3rd Grade | mckays-music-

3rd Grade Lessons

Cherry Blossoms

Japanese

The cherry blossoms come once a year. A gentle promise of spring.

Their fragile beauty brings us joy, as the blossoms caress the sky.

Cherry blossoms come, chase away winter's gloom.

Is it mist or clouds? Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms in the morning sun.

Is it mist? Is it clouds? Flowers bloom.

On meadow hills and mountaintops, as far as one can see.

Look here, look now, they are fading fast.

Their beauty will cease to be.

Cherry blossoms come, chase away winter's gloom.

Is it mist or clouds? Flowers in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms in the morning sun.

Is it mist? Is it clouds? Flowers bloom.

Is there something in Spring that you love? Maybe you can say or write a few words about something like hyacinths, daffodils or tulips? Do you plant seeds in pots or gardens? Sing the words. Be inspired by the beauty of nature.

If you wish to sing it and hear your voice only, here is an accompaniment only track:

Lesson #1 4.6.20 McKay

Mirroring Activity

Find a partner to do this exercise with. If you can't find a partner, then just stand in front of a mirror while the music is playing.

One person moves their hands and arms slowly while the other person facing you tries to copy your movements, just as if you were standing in front of a mirror. This is best sitting down at first, then later, stand up. Finally, do it all over again but move about the room with your partner always in front of you.

We do lessons like this so that you will begin to hear the phrasing. If you move your arm slowly to the phrase and then change direction at the beginning of the next phrase, you are learning how to breathe in music. You sing and play better when you understand the phrasing, and it makes more sense to you and the listener. If it was a written composition for English class, you would learn to put a period at the end of a sentence.

In music, we take a breath at the end of a phrase.

Lesson #2 4.13.2020 McKay

Discovering the Composer: Camille Saint-Saens.

Pronounce his name "san" for "Saint" (as if you were saying "sand" but without the "d" sound at the end)

and then say "sawn" for "Saens" (making sawn rhyme with lawn). San Sawn.

Saint-Saens was born in 1835 and died in 1921. He was a French composer. He began learning music at a very young age. He wrote his first symphony at age 20. He was a very careful composer who believed that every note and rhythm was important. His composition, Carnival of The Animals

is a delight for adults, as well as children.

Camille liked to say this composition was a musical joke. You will see. The first animal I play for you is suppose to depict the elephant. Yes, the elephant that is clumsy or graceful? Well, as you know elephants are very big and it is difficult for them to be graceful. So Camille decides to write ballet music for the elephant. Only he uses a very big instrument, the string bass.

Imagine that you are an elephant with a ballerina's tutu on. Then, try to move gracefully to string bass. It's suppose to be comedy, so have fun!

Can you tell me, is the music in sets of three beats to a measure (1,2,3 1,2,3), or is it in sets of four beats to a measure? (1,2,3,4 1,2,3,4) You can reply in google classroom to me by saying 3 or 4.

Penny Whistle - a mystical magical song to sing

Give me a flower. Tell a little rhyme. Make a melody and sing it all the time.

Show me a penny. Listen to a loon. Whisper to the wind and play a little tune.

Shine up your penny, jump into the air. Whistle out a song to castles in the air.

Run in the grass then climb upon a dune. Touch a hanging cloud and play a little tune.

Penny whistle play a tune, play it for the babe with the silver spoon.

Play it for the stars and the man in the moon. Penny whistle play….. a tune.

repeat

Lesson #3 4.20.20

Mirroring with a partner (if you don’t have a partner you can move by yourself).

One person moves their hands and arms slowly while the other person facing you tries to copy your movements, just as if you were standing in front of a mirror. This is best sitting down at first, then later, stand up. Finally, do it all over again but move about the room with your partner always in front of you.

The last lesson in mirroring was all about listening to the phrasing. While you will be following the phrases again, this time try to figure out where the whole notes would be. A whole note looks like a circle. A whole note lasts four beats. So it’s a longer note. Listen for the longer notes and stretch your movement slower, almost stopping.

You can review instructions from Lesson #1 on mirroring if you need to. If you do not have internet turn on some slow music of your own or have someone sing a slower song.

I listen to the classical guitar music station because I find it very calming.

Please find below a recording of La Fille aux cheveux de lin from “Preludes” by Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy – a composer born in 1862 and died in 1918. He liked non-traditional scales. If you play a whole tone scale on the piano, you will hear the sound he liked. If you have a piano, you play every other note, but remember to include the black notes!

3rd Grade Lesson#4a 4.27.20

3rd Grade Lesson #4a 4.27.20

Practice your singing voice. For those of you who are able, please go to my website

https://parvimckay.wixsite.com/mckays-music- and find the song: Cherry Blossom. There is a recording of Cherry Blossom with lyrics, and I recently added a recording without the lyrics so that you can hear your voice better.

For those of you who do not have internet service, choose a song of your liking.

Here is a suggestion:

One of the songs we sang was: Movement:

I’m sailing down the river walk in large circle using your hands

I’m sailing down below. and arms to row

I’m sailing down the river,

On the O---hi---o.

Two in the middle and you can’t jump over find a partner, connect arms and skip in a small

Two in the middle and you can’t jump over circle

Two in the middle and you can’t jump over

Oh, Miss Susan Brown

Sing “sailing down the river” again… walk in large circle using your hands and arms to row

Four in the middle and you can’t jump over find a partner, connect arms and skip in a small circle

Four in the middle and you can’t jump over

Oh, Miss Susan Brown

Sing “sailing down the river” again… walk in large circle using your hands and arms to row

Hold my mule while I jump over find a partner, connect arms and skip in a small circle

Hold my mule while I jump over

Oh, Miss Susan Brown

Hey, you can teach this song to another family member and practice your rowing skills and the movement like we did in class .

Lesson #5 5.4.20

Old Brass Wagon …… a good old American Folk Song

Finding the strong beats in recorded music.

Scroll down and find two recordings of this song.

Listen to the first recording that has the lyrics on it.

The first recording with lyrics is slightly different than the directions below. That’s okay, listen to the melody and sing along for the first two verses or more. Then, go to the recording without the lyrics. Try to sing the song with the lyrics I gave you below.

Wait for the introduction and then start where it sounds like the melody comes in. The introduction is sixteen beats, and then the music gets noticeably quiet where you would come in singing.

This is your challenge: Can you get the motions to go with the recording?

You may have to listen to it several times. Maybe someone at home can help you with it.

If you are unsuccessful for more than five times, play the first recording and follow the directions for movement it gives. Have fun with it. Maybe a family member knows how to sing this song?

Lyrics: this is my favorite version, the one that I like to use in class, I sing it slightly different, but it doesn't matter.

1. Circle to the left in my old brass wagon

Circle to the left in my old brass wagon

You’re the one my darlin’

2. Circle to the right in my old brass wagon…

3. Everybody in, old brass wagon, everybody out, old brass wagon

everybody in, old brass wagon, you’re the one my darlin’

4. Turn to the left, old brass wagon, turn to the right, old brass wagon,

turn to the left, old brass wagon, You’re the one my darlin’

Directions: Here is a wonderful old song that is fun to move to.

Are you able to walk in a circle? How many people at home do you have that you can invite them to do this with you? The more the merrier!

Verse One: Walk in a circle to the left for the whole verse (16 steps)
Verse Two: Walk in a circle to the right for the whole verse (16 steps)
Verse Three:

walk four steps into the circle on “everybody in”,
walk four steps back out of the circle on “everybody out”
walk four steps into the circle on “everybody in”
stand still on “you’re the one my darlin’”

Verse four:

Turn in place to your left using four steps
Turn in place to your right using four steps
Turn in place to your left using four steps
Stand still on “you’re the one my darlin’”

Lesson #7a 5.18.20 ............................................................................................

3rd Grade Lesson #7a 5.18.20

Musical Form: Doudlebska Polka: A B C

Music can often be broken up into different sections. This piece, called “the Doudlebska Polka” is from Czechoslovakia, and has three different sections. We usually label the sections according to the alphabet, so the three sections are A, B and C.

Fold and cut a piece of paper into four equal sections. Label the first piece of paper “Intro” (for the introduction), the second piece of paper “A”, the third “B”, and fourth “C”. Listen to the recording on the separate drive that should be included with your music lessons. I will also post a recording of it on my website: Tap the section you are listening to with the correct amount of beats.

Intro: 8

A: 32

B: 32

C: 32

There is an introduction that is eight beats long played by the accordion. If you have trouble counting it, listen carefully and I think you can tell when the introduction is over and the melody of the song begins. You might have to stop the music and go back a few times to get it right. When the melody begins start counting to 32. The first time you listen to it just count the beats. In the A section, when 32 beats are over, you will hear the music change for the B section, and then after 32 more beats, you will hear the “ti-ti ta” of the C section, which again will last for 32 beats. Then the pattern will repeat over again, (A, B, C) until the end of the music.

After you get the hang of counting the beats, move to them as indicated below:

Introduction: eight beats – stand still counting to eight

Section A : skip for 32 beats:

every time you put your foot down, count that as a beat.

Section B: walk for 32 beats in a circle around the room -

putting your foot down on each beat

Section C: clap, clap, pat for 32 beats – the rhythm is

ti - ti ta say: "ti-ti ta" while you are clapping and patting.

You can pat your lap, or pat your brother or sister’s hands.

Teach this to a family member and have fun moving around the house!

historical facts: Czechoslovakia is a country that existed between 1918 and 1993 in central Europe.

How to count the Doudlebyska Polka

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JoWyWJAsVs4Ntvk7u9mSTdkgFOV2W6Gh/view?usp=sharing

My father loved accordion music, if we came home, and he had been in the house by himself, you could hear the accordion music blasting through the roof top! We all laughed while he rushed to turn the music off. Mrs. McKay

Lesson #8a 5.26.20 ..........................................................................................................................................................

Fun Song: Meet Me At The Fishin’ Hole

Genre's in Music: Bluegrass

There are many days in music I loved to get out the guitar, tune it up, and sing my heart out on this song with everyone. It has a bluegrass feel to it. Bluegrass is a genre of american roots music that first came out of the Appalachian region in the United States in the 1940’s. Bluegrass music features acoustic string instruments (instruments that are string and not electric, such as the guitar in my room at school, a violin, a banjo etc.).

Vocabulary:

Genre in Music: classification of different styles of music.

Examples: gospel music, classical music, folk music, rock music, bluegrass music, country music, jazz music, and many more.

Seminole Road: old Indian trail of the Seminole Native American People

Tackle and pole an’ an old trail bike.

Seminole road on a full moon night.

Ev’rybody know when the catfish bite.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole!

Big night crawlers in a Mason jar.

Bullfrog croakin’ at an ev’nin’ star.

No, nobody gotta look too far.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole!

Bring your fam’ly. Bring your friends,

down that holler and up again,

out to the meadow where the river bends.

Party where the road ends!

Green moss swayin’ in a cypress tree.

Good times rollin’ in a cool night breeze.

Drink it all in like a sweet iced tea.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole!

Whoa….. Whoa…….. Whoa…….

Meet me at the fishin’ hole.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole!

Bring your fam’ly. Bring your friends,

down that holler and up again,

out to the meadow where the river bends.

Party where the road ends!

Green moss swayin’ in a cypress tree.

Good times rollin’ in a cool night breeze.

Drink it all in like a sweet iced tea.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole.

Meet me at the fishin’ hole!

Lesson #8b 5.26.20 & Lesson #9a 6.1.20.................................................................................................................................

The Bremen Town Musicians - a musical

Fact: Bremen is the oldest port city in Germany. It is more than a thousand years old. Today, Bremen is very modern, but in the heart of the city there is a section called the Market Square, which dates back to the Middle Ages (5th - 15th centuries) .

In this part of town you will find a statue of the Bremen Town Musicians near the western wall.

The statue was created in 1951 and is made out of Bronze.

This is a musical to act out at home and practice your singing voice with. Plus, it

is very fun. We have been doing this musical at the end of every year for a long time.

I never get tired of it.

You can make paper puppets for the characters, use stuffed animals for characters,

or wear different clothes or hats. You may choose to say the narrator parts or sing

the song with extra props. However you want to perform it, make it fun.

Maybe someone in your house will want to participate?

The story comes from an old fairy tale that the brothers Grimm recorded and published in a book in 1819.

Let’s begin our story ...

Act One:

Narrator: Once there was an old donkey who had worked hard all his life. When his master didn’t want him anymore he decided to run away to Bremen. As he walked along he was joined by a dog, a cat and a rooster. This is the song they sang

(click on the link below and then come back to this page to sing the lyrics).

Donkey:

I may be old, or so I’m told, but I can still do many things.

My back’s not strong, the road’s too long, but, with my voice I love to sing.

I am going to Bremen Town… won’t let life… get me down.

Dog:

I may be old or so I’m told, but I can still do many things.

My bark is weak, my tail keeps beat, and with my voice I’ll try to sing.

I am going to Bremen Town… won’t let life… get me down.

Cat:

I may be old, or so I’m told, but I can still do many things.

I crow too loud because I’m proud, but with my voice I love to sing!

I am going to Bremen Town… won’t let life… get me down.

Rooster:

I may be old or so I’m told, but I can still do many things.

I crow too loud! Because I’m proud, but with my voice I love to sing.

I am going to Bremen Town… won’t let life… get me down.

All characters:

We may be old or so we’re told, but we can still do many things.

Good friends are we, as you can see, fine music’s what we now will bring.

On our way to Bremen Town … won’t let life… get us down.

Narrator: The donkey, the dog, the cat, and the rooster walked all day. When night began to fall, they came to a house in the woods. They all looked in the window, and this is what they saw. Click on the link to the song below:

Donkey: Three men sittin’ at a table (sing three times)

And they look like robbers

Dog: Food, food sittin’ on the table (sing three times)

Lookin’s oh so tasty!

Cat: We are very, very hungry (sing three times)

Wish that we could have some.

Rooster: If we sing our song now (sing three times)

How could they refuse us?

Narrator: The animals decide that if they sing for the robbers, then, maybe they

will get invited into the house to have a bite to eat. So, the dog stood on the donkey,

the cat stood on the dog, and the rooster, on top of the cat.

Sing, sing, sing for our supper

Sing, sing, sing our sweet song

(repeat)

Hee, haw, hee, haw Cock-el-doo-dle, doo-dle, meow

Hee, haw, hee, haw, bow, wow, wow, wow

(repeat)

After they sing the songs separately, they put them together at the end of the recording. Now, you have to remember, these animals are old. They don’t sound as good as they used to. When you sing it you can be a little off-key. Make it comical.

3rd Grade Lesson #9a 6.1.20

Bremen Town Musicians ( Act II continued)

Narrator: The animals sang so loud that they broke the window!

(add a crashing sound effect). The noise frightened the robbers and they ran from the house. The four “musicians” sang and danced as they went inside to eat.

...find something like a tambourine or shaker (or put some popcorn or beans in a plastic container) and shake it on the ti-ti ta, ti-ti ta rhythm.

The robber’s all have run away! ti-ti ta, ti-ti ta

This surely is our lucky day! ti-ti ta, ti-ti ta

Our serenade is now complete! ti-ti ta, ti-ti ta

The food is here, sit down, let’s eat! ……….(no sounds)...........

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, ti-ti-ta, ti-ti-ta

Yum, yum, yum, yum.... yum, yum, yum, yum! ……(no sounds)......

Narrator: Later that night the robbers came back. The house was dark, and one of the robbers went inside the house to look around. All the animals pretend to be asleep.

Before you turn the music on, set up your scene: page two

put the cat in the fireplace (not a real fireplace, but a box on it’s side, or something to make it look like one).
put the dog on the inside of the door
put the rooster up above the door on the outside
put the donkey on the porch just outside the door.

Okay, now turn the music on and someone can pretend to be the robber sneaking around the house. Remember, this robber is NOT brave and is really scared.

A robber must be brave. A robber must be brave.

He must be bold, he must stand tall. He must be bold, he must stand tall.

And never ever fear at all. And never ever fear at all.

A robber must be brave. A robber must be brave.

He must not scream he must not shout. He must not scream he must not shout.

When scary monsters roam about. When scary monsters roam about.

A robber must be brave. A robber must be brave.

He must not run, he must not hide. He must not run he must not hide.

Or when it thunders, stay inside. Or when it thunders, stay inside.

A robber must be brave. A robber must be brave!

. . . . Boo!.....Aaaa!!!!!!!........................................

At the end of the song: the robber goes to the fireplace to warm his hands by the coals of the leftover fire, only it’s really the cat’s yellow eyes and she scratches the robber startling him.

Everyone yells Boo!
The robber stumbles backwards and the dog bites him on the leg.
The robber tries to get out of the door and the rooster lands on his head! Cockledoodle doo! Cockle doodle doo!
The donkey kicks him off the porch!
He runs away screaming: “Aaaa!”

Narrator: What a noise! Each animal made a loud sound and chased the robber from the house. The robber ran for his life, screaming: Giants! Giants!

They kick they scream, they bite! And what an awful sight!

Giants! Giants! Giants all around.

Their eyes were fiery red! They bit me in the leg!

Giants! Giants! Giants all around.

I won’t go back inside! I want to stay alive!

Giants! Giants! Giants all around.

Narrator: When the other robbers heard the story they all went away,

and were never seen around there again. The four “musicians” liked their

new house so much that they never went to Bremen.

Here is the final song. Sometimes, I like to go back and play the first song again for the end.

by sculpter Gehard Marcks.

Lesson #10a 6.1.20..............................................................................................................................................................................

End of Year Singing: Folk Songs:

A Folk song of any style comes from ordinary people, or non-professional musicians. It is passed down from generation to generation orally (meaning it was sung). People learned it by memory until later in time when they began to write it down.

Welcome to the end of the year singing! First off, I would like to let you know that it is okay to go back over the “Bremen Town Musicians” for your lesson this week. If you want to sing, read the narrator parts, and act it out with puppets or costumes, that sounds like a good idea.

Here is a fun song to sing. Click on link below...

Cornstalk Fiddle and a Shoestring Bow

I made me a fiddle and I made me a bow

And I learned to play the fiddle like Cotton Eye Joe.

Cornstalk fiddle and a shoestring bow,

And if that ain’t a fiddlin’ then I don’t know.

I tuned up my fiddle and I went to a dance.

I tried to make some music but I didn’t get a chance.

Cornstalk fiddle and a shoestring bow,

And if that ain’t a fiddlin’ then I don’t know.

Cotton Eye Joe lived across the creek.

He learned to play the fiddle ‘bout seven days a week.

Cornstalk fiddle and a shoestring bow,

And if that ain’t a fiddlin’ then I don’t know.

I’ve made lots of fiddles and I’ve made lots of bows

But, I never learned to fiddle like Cotton Eye Joe.

Cornstalk fiddle and a shoestring bow,

And if that ain’t a fiddlin’ then I don’t know.

Oh, how I love this song.

It’s fun to play on guitar and is one of my favorite Folk Songs. Mrs.McKay

You get a line and I’ll get a pole, honey;

You get a line and I’ll get a pole, babe;

You get a line and I’ll get a pole, and we’ll go down to the crawdad hole,

Oh, Honey, babe, of mine.

I sell crawdads three for a dime, honey;

I sell crawdads three for a dime, babe;

I sell crawdads three for a dime, and that’s a bargain any ole time,

Oh, honey, babe, of mine.

What will you do when the pond runs dry, honey?

What will you do when the pond runs dry, babe?

What will you do when the pond runs dry, I’ll sit right down, and have a good cry, oh, honey, babe, of mine.

Here comes a man with a sack on his back, honey,

Here comes a man with a sack on his back, babe

Here comes a man with a sack on his back, totin’ all the crawdads he can pack oh, honey, babe, of mine.

I heard a duck say to a drake, honey;

I heard a duck say to a drake, babe,

I heard a duck say to a drake, you’ll find no crawdads in this lake,

Oh, honey, babe, of mine.

3rd Grade Lessons

Lesson #5 5.4.20

Lesson #7a 5.18.20 ............................................................................................

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How to count the Doudlebyska Polka

Lesson #8b 5.26.20 & Lesson #9a 6.1.20.................................................................................................................................