Halloween Special

Dear Parents,

We are doing various Halloween activities involving "The Letter" song, Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe game, and a circle song.  They are enjoying these special activities!


As we are continuing to sing "Lucy Locket," they have discovered a new rhythm, "half note" (Ta-A).
Please invite children to sing this song both on words and solfege. Ask them where the half notes occur in the music.


Lucy Locket
Lost her pocket
Kitty Fisher found it
Not a penny was there in it
Only ribbon round it.


*Answer*
The half note occurs on "found it" and "round it".

Activity at home:
Collect Popsicle sticks and have them create their own rhythm pattern using ta, titi or ta-a.

We will soon be exploring rounds and canons at Cantabile! 

Sol-Mi-La

Dear Parents,

We are singing and playing "Lucy Locket" in class this week!

Text:
Lucy Locket lost her pocket
Kitty Fisher found it
Not a penny was there in it
Only ribbon round it

Recording:
http://picosong.com/9v4Z/

This song is based on a nursery rhyme, and children are encouraged to sing along and get a head start on solfege singing. Let them discover "solfege" to this song this week. Please let them know that the song starts on "Sol."

Studies have shown that early experience with careful, analytic listening can dramatically improve auditory processing, listening comprehension, and in turn, reading ability – even in children with an inherited weakness. 

Source:

http://www.feierabendmusic.org/conversational-solfege/

Introducing solfege "La"

Dear Parents,

We have been working on "sol-mi" solfege pattern, and now adding "la" this week.

The Kodály approach emphasizes the importance of learning how to sing on pitch. Hand signs are a way of giving a physical placement for a vocal pitch. Thus, you have the hand signs going up when the pitch goes up.

Activity:

Q: Listen to the recording of "Here Comes A Bluebird" provided below, then see if children can solfege the beginning part of the melody. Please let them know that the music starts with the solfege "sol." Make sure to add the Kodály hand sign as they sing on solfege.

Here Comes A Bluebird mp3
http://picosong.com/9v5e/

A: "sol-sol-la-sol-mi"

Additional approach:

Q: What is the rhythm of the solfege that they sang?

A: "ta-ti-ti-ta-ta"

THE KODÁLY APPROACH

Dear Parents,


The link below provides general information that explains why we do what we do.  
http://www.allianceamm.org/resources_elem_Kodaly.html

I believe that we as educators (whether in class or at home) should invite ourselves to "child's play" in order to interact and socially connect with children. The Kodály method for early music education provides excellent tools and lesson plans which help adults understand "what works with children."

Kodály believed singing was the best medium for teaching the language of music. Singing actively engages the whole person and develops that essential musicianly attribute, the inner hearing. Singing games, usually in circle formation, give opportunities for social interactions such as turn taking, choosing partners, or role-play. Games help to develop essential skills such as listening, concentration, memory and coordination, in an enjoyable and emotionally satisfying way. Children perform musical actions as a group, according to the rules of the game, walking skipping or clapping to the steady beat, taking turns as the leader or soloist. They learn spontaneously through being actively involved in a structured play situation.

Week 1-3

1. Please review words from the following song:

My Favorite Things

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

2. Review rhythms: Ta, Titi, Rest

3. Review Sol-Mi pattern with Kodaly Hand Sign guided