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April 27 - May 1

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"Down By the Bay"

The activities that I post are meant to be used many times. If you are able and want to record an audio or video of yourself doing them, I would love it if you emailed them to me. An audio version can be recorded using the "Voice Memo" app, and a video version can be made using the Camera on an iPhone. (I don't know what to use on an Android). 

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Email: jeffrey.miller@gnspes.ca

This week I'd like to show you a new song and get into moving to music. 

The videos for "A Sailor Went to Sea" are done by my music teacher friend Trevor Dimhoff. The first one ("Learn It") teaches the words and actions. The second one ("Doing It") allows you to perform it along with him. 

Sing It!

"A Sailor Went to Sea- Lean It"

"A Sailor Went to Sea- Learn It"

"A Sailor Went to Sea- Doing It"

Move It!

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Let's do some of that fun moving we did in class! Remember the shapes: Dancer, On Stage, Arrow, Belly, Pizza, Spiderman, Hulk, Captain Marvel. Find someone at hime to do this with. Pick one of your favorite songs, one person will start and stop the music and call the shape out. The other person will be moving. 

 

1) The Caller: Pick one of the shapes, the Dancer will free in this shape when the music stops. You start playing the music, and stop it when you want. Be ready to call out the next shape.

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2) The Dancer: You dance however you like until the music stops, then you freeze in the shape the Caller told you. 

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Play the song once through, and trade places. 

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Variation: Add one of these three emotions to the Shape. Happy, Sad, Angry. For example, Angry Dancer, Sad Pizza, Happy On Stage.

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Rhythm Time!

It’s time to feel the beat, in our feet, and get into the rhythm! How do we find that steady beat that is the pulse, the heart of all music? Take some time and think of things that may keep a beat on their own? How about a clock with a second hand? Any others?

 

Online you can find metronomes, a machine that keeps the beat for you, here’s a nice one. Here you will see large orange numbers followed by the letter “BPM”, that stands for “Beats Per Minute”. You can make it faster or slower by using the orange dot slider below the “BPM”. For our lessons set it 120 BPM, that’s what we usually use in class. This week let’s review what we’ve learned in class and string some beats together. I will add activities and “Level Up” as we move forward. ;-)

 

Now kids, are you ready now to teach your parents a few things, they may need your help! You can show them how this all works, because you are your own expert at this already from learning this in class! 

 

1) Set the metronome at 120 BPM (you don’t have to if you can’t get it online.)

 

2) Remember our rhythm chant sounds:

TA

TIKA

SHH (rest)

 

3) Count four beats, that’s how long we will do each of these, just like in class (1,2,3,4). For example:

1     2    3      4

TA, TA, TIKA, TA

TIKA, TIKA, TA, TA

TA, SHH, TIKA, TA

 

4)  Pat on your thighs to feel the beat first. Say “One, two, three, four; one, two, ready, go”

 

5) Say a 4-beat rhythm,

   Have a partner at home repeat it,

   You say a new 4-beat rhythm,

   Your partner repeats it.

 

6) Repeat this over and over until you get good at it and it flows between you and your partner. Maybe you can make it hard for your partner, and see if you can trick them!

 

7) Switch, now let your partner take the lead.

 

Variations

Here are some different ways to make it fun. You can simply tap a table, or use one of the instruments you made from Lesson #1:

  • Say the rhythm chant > the partner plays it.

  • Reverse that: play it on instrument > partner says rhythm chant.

  • Use all the different voice qualities I’ve shown you in class: high voice, low voice, growly voice, whisper voice, British accent voice, (accents are my favorite)!

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