Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Asian Songs

It is almost Chinese New Year and I needed a few more songs to round out our songs from around Asia.  These songs are generic songs and could be used any time - not specific to Lunar New Year.

1. Jan Ken Pon Yo 

This is a Janken, or hand game song using "Rock, Paper, Scissors". It is a great mixed meter song, check out the previous post by clicking on the picture below.

2.  Hao Peng You

This is from my Sing a Song, Play a Game Book, and is such a fun game. This one is easy for even young singers!

3.  Cha Tsubo

This is from my Hands to Hands book and is a deceptively simple hand game that is really fun! Great for recorder also. My students create a B Section using names of teas!

 Hope you have fun with these - and that you find some things new for you and your students to sing and enjoy!



Friday, January 10, 2020

Chinese New Year 2020!

My family is Chinese American - our daughter was adopted from China so we celebrate many Asian holidays including Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year, AKA Spring Festival. This year CNY begins January 25, 2020, just a couple weeks away! As CNY is a lunar holiday and based on the full moon, the date changes each year. The animal changes each year also, with this being the year of the Rat!
Image result for chinese.new.year.2020 rat image
If you are born in the year of the rat, you are known for having quick wit, being hard working, being clever, successful, and great with money! Good for you!!

My students will learn about the holiday in many ways, including using all of this from previous posts:

Once we get through the videos and the book, we will learn about The Rat through the song, "The Quartermaster's Store" which features a rat!  
Then it's on to learning Xin Nian Kuai Le, or "Happy New Year" in Mandarin. 
The song and activities are all included in the older post above or click here. 
Image result for chinese.new.year.2020 rat image




I will also be using these Chinese Zodiac Rhythm Cards with quarter and eighth notes - free from TpT and available here! 
Chinese Zodiac Rhythm Cards FREEBIE - Syllabic Rhythm - New Year & Culture
Image result for chinese.new.year.2020 rat image
I also really like this craft project and can see using it as a melody pointer. There are many others with free printables - click on the picture. Here is a little cone-shaped rat that can be used as a finger puppet.

Happy Asian/Lunar/Chinese New Year! Xin Nian Kuai Le or Gong Xi Fa Cai!