Kindergarten Music

 Recently I polled  teachers on social media asking what teachers needed the most. It seems a lot of people struggle with those sweet, other-worldly Kindergarteners! Others wanted singing games and canons, so for the next two weeks (at least) I will posting twice a day on my socials - insta/tiktok -@aimee_ofortunaorff. 

 Today, we will chat about Kindergarten. Oh, how I love these little special people. If I had to pick three words to describe Kinders it would be: 1. Adorable 2. Chaotic 3. Curious. 

 The songs, rhymes, movement experiences, and instrument play in Kindergarten form the foundation for all other musical experiences that will happen in later years. Musical concepts of rhythm, melody, form, expression, and harmony originate and are explored through the active musical experiences in Kindergarten. Students also learn crucial skills about interacting with others, following rules and procedures, and making music in a collaborative ensemble. 

Structure 

Structure and routine is oh-so necessary for our Kindergarten wee ones, and so is leaving room for exploration and play. Clear and consistent routines, expectations, and an organized learning environment help our little musicians develop self-control, manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and focus on learning. See more here. So, what does that look like in our music classrooms? Maybe something like this: 

Greeting/Walking In/Sitting Down 

Each of these has musical opportunities- even the music you may have playing as students walk in and sit down - maybe it is a song they have sung before, or maybe it is something you will use in the lesson or in a lesson to come. Maybe there is a rhythmic element you want the students to refer back to - there are so many playful and musical possibilities.

Beat & Melodic Exploration 

*The links below are videos - I would love to have embedded them here but unfortunately, blogger did not like it when I did that! 

Knees a Knees a Pizza Pie is a steady beat activity we use to start each music lesson. 

Movement and Name Song

Where is ____ Show Us Your Moves This is one I use after Knees a Knees a.

Reaction Training Games

Walk, Run, and Stop Dalcroze Game This is an activity that becomes a game and we do this at the beginning of each music class after Knees a Knees a.

More Fingerplays and Ways to Extend Them into Other Grades

Simple Songs, Fingerplays, Games, Dances & Instrument Play

Imitation, and Exploration 

Here is one example. There are so many available resources for Kindergarten!

I hope all of this is helpful!

Bounce High, Bounce Low

 This is one of those games that is played many ways and has a myriad of concepts to focus on.  I love using this in Kindergarten as a beat game, then later in the year as a rhythm game, and then spiraling it up into first grade as an introduction into La.  

For the full slides, please click here and note this will force a copy. 

Pass the Pumpkin *Updated!

 Pass the Pumpkin is a fall favorite and I have remade the slides in google slides with some small tweaks to the visuals and the directions. 

Click this link for the google slides - please know this will force you to make a copy. 

Enjoy!

The Listening Walk

Sounds. Noises. Music. Squeals, splashes, tweets, whistles, zonks, and barks. 

This is a fun video to get children thinking about sounds. 

Clangery bash, splish a ma splash.

Whomp, rumble, wah wah squeak.

So many sounds to make, to hear.

Listen, listen, use your ears. 

I love starting with this book and every couple of pages insert the speech above.

Then we review the ways we use our voices and bodies while we play Boom Chicka Boom. We speak this with various voices; cow sounds, baby style, low and high voices, whisper voices, etc. We also explore new ways to keep the body percussion ostinato.

Next we read The Listening Walk by Paul Showers and Aliki.

Once we have read the book, we go on a silent listening walk outside. You could also choose to take your walk through your building. Students work in pairs with one pencil, a clipboard, and one recording sheet below.

Students then discuss their favorite 5-7 sounds and how to recreate them with voices or bodies.

Next we talk about how to show the sounds visually. I love this post from Classicfm on how art and music collide in graphic notation. Here is one of the graphic scores shown, isn't it gorgeous and a great example of linear non-traditional notation?!

Here's another fun one for singers:

Students will choose an order for their sounds - what comes first, second, etc.? Are they all quiet sounds or is there a mix of quiet and loud? Is there a mix of high and low sounds?

On a blank piece of paper in landscape orientation, students draw a “road” and write their favorite 5-7 sound names or representation. Add dynamics of p or f for quiet or loud for each sound. Perform.

Then we discuss how composers interpret sounds with instruments. Here is a student sample:

Next students circle up to three sounds to try to interpret on instruments. The other instrument sounds continue to be performed with voices or bodies. Students choose the kinds of instrument timbres that best represent the sound. This part can get NOISY, but allow for the noise and for the exploration as students make choices and decisions. There is no right or wrong answer.

Now we are ready for the song to create a Grand Rondo! 

 

Perform in rondo form with song as A Section, student creations will be contrasting sections.

Then we listen to excerpts from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony (No. 6). Beethoven deeply loved nature and often traveled to the countryside outside of the busy city. 

As Beethoven's favorite place was being in nature, while listening students draw pictures of their favorite places and add a few sentences about this favorite place. 

This takes 2-3 classes (depending on length of class) and is a fun activity my students have enjoyed for several years!  

Crystal sent me an update to her song and the way she uses the book - here is a Forte/Piano Garden Scavenger Hunt using f and p cards made from paint chips! 

Hope you enjoy! 

All Things Butterflies!

 After searching for a while for butterfly songs, books, etc. I realized I needed to put it all in one place on a google slide. You can get it all here: http://bit.ly/butterfly_ACP

This google slide collection has books, songs, fingerplays, movement ideas and even the EASIEST butterfly finger puppet you could ever want to make!  Here are some of the slides:

Enjoy!

What Sound Do You Hear Now Timbre Listening Activity

So, yeah, it's been a few weeks since I posted here. I was presenting at the OH-SO-Awesome Ohio Music Educator's Association (OMEA) conference for 3 days, then the very next weekend I was presenting in Manitoba, Canada at their Chapter Workshop. Again, a bunch of wonderful people to present for and look what one of them made- yes, artistic cupcakes in the shape and color of my book, Painted Music!

 The temperature may have been 25 BELOW zero (and the day I left home it was going to be 75 degrees so a 100 degree differerence!) but the sweet Manitoba chapter warmed my heart with their hospitality, kindness, and sweetness!
I posted this activity many years ago and am going live with a facebook and instagram live post in a few minutes so be sure to check out facebook for the video - @o for tuna orff and you can see the song and activity in action!
The game is borrowed - created by my wonderful Orff Level II and III instructors, Randy DeLelles and Jeff Kriske. The visuals are created by me and if you would like the full pdf with the slides below, send me an email - musicquilt@hotmail.com.
Happy (almost) March!!!