Teaching Notes, 20151208

Today was... more bell day!  That's right - I wanted to revisit the tone bells, and this time, get everyone a chance to play them.  I definitely still wanted to throw in some theory while we were at it, so here's what happened.

1. Intro: Down By The Sea.  I originally was going to do this second, but it has always been a great starter activity that I promoted it to be the opener.  I first asked the students about what life on the beach would be like, and in doing so I had them unwittingly practice a lot of the moves.  Anyhow, I then dove right into the song, and the kids followed
2. Everybody Gather 'Round.  I wanted to review this song for a bit since it may end up being a Spring Sing - we covered the first stanza, and then I had the students echo me the first bridge.  Next, I told the students to pretend that we were singing the beginning of the song again, and I started singing the second stanza - to responses of "Fine Friends Are Here".  It was great!  I did bring my ukulele with me for this one.  Note - I did change "battered cases" to "colored cases" for a slightly softer phrase.
3. Forte/Piano review.  I wrote p, mp, mf, and f on the board, and we quickly reviewed forte and piano.  I then asked the students about mp and mf, and what it might mean (especially in the ordering that I wrote them), and we talked about the middle volumes.  I then had one of the teacher aides point to one of them as I sang Everybody Gather 'Round; the students responded in the volume that the aide pointed to.
4. Tone Bells!  I had the students arrange themselves in three rows, and I had two students from each row come up, holding either a C or G bell.  I spent a little bit of time covering how to hold it, and then I had the six students practice playing together.  However, I knew that I didn't have a lot of time since I wanted to get all of the students a turn, so the practicing was limited to about 8-12 beats before I started singing various songs, such as "Row Row Row", "Bee Bee Bumblebee", "Round and Round the Garden", and "Oats Peas Beans".  I ended with "Tony Chestnut" which led to...
5. Tony Chestnut.  I covered only the first half of the song, with all of the movements; about half of the students remembered.  I then repeated this a bit faster, which the kids seemed to enjoy.
6. Chubby Little Snowman.  It's getting cold outside, so I talked with the students about snow - that of course led to this song, which I had the students copy with me as I sang.
7. Closing: Make New Friends.  I tried this before, and few students were able to sing along with it, and this time, only a few more remembered.  We sang in echo, and then I had the students go to their desks as I sang it.

The Tone Bells really took up a lot of time, leaving me with only 7 items today.  The students were however still captivated by the opportunity to play the bells.  The next week is going to be the last class before the winter break, so I'll be sure to throw in a jingling bell here or there...