Apple Tree! Who could guess how much this song motivates children to participate!
Apples come in many colors and varieties. There are hundreds of recipes calling for apples. There’s several ways to cut apples, and ways to eat them!
The Apple Tree* is an absolutely delicious song for many age levels! It offers creative choices for verses, solos, writing rhythms, solfege, improvisation, additional sections to add to the form of the piece!
Of course, all of this comes from the student’s ideas so its totally fun for the teacher too!
The book and recording Farm Songs and the Sounds of Moo-sic include a couple verses but I have had so much fun encouraging new verses, new topics for singing little solos, adding new sections.
Have a listen to students singing and accompanying on Orff instruments.
What color apples will you buy? (youngest students) “What kind of apples will you buy? (older students) Print or use the PowerPoint Visuals in Music Box Downloads to inspire a variety of colors for solo singing.
What apple pairing will you try? Use the Pairing Visual in Music Box Downloads to give suggestions but encourage children to make up their own pairings.
What kind of recipe will you try? The song sings about Apple Pudding and Apple Pie but how about
I am so thankful for the support of our members! This month, I’d like to highlight a very creative and inspirational member, Kathy Bellavia. I first met Kathy in 2015 and had the joy of Kathy and her son Justin attending my live training in Charlotte in 2017. They were excited about plans for the future! Their programs have had exciting growth including an arts enriched morning school, a ukulele program and providing music to schools.
Kathy’s approach to learning is so inline with our Music Rhapsody program! We love the playful, creative approach, encouraging the children’s ideas and input which shapes the stories, singing, art, movement and music making.
Look at the singing, movement and art! Check it out:
Music Rhapsody Member Spotlight – November 2022
Name: Kathy Bellavia and son Justin Bellavia
Studio:
The Music Makers
Creative Learning House
Member Since: 2017
What’s your favorite thing about using Lynn Kleiner’s Music Rhapsody curriculum?
My son, Justin, and I use the Music Rhapsody curriculum to teach early childhood music and ukulele in schools and in our own studio called The Music Makers. During the pandemic we weren’t able to go into our schools so we opened Creative Learning House in our home. It’s a Reggio Amelia inspired morning school for ages 3 to 6 where students receive daily music and art. We both agree that our favorite thing about using the Music Rhapsody curriculum is the wonderful songs and recordings. They are loved by children and their families alike. Lynn’s recordings are beautiful and the songs contain themes that young children relate to and see in the world around them. We love how the curriculum is adaptable to fit ones personal style and ones unique teaching situation.
What are some creative ways you’ve used Music Rhapsody materials and curriculum in the classroom?
Though I have used Lynn Kleiner’s materials for over 25 years, the last two years I have been able to use them in a whole new way since I opened our Creative Learning House during the pandemic. The children and I have enjoyed creating puppet shows with the songs and coming up with art projects to bring the songs to life. Because we are with the children all morning, we sing the songs throughout the morning, while reading books, playing with toys, cleaning up, or gardening outside. I love it when the children initiate the singing of a song that they are reminded of when doing something related.
Justin and I have also been using Music Rhapsody songs to teach ukulele. Elementary aged children love songs like, “Scuba Man,” “Three Lady Bugs,” “We are Gathered,” “Bell Horses” and others, when we arrange group music making experiences using ukuleles, Orff instruments, props, and unpitched percussion instruments. It makes ukulele class more fun and engaging than they thought it would be and they ask for the activities over and over.
Interested in becoming a member? Find out more about our memberships here.
Planning concerts around a theme is always motivating for me. Choosing songs, creating our own verses and movement, solo singing, playing instruments, and beat keeping are all beautiful demonstrations of what we do in our weekly music lessons.
I especially love it when classroom teachers and other subject specialists (art, drama, dance, science, math, reading, etc.) are inspired by the concert theme as well, singing the songs throughout the week, and integrating the theme into their lessons and activities. This can include the students designing the cover of the concert invitation/program, decorating the concert venue and even setting up a “photo booth” area. Teachers always love having the lyric sheets and practice CDs in the classroom.
One of the most popular songs from the Jungle Theme is “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. Here are some suggestions how to use this song in your lessons, from babies to older elementary, accompanying the song with gathering drum, ukulele and Orff instruments.
The Orff Orchestration you hear in this recording is included in the new Jungle Beat Concert Plan and would be great for older elementary students.
Two concert plans (one for preschool/K-1, one for elementary PreK-3). Includes details on how to prepare the pieces, transitions, a preparation timeline, piano and Orff accompaniment (sheet music), and specifics on hand motions, movement, and instrument playing.
Sample concert programs (one for each age level). The programs highlight the objectives of each song selection and give tips on the importance of childhood music.
Lyric sheets for classroom teachers. Can also be sent home with students!
A total of 26 pages to use with your Jungle Beat Book/CD to have an adorable theme.
If you’re a Music Rhapsody Members and have purchased Big Kids or Young Musicians Module 4, you already have Jungle Beat lesson plans and video of the preparation and concerts. Just let me know if you’d like this new Concert Plan and I will send it to you FREE.
Baby/Toddler Music Classes: I was asked about many questions about baby and toddler music so thought I would give my recommendations for teachers who are new to working with Early Childhood, specifically Baby/Toddler Ages.
First of all, Get Training ASAP! Why not use the expertise available and offer the very best you can to your youngest students, at a time when you make the biggest difference in their development! Good training will eliminate fails and make the experience positive for you and your families. Online Training is available anytime, anywhere, completely around your schedule. Live training is available in the summer. If you do online, you can attend live for half tuition. https://musicrhapsody.com/teacher-training-early-childhood/
My Babies Make Music and Toddlers Make Music Lesson Plans have video of every activity. Watch complete lessons to see how to transition. This lets you see classroom set up, how to work with the adults, how to present props and visuals, what instruments are appropriate, parent tips, etc. It also gives you all recordings in order or your lesson playlists, printed music, and lyrics, details plans, and more. Once you complete training, become a Music Rhapsody Member! Its only $25 per month and you will get access immediately. https://musicrhapsody.com/membership/ There are FORTY lessons for babies, FORTY lessons for Toddlers, 45 minutes each. Each Module has 10 lessons. (Membership comes with 5 modules included)
lynnkleinersmusicbox.com has additional resources that are very helpful, most downloads are free to members! Use the SEARCH feature. Type in Baby. Type in Toddler. Babies. Toddlers. So many helpful discussions and downloads! There’s also many videos, lessons, recordings in Music Box Downloads! This will let you see the variety of activities to include in your classes and give you sample activities. So important is the GATHERING DRUM! I would not want to be without this amazing instrument. Floor games, Folk Dance, Small unpitched baby/tot safe instrument activities, activities for scarves, Beat keeping activities, Activities for Vocal Response. Log into www.lynnkleinersmusicboxcom, click Music Box Downloads. Click on the left menu: Music Downloads. There’s lots of free recordings I use with Babies and Tots:
Shake Those Bells
The Snail and the Mouse
The Grand Old Duke of York
Ladybug Song
Little Red Wagon
Hickory Dickory Dock
There’s also free downloads of the printed music and lyrics, click on Songs (or use the SEARCH feature)
Watch an entire workshop with parents and toddlers and print out the detailed lesson plan! https://lynnkleinersmusicbox.com/videos/4/26/toddlers-make-music-introductory-workshop
This and lots more in Music Box videos (use the search feature for this category, use baby, toddler, babies, toddlers and see lots of class activities so you see what to expect from these ages.
The story “Ferdinand” has always been a classroom favorite of mine when love is the theme. This lesson plan is great for dynamics, creating your own accompaniment (soft for Ferdinand, loud for his rowdy friends), creating your own movement, classical music, and more. Ferdinand the bull is so sweet and his mother is so understanding. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
