Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
I love “I love the mountains” for so many reasons.
1. The memories for the adults
“I remember that one from camp when I was a kid!”
2. The easy sing-along part for everyone
No matter what the age group everyone can sing the “boom-de-ah-dahs!”
3. The fun ostinato
One group of kids (or an audience at a concert) can sing the “boom-de-ah-dahs!” while another group sings the song: easy part singing and beautiful harmony!
4. It’s a round!
Who doesn’t love a great round.
5. Wonderful for American Sign Language
Fun to watch the round in groups when each group is doing different signs. At the end, you all do the same “conducting” pattern as everyone ends with “boom-de-ah-dahs.”
6. A song for large age groups
Have a peek at ages 2-8 singing this summer camp favorite with their parents at the end of a “Trip to the Mountains” concert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHjSPtTqwUQ&list=PLcGAMvU2YN-XwhY-UtA-3-7tFCJa2vON3&index=22
Click on link above video thumbnail
7. Free in Music Box this week!
Use these helpful visuals to assist in remembering the lyrics when first teaching the song and to keep the children focused on you at the concert.
8. Easy for you to play on ukulele!
The chords to “I love the Mountains” just repeat throughout the entire song:
F Dm Gm C7
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
An Orff Approach! Rarely do we have an activity where we are just sitting or standing and singing. We are rocking, patsching, marching, playing while we sing. Starting with our youngest classes, you will see us tapping the beat, then soon, we will be clapping at the end of the phrases or on the rests. As the repetition with a variety of activities are experienced, timing and coordination is improving and we can do this with a partner, a very exciting thing when you are 5 years old as seen in the video! (And very challenging for many, who in the concert stayed “single” for clapping!) Repetition leads to more success! You also see the successful tapping and patsching of the beat is eventually transferred to playing the beat on the drums or xylophones and the clapping at the end of the phrase is now transferred to triangles or glockenspiels.
Here’s a concert favorite that also includes hand claps, singing, making up your own item and pitches for the solo, and call and response. “Going on a Picnic!” (we are still working on the singing in a concert setting, quite a bit of enthusiasm caused us to not be always in tune! haha) was a huge crowd pleaser and so much fun for the kids.
Click Here to Watch the 3-6 year olds!
Click the link above the video
Our lesson plans introduce the sequential, logical progression for movement, body percussion and instruments. Weekly lesson plans are available in 8 age groups, from early childhood through Orff and Recorder for grade 3 and 4.
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Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Here’s some of my favorite puppets, felts, props and visuals for fall lessons.
You can keep the attention of young children when you use statements like “Look! How many numbers am I putting on the felt board?” And “what kind of animal is this?” (Or point to your screen if using the Digital Counting Set).
Or, “Look who was in my back yard yesterday!”
This picture accompanies Grey Squirrel from Kids Make Music, Babies Make Music Too! Participation in singing and ownership of the song comes quicker when I add the visual cues and I stop singing and wait for them to respond.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqwHSFBJ-cQ&index=36&list=PLcGAMvU2YN-XwhY-UtA-3-7tFCJa2vON3
Click on link above the video thumbnail
Aug 13, 2024 | Music Teaching Videos
Many of my teacher friends have heard me say to choose one of the orchestral goodbye songs from Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move and do it all year long. That’s because one orchestral piece can lend itself well to a year’s worth of learning! Dynamics, timber, musical vocabulary and concepts, melody, orchestral instruments and more! And the children will forever LOVE this piece of music, I promise!
Have a peek at the end of one of my studio lessons to see how much these young musicians have learned already!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej7-QEZn-Hw&index=32&list=PLcGAMvU2YN-XwhY-UtA-3-7tFCJa2vON3
Click on link above video thumbnail
For maximum learning all year long using Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, check out this week’s FREE download in Music Box Downloads in the category Hello/Goodbye Songs. There’s also the ukulele chords!
Music Rhapsody Members and online training teachers, you have ukulele lessons for this song in the online training materials.
See you in the Box!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Can’t you hear Julie Andrews singing? This week I thought I would share some of my most favorite things. Perhaps some of these items would brighten the holidays for a classroom or music teacher or a little music maker in your life. Or perhaps you don’t have these items yourself and want them to be your favorite things too! Don’t forget to use your discount codes on all the items.
Cocoa the Horse
He sings, he echos a child’s singing, matching pitch to show children how to do it, he eats out of your hand, holds instruments in his mouth, leads movement activities. Our most beloved puppet.
Glockenspiel
This sweet, high quality glockenspiel is not too loud for many to play at once in a school setting or for a delightful melody instrument for home. Bars are easily removed and the mallets are great!
Remo Floor Tom
My own children used this high quality, durable drum for everything from a drum to a step stool to a container to hold treasures. The one I purchased for them nearly 27 years ago still sounds amazing.
Counting Felt Set
I love this set and use it all year long. The number set can be used with any counting song. My winter favorite is the snowmen for my 5 Little Snowmen Song.
If the Dinosaurs Came Back
This delightful book is used in my Recorder Rookies Curriculum but all children love this fun book showing the funny possibilities of dinosaurs coming back. Take a peek at a performance of this story from our recorder curriculum.
Tick Tock Block
This delightful instrument is my signal to walk, run, skip or to change to a different Orff instrument! Of course, it can play the ticking of the clock for Sycopated Clock or Viennese Clock from Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move.
Snowy Owl
So beautiful and talented! This winter bird blends right in with the snow. He can turn his head all the way around to keep an eye on all the kids in your class and he flaps his beautiful wings to fly to another child for a turn at matching his whoo-whoo voice.
4 Pack Theme Book Special
Ocean, Rainforest, Farm and Mountains, these are a few of my favorite themes! A CD with all songs are included. Classroom teachers and parents love the instrument making and arts and crafts section. Sing, dance and play to these guaranteed hits!
Our Favorite Shenanigans
Members, enjoy this Music Box Exclusive: Our Favorite Shenanigans Digital Download WITH 25 pages of our favorite lessons for these pieces of music! Activities are designed for babies through elementary aged kids.
The Gift of Music Box
One of my favorite things to do is share with the dedicated teachers in Music Box! Do you have a friend that would LOVE a Music Box membership? Are you looking for an easy gift to purchase online and be sent instantly? Or maybe you received a gift money to purchase something for your classroom! See you in the Box and we’ll get ready for an exciting New Year!
Summer Fun
Summer Trips to my favorite destinations to be with dedicated awesome teachers! The Beach, The Lake, A FUN city! Plan for a special vacation with lots of play, singing, moving, strumming and more! Join me for teacher training this summer in Redondo Beach, Chicago, and Charlotte! If you have already attended training and want to come again, it is 50% off for you!
My Gathering Drum
This is my favorite BIG thing. Hours upon hours of music making and laughter have been made
