be layered together for a multi-sensory, many-faceted learning experience. Overall, this stands as an example of how a mosaic of elements can be brought together to create a unified and rich learning experience through elemental processes.
Objectives
Experience a round teaching process that makes singing in canon accessible for students.
Explore macro, micro (and nano) beats through speech, movement and song.
Connect Laban efforts to the physics of space.
Expand a round and complementary melodic ostinati into a performance piece through
movement and pitched percussion.
Materials
- Barred Percussion
- Tick-tock block, agogo bells or temple blocks
- Slides of the words/music
- Bean bag ball / poi spinner ribbons
- Rubber bands
Process
“Gravity”
– In a scattered group, facing the presenter, demonstrate a round singing process
- Additive process for learning the song phrase-by-phrase
- Class sings independently
- Teacher sings the song quietly in canon
- Teacher chooses two volunteer to sing “on the teacher’s team”
- Volunteers become co-leaders of the group as the teacher is once again singing alone, but this time, stronger
- Volunteers separate and each leads a group with the teacher leading the 3rd group
- Ostinato added on AG/SG
“Engines”
– Whole group reads/speaks the words of “Engines push the apogee…” in their own time/tempo.
– Demonstrate concepts of:
- Apogee (with bean bag ball and poi spinner ribbons from IKEA)
- Trajectory with bean bag ball and poi ribbons
- Escape velocity with rubber bands (and gloves)
– Speak the words again, but with a pulse played on temple blocks / tick-tock block or agog bells with unspecified rhythmic context
- Repeat, speaking at a macro beat with the pulse
- Repeat, at a micro beat
- What would a nano beat be
– Transfer the words to individually created body percussion patterns at the macro, micro or nano beat, while speaking the words on the micro beat.
– Pause. The teacher demonstrates the melody of “Engines”
- Echo Singing the song
- Transfer to notes on “lap xylophones”
- Transfer to BX/AX/SX
“Floating”
– Use levels and shapes to interpret falling melodic line
– Volunteers play on AM, BM and CBB, while whole group explores movement
Culminating Activity
– Divide into four groups: Gravity, Engines, Floating, plus Instrumentarium
– While instrumentalists practice, devise group movements that can be performed while part is sung.
– Decide on a form
– Perform!
Click here to download a pdf of this sample lesson
Want to do a deeper dive with Dave? Check out Musical Mosaic – A Summer Retreat for Music Teachers!
This inspiring summer professional development program brings the elemental approach of Orff Schulwerk to life through play, collaboration, and community—a space where creativity is gently reawakened, musicality is nurtured, and you are centered again as an artist and educator.
