2nd+Grade+Rocky+Mountain+High

This is a lesson designed to incorporate Orff instruments playing in octaves and alternate sticking in a "mi-re-do" pattern, as well as to introduce "la-so-mi-do" singing to younger students. During the warmup it is important to immediately introduce the "la-so-mi-do" motive so they can start hearing and getting a lot of reps. The visual aide is critical in this lesson, because the symbols and colors really help the students to remember the body percussion, and eventually the instrumental motives. The song really needs to be memorized, so phrase by phrase repetition is critical. Use solfege posters to show them how the melody moves. Once the song is learned, then add body percussion and talk about the "roadmap" that they can expect in the song. when using 4 different types of instruments it is crucial to establish a plan for the class so that they can see what they are expected to do (walk through the steps). This extended explanation may take a minute or two, but it is well worth it when the class is efficient for the rest of the period. When there are multiple rows of students, it is important for each row to have a job. While one row is playing the instruments, have the other two rows have a "singing competition" where they face each other and sing and explain that after the fourth repetition of the song, you will announce who the competition winner for that round was. It gives them incentive to sing well and appropriately. Otherwise, they can lose focus very quickly watching their friends play the instruments. This lesson took me two weeks.