I'm sure you are getting into my routine by now, so let's get straight to making music! We will start with "Hello There!" and "The Solfege Song." Let's continue developing our Solfege skills with some Call & Response singing. I will sing first, and then you can echo me. Make sure to practice using your hand signs! Now that our voices are warmed up, we will start with singing our Patriotic song, "America." Last week we learned a new song, a Spiritual called "Train Is A-Comin.'" Join me as we sing it one more time. "Train Is A-Comin'" was a song about the Underground Railroad, where slaves and sympathetic white people would pass messages that would help the slaves escape to the north where they could live free lives. Our next song is about a different kind of train. The American West was opened up to expansion when train tracks were first laid to cross the country starting in 1862. The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869. The workers who were actually doing the hard work of laying the tracks would sing work songs to help them pass the time, and this is the most famous example of those work songs. The song that we know today as "I've Been Working on the Railroad" is actually a mashup of three different folk songs from that time, so it has an A, B, and C part for its form. It is one of the most beloved American folk songs around, and every child should know it. In the past few weeks, we have sung and played "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder. This week we will be learning to sing a slightly different version of "Hot Cross Buns" before we learn a counter melody to play with it on recorder next week. It's Recorder Time! First, I'm going to give you a fun opportunity to be a composer. Print this "It's in the B-A-G" Composition Worksheet and compose your own song. Please email me completed composition so I can have a look at it. For a special bonus, send me a video of you playing your song! You can email me at [email protected]. Let's start off by playing the version of "Hot Cross Buns" we have been working on. Make sure your left hand is on the top of the recorder, and that you are blowing with steady, warm air. Now go ahead and review some of the other songs at the end of your Beginning Recorder Book. You can play along with the YouTube videos if that helps you. Last week we did some pre-learning practice to help us get ready for the final song in our book, "Amazing Grace." Take a moment to review that video lesson, I like to end class with something fun when I can! This week you can dance along to "Can't Stop the Feeling."
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Hello 3rd Graders! Welcome back for another music lesson! I hope you enjoyed last week- so let's get right into it with our Welcome Song- "Hello There!" Moving right along, we will practice our Solfege skills with the "The Solfege Song." Do you know why we practice solfege? It's to help strengthen our skills reading music and to train our ears. It will also allow us to play songs on instruments more easily. Now that you have reviewed all of the Solfege hand signs, let's practice those skills with some Call & Response singing. I will sing and sign first and then you echo me. Now let's move on to singing some songs together. Just so you know, I typically repeat songs for a couple of weeks. This allows us to learn them and be comfortable singing them, and lets us add more depth to our songs by adding movements or dances, and by adding instruments. First up, we will be singing "Li'l Liza Jane." Now we will sing and perform the American Sign Language for "Peace Like a River." (If you need a refresher on the signs you can watch this video. We are going to sing one new song this week. "Train Is A-Comin'" is an African American Spritual. Many Spirituals were sung by slaves as they worked in the fields and were used to send messages along the Underground Railroad. As you listen to this song the first time, what message do you think this song was sharing? Try singing along once you have listened to it one time through. One more song to sing before we move on to playing the recorder. "America" is our Patriotic song that the whole school is learning. Ready for RECORDER TIME?! Let's warm up our fingers and ears as you play along with this Call & Response video. I will be playing first and you echo me. Last week you sang along with "Hot Cross Buns." This week I would like you to try playing it on the recorder with the accompaniment. Next week we will learn a different version to sing and play along with. Continue working on our other songs- you can play along with this playlist There is one last song left in our Beginning Recorder Book! "Amazing Grace" may be familiar to many of you as it is often sung in Christian churches. You may have even heard it on TV at some point. But if you aren't familiar with it, don't worry because I will walk you through playing it the next couple of weeks. This week I am going to do some simple exercises with you that will make it easier for us to actually play the song next week. I love to start class by making music right away, so join me in singing our Welcome Song- "Hello There!" You will be echoing me for most of the song, but at the end we will sing "But we're all here together again!" Excellent! This is another song I like to sing at the beginning of every class, because it helps us to learn and sing our solfege! It's called "The Solfege Song." This one has some fun motions, so join me! Now let's do some solfege practice. Repeat after me! Ready to sing some songs together? Let's go! I know you have learned to play "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder, but can you sing it? Next week we are going to add a slightly different version that is a lot of fun to play, but for this week we will stick to the original. For an extra challenge, see if you can play along on your recorder! I love including American folk music in my classes. "Li'l Liza Jane" is a fun song to sing and dance to- and if we are feeling really adventurous, we may even learn how to play the REFRAIN on the recorder in a few weeks. Here is a video of another 3rd grade class learning to sing this song. Learn along with them! Now sing it on your own. "Peace Like a River is a beautiful Spiritual first sung by African Americans in the 1700s. This is a beautiful song to sing, and we will also be learning the American Sign Language to be able to perform it for our friends who are hearing and non-hearing alike. Take time to review this video first to learn the signs. Now sing and sign along with "Peace Like a River." The last song we will sing together before we start playing the recorder is "America." This is a great Patriotic song about the USA, and the entire school will be learning to sing it. Recorder time! Just in case you need it, you can print out your Beginning Recorder Book. Start by watching this video where I review how to play all of the notes with you. You will be echoing me. Now that we have reviewed all of our notes, let's review some of the songs you have already been working on in class. Just to get the cobwebs out, let's start with "Hot Cross Buns." You can play along with me on the video or practice on your own. Now for one of our more recent songs, "Shake Them Simmons Down." Try playing "The Noble of Duke of York." Don't forget that it is a pickup, so you won't start on beat one. "Hush Little Baby" is a beautiful lullaby. Make sure you are playing with soft, gentle breaths so you don't wake the baby! Our last song for this week is "Scotland's Burning." When you get really good at it, we can try playing it as a round! |
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