Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
To prepare for your weekly lessons and concerts in the new year, I will be available in Music Box throughout the next few weeks. This is a fun place to chat, ask questions, get free downloads and recordings, and receive personal recommendations for your specific teaching situation.
We are extending a 10% Discount to give you more time to prepare for 2018. The code HOLIDAY10, will be good until January 6, 2018 11:59PM (PT). Music Box Members, don’t forget to also enter your Music Box Coupon codes for additional discounts at MusicRhapsody.com! Not yet a member? Sign-up now!
The discount is for the Music Rhapsody Shop AND Music Box Downloads. This includes all sets of lesson plans (including the BRAND NEW EDITION of Rhythm Readers), concert plans, puppets, books and felts.
For those of you who have not joined me for online training, a holiday cohort is starting next week. Join here and I will contact you with the flexible schedule.
Thank you for all the support in 2017. You inspire me. Happy Holidays!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
My Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary Music Lesson Plans all include Stories with Music (from an active Orff approach of course!) Here’s some top reasons why I think my selection of stories are one of the most effective (and did I mention FUN!) ways to achieve my objectives as well as meet all Music Education Standards.
Exploration/Improvisation/Composition
The children choose instruments for each character or sound effects to bring the story to life. They improvise on those instruments to represent the action. Older students compose short motives or ostinatos or even a short melody to represent the character, sound effects or demonstrate the action of the story.
Sound Discrimination
Working with timbres such as woods, metals, skins and shakers for specific types of sound based on the characters, sound effects and action of the story. Orff instruments for long/short, high/low, loud/soft, harmony, melody, rhythm.
“The Theme Song”
My short easy song is written in a vocal range that lends itself to beautiful singing and offers plenty of repetition for instrumental accuracy too. This provides an opportunity for everyone to have a chance at the Orff instruments or playing unpitched percussion since we take turns, having new players for each repetition of the song throughout the story. Often pitch matching the teacher, singing alone, matching others, singing with others is achieved as we learn the song.
Orff Accompaniments
The brilliant thing about the Orff approach is the accompaniment can be adjusted to the level and experience of your players. For example, those who are ready for the challenge can do a cross over pattern for the beat (bordun) while others who need it simplified can play with both hands together on the beat. An ostinato pattern can be added for the student who is ready for that, while another can play an easier part, at the end of a phrase or on specific words. For older students, form can be discussed and other sections added based on rhythm reading, melody, etc. Often created by students working in groups.
Music Vocabulary
Sprinkled throughout the story, our Italian music words are used to describe parts of the story, a character or the repetition of the song. For example, “forte” and “accent” describe rowdy bulls in the Ferdinand story. Crescendo is Ferdinand as he grows bigger and bigger. Piano is used to describe our dynamic level of the last time we sing the song.
Drama! Dance and Movement!
The children act out the story, working things out together or in small groups, creating the action that is inspired from the story. Other stories have structured movement, such as the Bullfighter’s March from Carmen (from Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move!) in the Story of Ferdinand.
The Storybooks and their detailed lesson plan with songs,are available in the Shop at Music Rhapsody.
Check out all the categories in Music Box Downloads, all are FREE or at a 25% discount.
Here’s a List of Weekly Lesson Plans that contain “Stories With Music.” By Lynn Kleiner
Preschool Music Lesson Plans: Kids Make Music, Big Kids Make Music
Kindergarten: Young Musicians Make Music
Elementary: Rhythm Readers, Melody Makers, Recorder Rookies
Music Rhapsody Members have access to weekly plans including video of the activities, detailed plans, plans at a glance, recordings, Orff orchestrations, SMARTboard visuals, notation, student hand outs and so much more! (This membership includes membership to Lynn Kleiners Music Box)
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
One of our members requested ideas for a Circus theme program. This brought back many memories of this delightful theme. When you enter “Circus” in the SEARCH feature in the top of the Music Box menu bar, two forum discussions will come up…and I just added several new things. Share your ideas here too!
This also reminded me of my Merry-Go-Round song on video/DVD. (Try to guess which two children are mine, they are now 26 and 28 years old! haha) Children love this delightful activity as much today as they did back then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJkxNz2xLhg&list=PLcGAMvU2YN-XwhY-UtA-3-7tFCJa2vON3&index=6
“Click link above video thumbnail”
Like the hula hoop idea for circles? Try it with Sally Go Round the Sun, dropping the hoops on “boom” and tapping on the floor for “Cows in the Meadow” and joyfully repeat!
I am planning on a Mountain concert for my schools and Music Rhapsody classes. There are so many possibilities! Updates coming in Music Box. In case you don’t have it, here’s the book and lesson plan.
Thinking about summer vacation? Come visit me for teacher training in beautiful Redondo Beach, June 29-July 2! (Online teachers, come for half price, returning teachers too!)
This was always one of my most favorite quotes! This still makes me so happy Elizabeth Nuti!
“Thanks for making my dreams come true! I LOOOVED your training. It was better than Disneyland! You are so amazing and it was such a privilege to study with such a pioneer in the early childhood music field.”
Aug 13, 2024 | Back to School
Do your youngest students look like this on the first day? For 41 years, I have had cryers on the first day (sometimes me, just kidding!).
Tips for Tears on the First Day
Not a lot a transitions!
Once they settle down, enjoy the peace! Moving them to a new place (from sitting on the rug to movement around the room, a circle, or even standing up) often starts the crying all over again.
Keep it quiet
The more calm, compassionate and peaceful your voice is, the quicker they will quietly listen.
Something familiar
A soft strum on the ukulele with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star works magic!
Use puppets!
Showing children a puppet friend who is also scared on the first day helps calm children down. My little white mouse Allegro is always so scared and shy, because there’s so many new children to meet. (YES, THIS PUPPET IS BACK IN STOCK!!!)
Aug 13, 2024 | Orff Teaching - Special Moments
I recently visited a music teacher and realized a bit of mallet education would come in handy. A few tips about which mallets went where (and why) immediately made a difference in achieving an improved sound.
Let’s review the names of the instruments and what mallets to use, including the special little blue ones!
My youngest Orff students play this little gem and these blue mallets…. watch this video and listen to why I love them!
Watch here!
AND… receive a FREE pair of blue mallets with EVERY Music Rhapsody order shipped to you! Just mention FREE BLUE MALLETS in the notes when you order at www.musicrhapsody.com/shop. That includes my new Holidays and Winter Adventures book!
Happy Music Making!
