|
Have your class conduct a survey of favorite
songs. Start by asking each student to rank ten of his or her
favorite songs from a favorite radio station. Next, collect
the lists and have a group of students list any song that appears
more than once. Write the new list of songs on the chalkboard
and have your students rank them from one to five. Their first
choice receives five points, their second choice receives four
points, and so on. Have a different group of students add up
all of the points for each song. The song with the most points
is the “number one class hit.” Then, list the next
four songs in the order of points, highest to lowest. The class
can produce a poster listing the songs for others in the school
to view. Notice how the ranking of songs changes over a short
period of time should you repeat this activity in the future.
Different classes can compare their rankings and musical selections.
Clear all of the desks and tables so that
the outer perimeter of the room is open. Students create a
large circle. Each person faces the center of the room. Each
student turns to his or her right. Now start the music and
have the students begin moving by following the leader. It
is best to start with a relatively slow music selection. The
leader should stand in the center of the circle to introduce
hand and arm motions that best reflect the style and character
of the musical phrase (be creative). If you are using a CD
or tape player, play the selection again and have the students
change their walking direction. You may also select a spot
in the music to have the students change direction during
the music. Enhance your choreography by introducing repetitive
motions and hand clapping while they are moving.
Review music texts and implement lesson
plans associated with these themes:
- Repertoire that expresses grief over
tragic events
- Honor for courageous or heroic events
- World peace
Play instrumental music on the PA system
at various points in the school day.
- Soothing music includes lullabies, adagios,
pastorales, or second movements of symphonies or sonatas.
- Native American music (instrumental,
particularly flute repertoire), New Age recordings featuring
sounds of nature, etc., promote calm and tranquility.
- Sousa marches are upbeat and promote
energy and patriotism.
- Also, use quiet music during transitions
from one activity to another.
Show musical films or videos that reflect
how people have triumphed in difficult times (i.e., The
Sound of Music, Hansel and Gretel).
Sing songs related to peace themes such
as Dona Nobis Pacem, the famous round.
Students may compose original compositions
that express complex feelings and community building. Review
music text and select lesson plans that focus on having children
move to music expressively. The goal is the children will
respond through movement to music of various tempos, moods,
genres, and styles to express what they hear and feel in works
of music. (Resources include recordings of multisectional
music such as Tchaikovsy’s Nutcracker Suite, Georges
Bizet’s Jeux d’Enfants (Children’s Games),
and Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals.
|
