4th Grade Week 4 -- Nothing But the Blues

These Blues Boxes represent the harmonic structure of a 12 Bar Blues

February is Black History Month, so we took a slight detour in week 4 to review some of the significant contributions to popular song by African Americans. We began with a rousing version of the cumulative song/game "Head and Shoulders" which emphasizes swing and improvisational skills. We then used what we learned about swing to segue into a discussion of the 12 bar blues, the form that is at the heart of all nearly all Rock and Roll songs. Since the rhythmic and harmonic patterns of the 12 bar blues are essential fixed, all that remains is to supply lyrics, which all classes did with hilarious results.

Homework -- write your own 12 bar blues lyric.

4th Grade Week 3 -- Woodchuck Chuck

In week 3 of 4th grade music, the students learned a "setting" based on the tongue twister "Woodchuck Chuck." A setting is like an arrangement where some the elements may involve body percussion, but not necessary melody. The second and third parts of the piece where made up of fragments of the main theme -- how much wood could a wood chuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? The fragments, students learned, are called ostinati, from an Italian word meaning stubborn for the way they repeat themselves. We then used a couple of student compositions from last week, to develop some polyrhythmic settings of our own.

Thanks to Mr. Bassett for supplying a picture of me with the students -- something a rarely am able to snap myself.

2nd Grade Week 3 -- Son Macaron

I have been very neglectful of the blog the last couple of weeks, as a number of events at both of my schools seem to have consumed every minute of my spare time, but I will try to catch up today.

Last week in 2nd Grade Music we learned and played the Yugoslavian beat passing game "Son Macaron." I never cease to be amazed at the power of this simple song and game to get kids excited. As the game goes on, students who are caught transfer the steady beat to a variety to unpitched percussion instruments.

Speaking of percussion instruments -- in week 4 we start our gourd drum!

"Ungaresca" - B Section

And here's that "B" section. Note that it is a little longer -- six measure instead of 4. Remember -- a little practice every day pays off -- so get to it! :)

"Ungaresca" - A Section

Recorder Cats -- here is the A section of Ungaresca. Remember to use the correct fingering on your F's. Also note that you can click on the music to make it bigger and/or print it out.

Recorder Ensemble -- "Ungaresca"

Hey Recorder Ensemble -- here is the new piece we are learning -- a 16th century Hungarian dance. In this recording I am playing the A and B section at normal speed, before breaking it into smaller (slower) sections. Enjoy!

Just for fun -- check out I Nudge

I am so lucky to have teenaged daughters who can point me in the direction of all the cool stuff on the internet. For example check out this composition I made in five minutes at a site called I nudge. Want to try it yourself? Just click on the play button and then click above on the I Nudge trademark -- or you can access it through my links on the left hand column. It's really fun!