Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
I am so excited to introduce hundreds of beautiful PowerPoint slides included with our Rhythm Readers Module 1 for Music Rhapsody members!
Rhythm Readers is an excellent choice since we can easily use body percussion and classroom sounds (hit the backs of plastic spoons together, or chop sticks, or using items like this as options for playing on plastic chairs, wood tables, or metal table legs! Our new animated PowerPoint visuals are great for the lessons. Printable visuals for manipulatives can also easily be used.
Not everyone has access to SMART Board or SMART Notebook so now we have included PowerPoint slides that allow visuals to be projected or printed. The slides are playfully designed to add fun to the lessons as well as stimulate participation, creativity and reading rhythm. Handouts for home are also on slides for easy remote or “in the classroom learning.”
Here’s a free sample of a Rhythm Readers lesson with the power point visuals.
New to Rhythm Readers? Here’s a peek at what happens in the classroom!
In case you didn’t hear the exciting news….
We added another Virtual 4-Day Training starting July 30…we appreciate you spreading the word!
SPECIAL PRICING: Save a total of $250 if you sign up before July 15!
Check out what teachers are saying about our last virtual Zoom training in June:
Big Virtual Hugs to Linda Murphy for making my day posting this about last months Virtual Training!
“Such a happy bright spot in such a strange summer.”
See you in the Box!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Thank you to all of our dedicated teachers who participated in my 4 Mini Workshops on Wednesday! The workshop recording, workshop notes and resources will be emailed to those who registered. Didn’t register? This will also be available for purchase in the Shop at musicrhapsody.com by Oct. 31.
The NEW PowerPoint Slides are now included with Rhythm Readers Lesson Packs, 1-13, and 14-25! Also included:
- Activity Videos
- 2 Page detailed lesson plans
- Student Hand Outs for each lessons – Remote lesson accessibility
- REMOTE Zoom feature allows your students to make up their own rhythms
- Focus on Pitch matching, Active listening lessons
- Improvisation, Creating and Writing rhythms
- Movement and a Playful Orff Approach
All Available now in the Music Rhapsody Shop.
Music Box: PowerPoint slides and visuals in Rhythm Readers Lesson Pack 14-25 are discounted 25%.
Music Rhapsody Members! Log into your teacher area to find new PowerPoint slides included in Rhythm Readers Module 2!
Check out this great playlist below of video resources for November fun!
Aug 13, 2024 | Orff Teaching - Special Moments
Before you watch my video this week, I’d like to share how I got to this point.
This goes WAY BACK! My most vivid memory as a kinder was the day my teacher dumped out the rhythm band box of “instruments” and then called our name to come get one. I wanted the triangle and I remember worrying that someone would pick it before my name was called!
My most vivid memory as a brand new early childhood music teacher, adding preschool classes to my elementary teaching, was the disappointed faces of young children who did not the instrument they wanted. Some even had tears and a fight actually broke out over the largest hand drum! Shouts of “I WANT THE BIG ONE!” still haunt me. (I never brought that large set of nesting drums to the preschool again! lol.)
I quickly came up with a more joyful and musical plan. I purchased a class set of shakers. And as soon as I could, I purchased a class set of rhythm sticks, finger cymbals and hand drums. All the same size, all the same color!
I led activities with each child having the same instrument. Happy students, better sound! As lessons progressed, I introduced activities where everyone had 2 instruments, later in the year, three instruments, even 4 or 5! (For these activities, refer to online or live training!)
Thanks to the late great Remo Belli, the quality of the percussion I use now is by far the most durable, the most musical tone, the best quality! (Members, be sure to use your coupon code for 25% off!) Here’s a little story and song that the children loved to act out as they played their set of little percussion, creating sounds for a frog, snake, bird, train, and more.
SAVE THE DATE! Next Mini Workshops, March 31!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Here’s our favorite “must have items” for the best Turkey Activities!
- Shoo Turkey and Turkey Feathers (instrumental track) – Farm Songs and the Sounds of Moo-sic
- Turkey Song Pictures – Digital Downloads, from the new Holiday Songs and Winter Adventures
- Turkey Felt Set
- Colorful Scarves and a Belt (tuck the scarves in the belt instead of the loops shown on video!)
- VIDEO ideas for Turkey Feathers for inspiration and fun!
Our animation of entire Turkey Song is coming soon! But enjoy this clip included in this Holiday Songs animation video playlist. You might enjoy sharing some of the animated songs with your classes in the lessons after the holiday shows!
NEW! Rhythm Readers Piano Extension!
An easy introduction to piano for Rhythm Readers students! Short, delightful piano activities that coordinate perfectly with your existing lesson plans.
Includes:
- Rhythm Readers Lessons 1-13 Weekly Teacher Piano Lesson Plans
- Rhythm Readers Lessons 1-13 Weekly Parent Piano Notes for at home playing fun
How to get these?
Music Rhapsody Members: FREE in Teacher Log in Area, Rhythm Readers Module 1 (1-13)
Music Box Members: Music Box Downloads, Weekly Lessons
Teachers: Find in the Music Rhapsody Shop!
I am so happy to return to working with teachers after a one month “Pumpkin Heart” healing break. Thanks Newport Mesa Unified School District for an awesome first day back!!! Next up, I look forward to seeing teachers at the Virginia Music Educator’s Conference!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Schools often celebrate the 100th day of Kindergarten. Here’s a few ideas from Lynn Kleiner for a counting celebration activity. musicrhapsody.com
After introducing the rhymes using echos, students stand around the parachute, unpitched percussion are placed on the edge of it. When switching instruments, the teacher plays the cowbell as students have 8 beats to walk around the parachute to a new instrument. The teacher uses sopranino improvisation (see Lynn’s training if you don’t know how to play!) or another signal to give some “free play” time.
Use the 100 Days of Counting poem for the A section of a rondo form. Choose instruments, such as rhythm sticks, hand drums, tone blocks, xylophones (remove Fs and Bs) to play on the underlined words. Choose metals, such as triangles, finger cymbals, glockenspiels (set up without Fs and Bs) to play on the X’s.
To simplify, consider the following choices:
-Everyone plays together on the entire rhyme when they think it will sound best
-Everyone plays only on the rests (the Xs)
-Everyone plays on the underlined words
-For additional challenges, have only woods on the underlined words and all others on the Xs. Try other groups of instruments.
One hundred days of count -ing, X
One hundred days of fun, X
One hundred days to sing and play,
Aren’t I the lucky one? X
Play and count 16 beats, then repeat the rhyme.
More counting opportunities:
Play only on the numbers of the following rhymes, using them as a B, C and D section to become a rondo using the rhyme “One hundred days of counting”.
1, 2, 3 4, 5 Once I caught a fish alive
6, 7, 8 9, 10 Then I let him go again
Why did you let him go? Because he bite my finger so
Which finger did he bite? The little finger on the right.
PLAY 8 BEATS ON A COWBELL TO SIGNAL SWITCHING TO A NEW INSTRUMENT, THEN PLAY THE 100 DAYS RHYME AND CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT RHYME, PLAYING ONLY ON THE NUMBERS)
One, two, three musicians, four, five, six musicians
Seven, eight, nine musicians, ten musicians counting. (REPEAT)
(From the Sound Shape Play book by Lynn Kleiner and Christine Stevens)
COWBELL SIGNALS THE INSTRUMENT SWITCH, PERFORM THE 100 Days of COUNTING RHYME AND CONTINUE WITH THE RHYME BELOW.
1, 2, Tie my shoe
3, 4 Point to the door
5, 6, Here’s my sticks
7, 8, Don’t be Late
9, 10 Count again!
(From the Sound Shape Play Book, see additional counting rhymes in this book for drumming and sound shapes! MORE delightful counting songs can be found in Songs of the Sea, Jungle Beat, In All Kinds of Weather)
For the Counting Felt Set and instruments, go to www.musicrhapsody.com/shop
A free digital counting set for SmartBoard or SmartNote Book can be found in Music Box Downloads under Visuals.
