Hickory Dickory Dock – An Exploration in Sound

Posted November 30, 2021byPatrick Ware

The Hickory Dickory Dock Sound Story

Materials:

Barred instrument(s)

Finger Cymbal or other metal unpitched percussion

Tick-tock block

A way to proceed:

Present the rhyme to the students using purposeful vocal inflections and extended pauses at the end of each line (you can use the slides at any point within the process)
Patschen the beat that you wish to use for your bordun
Speak the rhyme while students patschen the bordun (depending on the ability level of the students, stressing over the steadiness of the bordun maybe effort best spent on other things)
Discuss how the rhyme will be in 5 sections
- Hickory Dickory Dock – Broken bordun
- The mouse ran up the clock – ascending mallet playing
- The clock struck one – Finger cymbal
- The mouse ran down – descending mallet playing
- Hickory Dickory Dock – Broken bordun
Practice the entire thing without instruments
Add instruments
Use the Tick-tock block to “maintain” your tempo
Add a coda – unison play after the last word

Click here to download a copy of Patrick’s slides

Patrick Ware

Patrick Ware is an internationally known Orff - Schulwerk clinician and choral conductor. With a service to education spanning more than 20 years, he holds a B.A. in Music from Westfield State University, an MS.Ed from Radford University and a DMA from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Dr. Ware is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music/Elementary and Middle Childhood. He is an AOSA Teacher Educator for all levels of movement and recorder as well as Levels I and II Basic Pedagogy. Patrick is published through Beatin’ Path Publications including works for treble choir with Orff Ensemble. Patrick teaches k-5 General Music and Chorus in Prince William County Virginia. His special focuses include Jazz and the use of children’s literature.

See all posts by Patrick Ware

3 Comments

Hans T Muer on December 3, 2021 at 8:33 am

This looks wonderful. I know this poem as a child. When there are mallet parts like bordun etc., is there a specific set of notes, melody to this poem? I only know this as a poem. Forgive my naivety. Thanks so much for any feedback.

Reply
Patrick Ware on December 5, 2021 at 3:07 pm

Hans,
There was/is no specific melody. I set this instruments in a way that gives the greatest opportunity for success. In my schedule last year I had three self-contained special ed classes in a row. I was able to set up 2 instruments with just C (bar 1) and G (bar 5) and the other instruments were set in C pentatonic. I was able to leave them set that way for most of the day.

Hope this helps,
Patrick

Reply
Freamon McNair on January 24, 2022 at 9:12 am

Do you perform your Patschen along with the rhyme or after each verse ?

Reply