#1457. READING MUSIC IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Music, level: Elementary
Posted Tue Dec 21 11:44:30 PST 1999 by Jess Buice (info@musicnotes.net).
Teaching Index for "Music You Can Read"
Music Notes, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
Materials Required: Overhead, or song handouts
Activity Time: 10 to 15 min.
Concepts Taught: Beats, Rhythm, Solfege, Pitch Numbers

For kindergarten (3rd week), after mastering ta, ti-ti, and showing the divisions of ONE - TWO, and ONE-AND-TWO-AND.
1st grade to help new students, and, all ESOL students who do not know the alphabet at any grade level (group or center activity, best if taught to all ESOL grade levels at the same time, allowing those who master to stop attending). 

The Alphabet is a MAJOR curriculum objective in kindergarten, as well it should be.  With "Music You Can Read" the student gets a head start by learning the rhythm before adding the 26 letters. 

1. Pitch Drill Do-So, or 1-5 - see, Pitch Drills
2. Show beat divisions see, Rhythm Drills
3. Count the beats, "this song is counted in two's, 1,2, ready, GO."  (teacher/student (ADD)-points)
"Are there any patterns? Where?"  (highlight with marker), "Let's do it again and see."
4. Read pitches in rhythm.  NUMBERS FIRST! (teacher/student-points) 
"Are there any patterns? Where?"  (highlight with marker), "Let's do it again and see."
"Do you see the pitches we sang in the pitch drill?  Where are they?"
5. Sing pitches, NUMBERS FIRST!  (teacher/student-points)
"Does ending on '2' or 'Re' sound like a good stopping pitch?" (leading tone, GR.3/4/5/6)
6. Add text, slowly giving time for each student to draw the letter in the air as they sing.  (teacher steps to board models this as they sing.)

This is reviewed in the same order during the next lesson,  then only formats that need to reinforce for mastery.