A free resource for Movement & Music Educators
Elemental ‘Ukulele Lesson: Lavender’s Blue Are you interested in teaching ‘ukulele while continuing to work on the skills that you’ve been cultivating through Orff Schulwerk and Kodály processes? The new Purposeful Pathways supplement, “Elemental ‘Ukulele”, by Lorelei Batislaong and Roger Sams is designed to support just that kind of learning. You’ll find Kodály literacy processes,… Read more »
Children’s Lit and Lessons that Fit: Henry the Hungry Hound My intent in presenting my recently released children’s book, “Henry the Hungry Hound” was the idea of pairing the message of kindness and creating interactive musical experiences for the students. As an Artist in Residence for two weeks meeting with each Kindergarten, First, and Second… Read more »
Coppernickel Goes Mondrian Lesson to be used along with Coppernickel Goes Mondrian, by Wouter van Reek, used with permission from Enchanted Lion Books. Materials Visuals of rhythm cards 1 and 2 and visuals 1 and 2 (colored square images). Visuals of Mondrian’s art works, Broadway Boogie-Woogie, Victory Boogie-Woogie and Composition A. White and black construction… Read more »
Straighten Up and Fly Right: Jazz Movement in the Elementary Classroom As part of a personal mission to introduce more Jazz into my classroom, I designed this lesson to expose my Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes to the Nat King Cole Trio and Jazz. I used this dance in a performance in a private boys… Read more »
Haru Ga Kita Spring Has Come Haru Ga Kita (Spring Has Come) is a Japanese shôka (“school songs” used to introduce Western music). Tatsuyuki Takano wrote the text and Têichi Okano composed the melody in 1910. This song is special to me because as a child, I remember learning Haru Ga Kita to perform for my school’s May Day performance. We borrowed aloha shirts from our… Read more »
Apples Matthew Stensrud shows how you can use one theme, yummy fall apples and guide children to experience, create and compose a bushel of musical experiences for all of your K-5 general music classes.
Rain of Leaves Last week Joan Eckroth-Riley and Wendy van Gent told us about Music Learning Theory and how MLT and Orff-Inspired teaching can work together. This week they have prepared a fall lesson that combines the philosophies beautifully. Objectives for Rain of Leaves: I can- -Sing create melodies in la hexatonic -Perform rhythms accurately… Read more »
Diwali Dance Deepavali For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Diwali or Divali is a contraction of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, that means “row of lamps”. Small clay lamps filled with oil are lighted to signify… Read more »
The Long Game: Growing from Play Teachers often fall into the pitfall of learning new pieces at each grade level to teach new concepts. Taking a familiar piece and spiraling it from primary to advanced levels gives students a foundation to build upon. The pdf linked below demonstrates how we took one piece, Halloween Night,… Read more »
Lesson Ideas: Natural Integration of the Schulwerk & STEAM STEAM education has great potential in being naturally integrated into the music curriculum (and vice versa), especially when implemented through the Orff Schulwerk approach. Through access, freedom of choice, and collaboration, students and teachers are able to learn and create together in an environment that is… Read more »