Books and Music

On the Facebook AOSA (American Orff Schulwerk Association) page I noticed a lot of chatter about children's literature and music... sometime this week I am going to put a much larger post out here about how I organize and cross reference books and skills (yes, I keep a document.. necessary evil) with grade levels.  It really helps; took a bit of time to do, but it is oh so helpful.  One thing to get started.. take all your books you use and the lesson you have developed or the one from that fabulous workshop you went to last year, photocopy it and make an envelope that will fit on the inside cover of your book.  Use packing tape to tape the envelope to the inside cover or, if your lesson is small enough, tape it directly to the cover.  If using an envelope, fold your photocopied lesson and tuck it in the envelope; now you always have the lesson and the book together! 
I also keep the books on my bookshelf in the section labeled, "Book with Music Activities".  For the books I use with Artie Almeida's "Mallet Madness", I have a separate section with that title so I know where these books are.  I also have books that are songs and these are organized alphabetically.  Halloween/Fall books are by themselves and labeled accordingly, as are Winter/Christmas/Hanukkah (oh and check out Hanukkah Hop! GREAT book), and "Books About Music".  I have found this system works sooo much better. 
Several to buy AND are great with subs; I record myself singing them and put a CD in the front inside cover.. they each take about 6-7 minutes to sing.  I also have some where I have students use UPP and after each number they play that number on their instruments then rotate.. great for a sub!  I also love the illustrations on Over in the Jungle and Over in the Ocean- these aren't your typical paintings, kids!  The artist used polymer clay.. the colors and details are simply amazing!

Clapping Songs and Games Collection

Update: July 13, due to overwhelming interest (and overwhelming my email box) the full collection will only be available until Monday, July 14. Only requests received until that time will be honored.  Thanks for understanding! 

It's finally done.. after asking many other music teachers about their favorite clapping games for the classroom, I've put it all together into one collection.  Here are some of the ones from the collection.  Enjoy!

If you haven't read this post:  http://www.musicalaabbott.com/2014/06/dazzling-discipline.html
READ IT!!! Wonderful advice, well written and informational!

School's Out.. but not really...

Dont' get me wrong, I LOVE summer.. time to play, relax, enjoy, and for me, research, rejuvenate, refresh!  I am planning on some changes for school next year and looking to go backwards a bit.  There are so many wonderful folk songs kids don't know and I'm not sure if it's just that I'm getting older and a bit sentimental about having finished my 20th year of teaching, or if it's just that a friend of mine turned me on to the song, "Lead Through That Sugar and Tea" and another friend onto "Jump Jim Joe".  I really love these songs; classics, fun, silly, and the kids really enjoy singing them and they are jewels!!  Lead Through that Sugar and Tea is an African American childrens song and can be found in the Sail Away book by Boosey and Hawkes on page 32.  It's listed as a play party song but other sources say it's African American, from Alabama.  Jump Jim Joe is in a book of that same name and is an absolute gem; my kindies and first graders can't get enough; kinders were even doing it on the playground so you know when that happens it's a keeper!  We even played it with everyone having a stuffed animal as a partner then switching "partner animals".  HILARIOUS!  Here's a video I found on youtube:

Right now I am obsessed with the Song: I Let Her Go, Go, which is from Trinidad:  Here's a video:

Formation: A single circle with partners facing each other
I let her go-go, - Partners pat hands two times on - go-go.
Ee-ay, I let her go-go, - Turn and face the partner behind, and again pat hands two times on - go-go.
Eeay, I let her go, . . . - Partners put hands together on - go ... but linger.
I let her go-go-go! - Partners pass by the right shoulder and continue with a new partner.

 

Source: Canciones De Nuestra Cabana.
Public Domain. May be reproduced.

FIVE more days!!!

Countdown!  The teachers feel it, the kids feel it, and the parents feel it!  Summer break is almost here. School for us is out next Thursday and this Friday is our Seniors graduation (we are a Pre-K through 12th grade independent school).  Very exciting!  My daughter will have Kindergarten Honors (similar to graduation but we call it something else) next Thursday and I am in utter disbelief and denial that she is going to be in the first grade next year.  Time flies far too swiftly! 
In the music room, we have been singing and dancing like crazy little chicks!  It has become tradition after our spring concert to have a campfire sing-along.  Some of our favorites are "Go Bananas" which is a chant and VERY funny; if you're not familiar with it and the movements, look it up on youtube.

 

Another favorite is Hi Lo Chickalo which is a song and hand clapping game.  It is great to play in a cirlcle and have students go through it one time with a partner, then turn the opposite direction and play with new partner. Sing/play faster and faster!  Giggles will fly!

 

Mac and Cheese is another HUGE favorite!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV46eduDyTY  We partner up, back to back, sing the song, then clap and walk around to find a new "back" to be back to back with.

Wisconsin Milk is pure fun, also!  Older kids LOVE it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BqZd0bxTrs

Singing in the Rain is hysterical!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bbHVrtx0Ow

A Sailor Went to Sea; there are quite a few variations, motions go with each.  Have your students figure out additional variations; 3 syllables that make sense on their own (you'll see...)

A Sailor Went to Sea

Traditional: 

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea (make the letter “C” with one hand)

To see what he could see, see, see (make the letter “C” with one hand)

But all that he could see, see, see ((make the letter “C” with one hand)

Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea (make the letter “C” with one hand)

 

A sailor went to chop, chop, chop (chopping motion with hands)

To see what he could chop, chop, chop (chopping motion with hands)

But all that he could chop, chop, chop (chopping motion with hands)

Was the bottom of the deep blue chop, chop, chop (chopping motion with hands)

 

A sailor went to knee, knee, knee (touch knees)

To see what he could knee, knee, knee (touch knees)

But all that he could knee, knee, knee (touch knees)

Was the bottom of the deep blue knee, knee, knee (touch knees)

 

A sailor went to sea, chop, knee (do actions in order)

To see what he could sea, chop, knee (do actions in order)

But all that he could sea, chop, knee (do actions in order)

Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, chop, knee (do actions in order)

 

 

 

A SAILOR WENT TO SEA VARIATIONS cont’d.

Burger King

Brrr, brrr, brrr (hands on opposite shoulders, shiver)

Grrr, grrr, grrr (hold hands over head, curled

King, king, king (pretend to put a crown on your head)

 

Chick Fil-A

Chick, chick, chick (flapping elbows up and down)

Fill, fill, fill (pretend to fill a glass of water with a pitcher)

A, A, A (make the letter A with hands in an upside-down V and thumbs touching across)

 

Disneyland

Dizz, dizz, dizz (hold head, act like you are dizzy)

Knee, knee, knee (touch knee)

Land, land, land (touch the ground)

 

Dollar Tree

Doll, doll, doll (rock a pretend baby in arms)

Arrgh, Arrgh, Arrgh (like a pirate)

Tree, tree, tree (hold hand up like a tree with fingers spread)

 

 

VARIATIONS:

Carowinds

Care, care, care (place hands across heart )

O, o, o (make an “O” with mouth, hands on cheeks)

Winds, winds, winds (move hands back and forth in front of body)

 

Panerra

Pan, pan, pan (pretend to hold a frying pan in hand)

Air, air, air (move hands back and forth in front of body)

Uh, uh, uh (put pointer finger on chin, look like you’re thinking really hard)

 

Toys R Us

Toys, toys, toys (hands up over head, excited!)

R, R, R (like a pirate)

Us, us, us (sweep hand in front of body right to left to show everyone in the room)

 

MadPad App Review

I have
used this app with a few classes in rotations and it's pretty amazing. The video above is older (2011) but is a great intro. to MadPad.

 I am looking at using it as a composition project for next fall, probably with fourth grade.  I like that you can adjust the pitch of each sound set, and you can loop and record a rhythm. There are so many sound sets you can download.. try the toys one and find the guy with the mouth.. awesome!  It's just his mouth making various sounds!   There are also great ones with kids making sounds with various objects from around the house. This is  a great way to incorporate tech with music and can be used in the classroom to reinforce the concept of ostinato.  How would you use it? 

Rhythm Eggs to PLAY with

There are so many uses for these; I use them in a game called "Steal the Banana".  You can look up the directions on the internet, but there are many other games and activities you could do with them.  Enjoy!  If you want as a PDF, email me at musicquilt@Hotmail.com