What a surprise when I visited a mixed age music class and heard an 8 year old say “Can we do Deck the Halls? That’s my favorite!” Other children chimed in “Yes! Let’s do Deck the Halls!”
Here’s a video to show you how a simple tempo change and some silly gestures have this old carol a favorite for parents at the concert too! Some other holiday favorites in this playlist too!
Most of us are busy with our holiday concerts. Here are 3 reminders:
#1 reminder MAKE SURE THE PARENTS CAN SEE THEIR CHILD!
#2 reminder – make the children smile (I tell them we are taking pictures and videos and there will be SMILE AWARDS!)
#3 – Get the singing all the way to back where Grandpa is sitting – he’s hard of hearing! Open your mouth and exaggerate the words to make sure your singing covers the entire room.
The reasons I love using sopranino recorder in my lessons – Orff Exploration Time, a musical start and stop signal! This handy little tool is a part of my online and live training course and used in my lesson plans, both elementary and early childhood. Here’s some reasons why, then check out the video example, a demo with Lynn Kleiner and Music Rhapsody Teachers.
The video link below will show you a Training Demonstration , Lynn Kleiner and Music Rhapsody Teachers featuring Ev’ry Morning, which was introduced to Lynn by Avon Gillespie. Training and Lesson Plans from Music Rhapsody offer a curriculum that includes Orff instruments. A musical little signal for “Free play” time is used by the teacher.
For those of you in online training or coming this summer to Redondo Beach CA or SMU, Dallas Texas, a few wonder why the sopranino recorder (for you, not your students) is included in our playing time!
I want to share my reasons for using a sopranino recorder.
Its easy to play and easy to add to our music making (even just 4 notes works well!)
It adds a start and stop signal for an exploration time without all the structure of playing specific bars at a specific time.
Adds musicality, form and phrasing to student’s exploration (chaos! Lol!) time.
It takes up very little space in my book bag.
It is stored all in one piece. You do not have to put it together (like you would a flute)
You do not have to swab it out, etc.
The cost for a wonderful high quality plastic sopranino is very reasonable.
It is much higher sounding than the soprano recorder so can easily be heard when the children are playing, especially that high C that we like to save for the clear signal to end!
We introduce soprano recorders in our Recorder Rookies lesson plans for older elementary students after they have completed Young Musicians, Rhythm Readers and Melody Makers so I like to say “Someday I will teach you to play recorder too! Your first recorder will be a little bigger than this one.” Giving them something to look forward to is motivating!
Click here to watch an example of how to use the sopranino with Orff and the “Ev’ry Morning When I Wake Up” Hello Song.
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.
