Rap Tap Tap MIOSM

I am a fairly new convert to instagram. I say convert because I used to get a lot of my teaching ideas from pinterest and facebook. Instagram has a plethora of music teachers and it is growing daily with wonderful teachers (among others) sharing lessons, teaching ideas, etc.
I have used the book, "Rap Tap Tap" before, but haven't used it in a long while.  Then, just yesterday, I saw a post from the amazing @snapclappattersonmusic and it all came together!
Music in Our Schools Month is just a few days away and this is a wonderful transition from Black History Month as this year's theme is All Music, All People.  Love the inclusivity of the theme!  Try something new this month- get out of your American folk song comfort zone and share information, culture, and musical culture of students from around the United States - we are from so many places with rich music histories and ways of using music to celebrate, dance, sing, mourn, and bring together communities.

1.  Rap Tap Tap

Read the book, after each page, say, "Rap, tap, tap, think of that". Rhythm is quarter, quarter, quarter, rest, quarter, quarter, quarter, rest.

2. Rhythm sticks

Read book again, add rhythm sticks with speech.

3. Tap Dancing Demo

@snapclappattersonmusic had her students stand and tap dance the rhythm of "Rap, tap, tap, think of that" after each page. 

I showed my students the following videos first: 

Savion Glover, Signature Demo (it is a commercial for a fridge, but the fridge isn't seen until the very end, cool fridge!)

Then I had my students stand and try out some tap moves. This video is SO nice and slow and really perfect for our wee ones!

4. Tap with Book

Now we are ready to tap the rhythm already learned - stand and tap dance the rhythm of "Rap, tap, tap, think of that" after each page. I had my kiddos try out some heels, toes, and brush steps and they rocked it!

So fun! Now go check out this AMAZING post from Elizabeth at Organized Chaos for a lesson already ready for you using the book, "My Family Plays Music".  This one is perfect for SO many grade levels. 

Happy (Almost) Spring!

Why I Can No Longer Use Seuss Books

I have been following several social justice pages on instagram.  Just a few months ago some information came out and a study was completed more recently about the works of Dr. Seuss. 

 I understand this information may shatter some long held beliefs and affection for Seuss books but this is important information. 

Here is excerpt of an email I sent to my admin recently:
Notable scholars and researchers have analyzed Theodore Geisel 's books and political cartoons and identified racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism in his illustrations and characters. 
There have been several studies I have been following concerning the racist, anti-Semetic, and sexist overtones in the works of Dr. Seuss. Research on Diversity on Youth Literature (RDYL) published a comprehensive study recently with shocking results: https://www.slj.com/...
The National Education Association (NEA) has also.moved away from celebrating Seuss:

https://www.slj.com/...

This article breaks down the issues clearly and concisely. 

Around the US, parents have reported not allowing Seuss books in their homes and keeping their children home from school every year on March 2 as a result of these findings. Students themselves have challenged the celebration of Seuss. 

As a member of an Asian American family (our daughter is Chinese) I feel the need to speak up and speak out. Asian characters in Seuss' books are described in the text as "helpers that all wear their eyes at a slant" from “countries no one can spell”. Eleven Asian characters are stereotyped, wearing “rice paddy hats”. The three (and only) Asian characters who are not seen wearing “rice paddy hats”, are carrying a white male with a gun on their heads. 

Remember the article I wrote about racism and music? Just as I have edited the music I use in my classroom to ensure racist histories and uses are no longer in practice, so we must do also with the literature we use and the people whose lives we celebrate. Our focus could easily shift to celebrating diversity in order to include everyone in a way that will not cause harm or hurtful feelings to our families or students. Celebrating Seuss is to celebrate a man who wore blackface in minstrel shows and perpetuated stereotypes, racism, and sexism. 

Once we know better we must do better. 

Can't we do better?

I understand some of you will join the many who no longer use Seuss and some will say, "But we are being too sensitive" or ""This kind of racism was a product of the time" or "I am not throwing everything out that I have used - it's good quality music and his books are good quality children's literature". My response is - do no harm.  Just as the medical community operates by this motto, so should we.

If you have the potential to cause hurt feelings or harm a relationship with a child or a family, don't do it. Simple, right? 

To those who say, "That was appropriate for the time" or "We are being too sensitive", I saw this quote on @theconsciouskid on instagram, 

"Excusing someone's past bigotry as "a product of their time" ERASES everyone who fought against that bigotry while also living in that time". 

To those who say, "I am not throwing everything away....", 

We are not saying throw everything away. However, celebrating these books and this person is to celebrate racist, sexist, and stereotypical perspectives. There is a PLETHORA of amazing children's literature out there not written by Dr. Seuss. Get thee to a library.

Can't we do better?  I can.

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!!!

Jazz, Children's Book, and Romare Bearden inspired Collage!

A children's book, Du Iz Tak, jazz, scat singing, and the artist Romare Bearden; what do they have in common? A fun, informative project for your students!  Check out the free lesson from my book, Painted Music featuring Du Iz Tak and the NC/NY artist, Romare Bearden. It is on facebook at my ofortunaorff page there -@o for tuna orff . 

Snowman

This is the season of snow for many of us in the US, although I get substantially less here in NC than my friends and family get in my home state of Maine!  I always loved snow forts, sledding, and making snow creatures growing up, so here is a fun song and activity to reinforce eighth and quarter notes, perfect for your first or second graders. The Orff accompaniment is really intended for the teacher as chord changes are not something I do until about third grade. You could also just accompany the kids with ukulele, too - simple enough with C and G7 chords.
Once students have made a snow sculpture, I tell them a magical snow sculptor came to town and blew the snow into bigger shapes (this is when they start creating with 2 people, then 3, etc.).  See below for more info and check out the facebook video I posted this morning @o for tuna orff and also on instagram - @Aimee_ofortunaorff.
As always, if you would like the pdf, simply shoot me an email - musicquilt@hotmail.com.
Enjoy!

How do you "do" vocal dictation/exploration within your classroom?

1.  I posted a video on my facebook site - @o for tuna orff  this morning so go check out some other things to do.  Check it out here!

2.  Vocal Exploration to Staff Notation

Click here for previous blog posts about vocal exploration including these (there are 113 slides in the set and it is FREE!).

3. Vocal Exploration Cards and Ideas

Bushfire Press also has a set of free cards and several ideas here.

4. Winter Vocal Exploration Cards

Another set of vocal exploration cards, these are from a Winter Set I made. Again, FREE!

5.  More and More!

My friend, Jennifer, from Yellow Brick Road blog, has a great blog post about why and how as well as several fun activities to explore. Check it out here. 

So, how do you "do" vocal exploration?

New Years - 26 Hours Long?!

Do you know there are 38 different local times in use around the world?  Therefore it takes 26 hours for the New Year to actually be celebrated by all on Earth! 

Did you also know that New Year's is not always January 1?  Chinese New Year is celebrated not by calendar year but by the cycle of the new moon.  Buddhists in Thailand celebrate a three day water festival called Songkran in April.  In the Middle Ages in Europe the new year began on March 25.  The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the new year on January 14, Persian New Year on March 21, and one Hindu celebration in India occurs in April or May.  Read more here. 
The idea for this lesson came first from my Chinese New Year song called, "Xin Nian Kuai Le".  Check out this post with the song and additional activities to use for January and February to go with Chinese New Year.  My daughter was adopted from China, and so the idea of New Year not occurring on January 1 is not new to me as we celebrate Chinese New Year in our family and also at my school. I began to think of New Year celebrations our students might celebrate and wanted to have something to be inclusive of all students.  This also provides a wonderful opportunity to talk about differences while including everyone in the conversation about culture and celebrations. 

The movement idea I first imagined was something like this, only with dancers lying on sides or kneeling on floor, something simple and synchronized  with clock like movements.

I hope you enjoy, and be sure to drop me a line to let me know what you did with it!

As always, if you want the full pdf of the above, send an email to me at musicquilt@hotmail.com.

Happy New Year!