Laura Allgood, District 2 Chair
I love music class during the time leading up to the winter
holidays. As you know the students often coming to class
with an extra burst of energy. This is the time for those
activities that keep them moving. One of my favorites is a
snow man movement activity.
How to do the Snowman movement activity
First, I show the students pictures of some snowmen using
a PP or some other visual. Living in Florida you know
many of our students have never made a snowman. To
begin I ask my students to try and match the snowman
pictures on the screen with their bodies.
After we’ve practiced these snowmen movements, I then
introduce the students to the following moves. I will
introduce each one until we’ve learned them all. Each of
these are done using a keyboard or piano. This could also
be done on a xylophone.
Loud chord (I use C major) = make a snowman pose
Quiet repeated notes = tip toe around the room
Descending passage = melt to the ground
Ascending passage = come back to life
Note: for the ascending and descending, I just use the first
5 notes of the C major scale. Keep it simple.
The Nutcracker
During December I love to highlight pieces from the
nutcracker. Below are a few of my favorite pieces and
activities to incorporate. I begin the lesson by introducing
the composer. I feel it is important to introduce students to
great composers like Tchaikovsky. We learn about his life,
and how his passion for music led him out of his original
career of law and into music composition. This is a
powerful story for students to learn that they should never
give up on their dreams. After learning about the
composer, we learn a little about ballet. Now it's time for
music listening and activities. Below are some I like to
use.
March of the Nutcracker
A section: Play rhythm on legs, then clap. Wave
hands back and forth on the second part.
B section: Hands go up for 8 beats, then down for 8
C section: “Blizzard hands” (hands open and close
while going in a circle fast
After modeling these motions, we prepare for the
parachute. Here is the outline below:
A section: March in circle
B section: Up for 8, down for 8
C section: Little tiny shakes
Another activity I enjoy doing with this piece is the
following routine using cups. Students form a circle we
practice section by section and then put all together with
the music.
March Cup Routine
A section: Play rhythm on top of cup, then clap
B section: Pass to your right for 8 beats, then pass to
your left 8 beats
C section: Toss cup from one hand to the other
moving up and down.
Trepak
An absolute fun for all ages piece from The Nutcracker is
Trepak. There are so many things that can be done with
this piece. The energy and fast pace of this activity keeps
those students busy and moving. Below highlights a
parachute routine.
Trepak Parachute Routine
A section:
1. Up and hold for 3 beats down and hold for 3
beats.
2. Flutter 8 beats
3. (repeat)
B section:
1. walk right 16 beats in a circle
2. Walk left 16 beats in a circle
Interlude:
1. Up and hold for 3 beats. Down and hold for 3 beats.
2. Up and hold for 1 beat. Down and hold for 1 beat.
3. Flutter-4 beats
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
There are some great play alongs on YouTube. This one
from Visual Music Minds is my favorite. It is great for
practicing rhythms. There is also a play along in icon
mode which is perfect for your students who are still in
pre-notation. Just like with other pieces we do some
listening and discuss what we hear. I often have my
students fill out a listening log. Then I have some choices
of rhythm percussion and its time to play along.
Sleigh Ride
Another favorite is Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. This is
a fun upbeat piece that the students enjoy listening to. I
usually start with just listening and describing what we
hear. I ask students questions like what instruments do
you hear? How many sections did you hear. We then
learn the following cup pattern to perform during the A
section.
tap, tap, clap, clap, clap, tap, up, down. Tap, grab, slap,
hit, tap, up, down.
During the other sections we just tap the beat by taping
the cup in our hand.
Rhythm play alongs are a favorite in my classroom. I love
to use this play along that was created by Bonnie
Mcspadden that goes along with sleigh ride.
Sleigh Ride Play Along easy (youtube.com)
Winter Rhythm Write the Room
The following is an activity I came across on Teachers pay
Teachers. I like to use this when coming back after Winter
Break. Using the resource below print all of the rhythm
patterns and place around the room. Copy the student
response sheet. I ask my students to start at one card
they first clap and say the rhythm. After clapping and
saying the rhythm using rhythm syllables they record the
rhythm in the appropriate box on the recording sheet. This
is done until they have done all rhythm patterns. This
activity keeps them engaged and my students love it.
There are rhythms for upper and lower grades that can be
used.
(teacherspayteachers.com)
I hope you enjoy these fun music activities for winter and
are able to use or adapt for your own classroom.
Laura Allgood
FEMEA District 2 Chair
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