In every classroom students struggle with confidence. Sometimes it is developing the courage to perform in front of a group, sometimes it is being brave enough to stand up for themselves. When I see my students battling with issues of confidence or self worth, my favorite lesson to share with them is the story of Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman.
To begin, I read with the students the text as a basis for exploration and conversation. We talk about how the characters feel as a result of the actions in the story and how Leo overcomes his obstacles. Finally, we end with these chants:
“We can all shine, just like this!”
“With a little time, with a little time, with a little time and practice”
We explore with our bodies ways to make those rhythms speak through body percussion. Students all give suggestions as to which body percussion sequence feels the best and we explore layering those rhythms on top of each other. The students are guided to the a specific pattern of:
After several successful repetitions, the body percussion patterns for the speech “we can all shine, just like this,” is transferred to barred instruments that are set up in C pentatonic. The patschen becomes the pitches C – D – E. The clap transfers to G and the snaps transfer to C’.
As the students play, I accompany them with steady beat strums on ukulele. When students demonstrate confidence, my accompaniment evolves into playing the traditional folk song “This Little Light of Mine” while the students continue to play the parts that they have learned. For anyone that may not wish to strum along, the Bass Xylophone part works well for the teacher to anchor the beat for students while singing the melody.
To conclude this lesson, students are given the choice to; speak the chants as a speech ostinato with body percussion, play or sing the chant as a melodic ostinato, or sing the melody. Ultimately students leave this lesson with the idea that with a little time and practice anything is possible. No matter who they are or what they contend with, there is a light inside of them that can shine brightly for the world to see!
Click here to download a pdf of Gerard’s arrangement.
