Group Lesson Easter Style

This week I am having group lessons.  I started giving group lessons about three years ago and am so glad I did.  I do two group lesson each semester.  Students sign up for a time and come for an hour.  The group lesson takes place of their regular lesson.  It is a great way to reinforce musical concepts and I always have my students share a piece they are working on, so it is a great motivation to get a piece ready for a performance.

This time I have an Easter themed group lesson.  We did a fun activity with Easter Eggs.  I take plastic Easter eggs and write A,B,C,D,E,F,G on them with a sharpie.  Inside the eggs I put slips of paper with questions or symbols to identify.  I try to have my students arranged by level in their group lesson so that we can focus on learning the same things.  Sometimes I have mixed levels and have to accommodate for the differences.  If all the students are the same level, then the eggs can be mixed up, but if you have different levels I assign the level a color of egg.  For example, purple eggs have questions for level one and orange eggs have questions for level two.

Here are some examples of what questions are in the eggs:
1. What is a skip above C?
2. Play an E major chord
3. How many flats are in the key of Db Major?
4. What note is 3 beats long?
5. Name the 5 lines of the Treble Clef
6. To gradually slow down.

I also have musical symbols they identify.

First I hide the eggs and the students try and find them.  I tell the students the can only find a set amount of eggs so everyone can find the same to be fair.  Then I have the student match the letter on their egg to a staff card, chord card or just a keyboard note, depending on the level.  After they match their egg they can place it in my Easter basket.  Then I tell them to pick an egg, a certain color if necessary and they answer the question inside.
Enjoy!

Lucky Penny

Lucky Penny

This game is fun around St. Patrick's day and great way to review note names.

Items needed:

Pennies

Staff cards

Green sticker

Candy

1. Place a green star or sticker on two - five pennies.

2. Place these pennies on the keyboard.

3. Students take turns taking off the penny that matches the staff card.

4. If they get a lucky penny with the green sticker on it they get a small candy (starburst, piece of bubble gum, etc. . .)

St. Patrick's Day Songs

St. Patrick's Day Songs

The Leprechaun Song (sung to Mary Had a Little Lamb)

I'm a little leprechaun leprechaun leprechaun 

I'm a little leprechaun Who likes to hide my gold.

I dress in green from head to toe head to toe head to toe 

I dress in green from head to toe I wear green all day long!

You'll never catch me or my gold not my gold not my gold 

You'll never catch me or my gold I hide it much too well!

St. Patrick's Day (tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)

On Saint Patrick's day, you might see a leprechaun. (wee little lad)

If you close your eyes and wish, and pretend you are Irish, 

On St. Patrick's Day, you might see a leprechaun. 

On St. Patrick's Day, you might see a rainbow bright. (Ah make rainbow with arm)

On St. Patrick's Day you might see a pot of gold. (I’m rich Snap finger)

On St. Patrick's Day you might see a shamrock green. (Make a wish)

Leprechaun stew

Leprechaun stew, Leprechaun stew,

If I don't get some,

I don't know what I'll do.

Give away my pot of gold

Give away my shoe.

But don't give away my Leprechaun Stew.

Mix in potatoes, carrots too

Add some celery and broccoli too

Just wait till you taste my Leprechaun stew.

Go On A Leprechaun Hunt (an adaptation of the Bear Hunt)
Ask the children to listen closely and follow the directions. Instruct
them to clap the rhythm or slap their knees as you tell the story.

Going on a leprechaun hunt. I'm not afraid.
Let's go! Oh. look! I see a grassy field.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Let's go through it.
Let's go! Swish, swish, swish, swish.
Oh, look! I see a giant tree.
Can't go over it. Can't go under it. Can't go through it. Let's climb it.
Let's go! Climb, climb, climb.
Oh, look! I see a river.
Can't go over it. Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Let's Swim it.
Let's go. Swim, swim, swim.
Oh, look! I see a dark cave.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Let's tiptoe into it.
Let's go. Tippy, tippy, toe.
It's really dark in here. Better turn on my flashlight

Oh, no. I see something!
It's mean! It's green! It's a leprechaun! Let's go!
Run! Run! Swim! Swim! Climb! Climb! Swish! Swish!
Whew...safe at home again.

Secret Color Game

The Secret Color Game

This is a great game to work on note location.  Many students can name notes on flash cards, but when it comes to playing the note in the right place on the keyboard, they sometimes are too high or low.

Directions:

1. Place bingo chips or jewels on the keys you want to review.  I have different colored jewels that I use.

2. Before you start the game you take one jewel and hide it under a book or cup.  This is the secret color.

3. The student takes a jewel off the key that matches the flash card. 

4. You or another student take turns taking jewels off.

5. At the end you reveal the secret color and that color is worth two points.  You add up your jewels and get two points for each jewel that is the secret color.  Whoever has the most colors wins!

Variations:

1. For beginners you can just use alphabet cards instead of flash cards.

2. For students who don't know many note names, you can put more than one jewel on a key.

3. Another way to start the game is to have the student put the jewel on the key as you review the note names and where the location of the note is.

Rhythm Puzzle

Rhythm Puzzle

Rhythm puzzle is a game designed to help students with note values, counting and playing rhythms.

1. You set a times signature

2. You have cards with note values on them ranging from quarter note, to triplets, dotted rhythms and sixteenth notes.  

3. You place the card in four lines so that each line has four beats.

4. Then mix up the cards by switching them.  You cannot add any cards to a line or take away cards.  In other words, each line must have the same number of cards it started with.  Some lines may have 5, while other may only have one card.

5. The student must switch the cards to get each line to equal the correct amount of beats, according to the time signature.

6. When completed, I have the student point and count and then clap and count.

The fun part of this game is that the solution to the puzzle can be different each time, depending on which cards you switch.  I have played this in teams where the kids take turns switching cards.  

The first picture is of the cards arranged in four rows, each row equaling four beats.

I believe this game originally came from Music Mind Games.

The second picture is of the cards mixed up.

Snow Songs

Snow Songs  

10 Little Snowmen Sung to "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

10 little snowmen dancing all around

Dancing all around, dancing all around

10 little snowmen dancing all around

The sun came out and one melted to the ground.

Continue with different actions: 

9. Hopping

8. Sliding

7. Marching

6. Twisting

5. Bending

4. Tip toeing

3. Skipping

2. Running

1. Jumping

Teaching Idea

1. Use a bigger number and subtract two or three or more at a time for harder problems

2. Have children represent the snowmen and melt to the ground.

10 little snowballs
Snow fell last night and it fell so hard
When I looked out my window
It covered up my yard
I made 10 little snowballs and I put them in a line
One fell off and then there were 9
9 little snowballs I put them on the gate 1 fell off and then there were 8
8 little snowballs I hit 1 up toward heaven.  It came down splat! and then there were 7
7 little snowballs I hit 1 with a stick.  It broke into pieces and then there were 6
6 little snowballs all lined up side by side.  My dog stole 1 and then there were 5
5 little snowballs I took them to the store 1 fell off my sled so then there were 4
4 little snowballs underneath a tree I threw 1 at a monster and then there were 3
3 little snowballs I'll share them with you.  You have one and and I  have two
2 little snowballs left out in the sun.  1 melted away and then there was 1
1 little snowballs left all alone, I'll put it in my pocket and take it home.

Teaching Ideas
1. Have numbers either felt, magnet or wood and have the student hold up the number of snowballs left
2.  Make a snowball out of paper and give ten out.  Students shoot the snowball in a basket each time you count down.

Built a Snowman
I built a snowman (pretend to build)
Pat, pat, pat (pat in air 3 times)
He turned out great (make Okay sign)
Now clap, clap, clap (clap 3 times)
I put a hat (pretend to put on a hat)
On his head, head, head (touch head 3 times)
I made his mouth (touch mouth)
Gave him bread, bread, bread (touch mouth 3 times)
I patted snow (pat snow)
On his cheeks, cheeks, cheeks (touch cheeks 3 times)
His button eyes are (point to eyes)
Pink, pink, pink (touch eyes three times)
An acorn for his  (make a fist)
Nose, nose, nose (touch nose 3 times)
Big black boots (make arms wide)
For his toes, toes, toes (touch toes 3 times)


Teaching ideas
1. Talk about rhyming words and review the ones in the song.
2. Have a snowman made out of felt or construction paper and build him as directed in the song.
3. Talk about the sequence of events and have the children tell you what was 1st, 2nd, etc. . .

Recommended Books
1. The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
2. Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (63)
3. White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt (70)
4.  The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Bear Songs

I like to do a bear theme in winter because it lends itself well to talking about hibernation.  I have bear songs about grizzly bears, polar bears and teddy bears.  I also have a cute song about the famous story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

The Bear in the Dell  (sung to FARMER IN THE DELL)

The bear stretches his legs, the bear stretches his legs,
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear stretches his legs
The bear scratches his back, the bear scratches his back,
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear scratches his back
The bear runs through the woods, the bear runs through the woods,
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear runs through the woods 

The bear climbs a tree, the bear climbs a tree
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear climbs a tree 

The bear eats some honey, the bear eats some honey,
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear eats some honey 

The bear takes a nap, the bear takes a nap,
Hi ho the derry-oh the bear takes a nap

Did You Ever See a Bear? (sung to DID YOU EVER SEE A LASSIE?)
Did you ever see a polar bear, polar bear, polar bear?

Did you ever see a polar bear going for a swim?

He swims this way and that way and that way and this way.

Did you ever see a polar bear going for a swim?
Did you ever see a brown bear, a brown bear, a brown bear?
Did you ever see a brown bear catching a fish?

He catches it this way and that way and that way and this way.

Did you ever see a brown bear catching a fish?
Did you ever see a teddy bear, teddy bear, teddy bear?

Did you ever see a teddy bear taking a nap?

He naps this way and that way and that way and this way.
Did you ever see a teddy bear taking a nap?

Three bears with a beat
(Snap or clap or pat, or keep the beat in any way you want, on the
words in parenthesis.)

(Once) upon a (time) in the (mid)dle of the (woods)
there were (three) (bears).
(One) was a (Pa)pa bear, (one) was a (Ma)ma bear, (one) was a (Wee) Bear. ((x)) ((x)).
A(long) came the (girl) with the (gold)en curls.

She (knocked) on the (door) but (no) one was (there).

So she (walked) right (in) cause she (did)n't care.
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Pa)pa bear,

Grrrrrrrr" (hold hands in front like sharp claws)
(Home), (home), (home), came the (Ma)ma bear,

Ahhhhhhh" (throw both hands up in surprise)
"
(Home), (home), (home), came the (wee) bear. ((x)) ((x))
Hmmmmmph!" (cross arms on chest and pout)
(change voice with each bear)
"
(Some)one's been (eat)ing my (porr)idge!" ((x)) said the (Pa)pa
(bear). "
Grrrrrrrr" (hold hands in front like sharp claws)
"(Some)one's been (eat)ing my (porr)idge! ((x)) said the (Ma)ma
(bear). "
Ahhhhhhh" (throw both hands up in surprise)
"
(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear," (said) the little (wee) bear,
"(Some)one has (eat)en my
(soup)!
Hmmmmmph!" (cross arms on chest and pout)
"(Some)one's been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!" said the (Pa)pa (bear).
"Grrrrrrrrr"

"(Some)one's been (sit)ting in (my) (chair)!" said the (Ma)ma (bear)!"
"Ahhhhhhh"
"
(Hey)-baba-(ree),bear," said the little (wee) bear, "
(Some)one has
(brok)en my (seat)! Hmmmmmph!"
"(Some)one's been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!" said the (Pa)pa (bear)!
"Grrrrrrrrr"

"(Some)one's been (sleep)ing in (my) (bed)!" said the (Ma)ma (bear).
"Ahhhhhhhh"
"(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear, (said) the little (wee) (bear), "
(Some)one is
(still) in my (bed)! Hmmmmmph!"
(Change to a whisper)
Just then Goldilocks woke up. (Scream, arms raised:) "Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!"
She (jumped) out of (bed) and she (beat) it out of (there)! (point with thumb)
"(Bye),(bye), (bye)," said the (Pa)pa bear. (wave)
"
(Bye), (bye), (bye)," said the (Ma)ma bear. (wave)
"
(Hey)-baba-(ree)-bear," (said) the little (wee) bear, "
(This) is the
(end) of our (tale). Hmmmmmph!"