#320. Follow-up for elem sch music lesson -strings

other, level: Elementary
Posted by Jerry W. Murkerson (jmurkerson@decatur.k12.ga.us).
West Bainbridge Middle School, Bainbridge, GA USA
Materials Required: resource person who can play string instru
Activity Time: 45 minutes
Concepts Taught: follow-up activity after music lesson

An elementary music teacher, Mrs. Richards, at Elcan-King Elementary School, Bainbridge, GA, teaches a unit on stringed instruments. At the conclusion of the lesson, she calls on me to come and play various stringed instruments such as the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and the upright bass. I am a 7th grade pre-algebra teacher at West Bainbridge Middle School and am known in this county for my love of bluegrass music which features accoustical instruments. The class range is from 3rd grade to 5th grade. The children see and hear the instruments being played. I let some of them hold a banjo for the first time and they can't believe how heavy it is. They ask me questions, too. Last year, Mrs. Richards allowed them to make some thank-you letters and they were great! In fact, I submitted several of them to a magazine I subscribe to called "Bluegrass Unlimited" and they were published. I carried a copy of the magazine to Mrs. Richards. I am going to visit Mrs. Richard's third grade class tomorrow, 19 Feb 98.