Elemental Conversations with Victoria Boler

Songs:

Bell Horses

Frosty Weather

Passing Out Instruments:

Students sit in a circle. As they sing the song and pat a steady beat, the teacher walks around the outside of the circle and places an instrument behind students’ backs.

Collecting Instruments:

Students stand and walk around in a circle while singing the song. As students move, the teacher walks around the circle and collects the instruments.

Zapatitos Blancos

Speak the rhyme and play the game

Add an ostinato - students come up with any combination of shoe / little

When you’re out, choose if you’ll play the steady beat on a tubano or play the rhythm of the ostinato on rhythm sticks or other unpitched percussion

Continue playing until the available instrument slots are taken

Find the full show notes here.

Strategies for Sharing Instruments:

- Choosing, elimination, guessing, or chasing games

- Doubling up on instruments

- Using instrument stations

- “Pass it down”

Find the show notes here.

Reports mentioned:

Comparison of the National Standards for Music Education and Elementary Music Specialists' Use of Class Time (Orman, 2002)

Self-Reported versus Observed Classroom Activities in Elementary General Music (Wang & Sogin, 1997)

Perceptions of Time Spent in Teacher Talk: A Comparison Among Self-Estimates, Peer Estimates, and Actual Time (Nápoles & Vázquez-Ramos, 2013)

Time Use in Instrumental Rehearsals: A Comparison of Experienced, Novice, and Student Teachers (Goolsby, 1996)

This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well.

_______

Main Rhyme:

Engine engine number nine going down Chicago line

See it sparkle, see it shine, engine engine number nine

Ostinato 1: Clack clack clickity clack

Ostinato 2: Cling clang

Ostinato 3: track ___ ___ down the

Potential Pedagogical Use: Rhythm vs Beat, Quarter rest, partwork

Find the show notes at victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations

________ 

This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well. 

_________

Rhyme: Engine Engine Number Nine 

Process:

Students choose if they’ll perform the rhythm or the beat

Students are now seated at the “train station”

The teacher is the conductor and moves a train of four students around the room, stepping to a steady beat while students at the train station clap the rhythm.

When the rhyme is over, drop off passengers and pick up new ones

Eventually transition to a student conductor and multiple trains moving around the room

Find episode notes here.

_______

This is a quick “espresso shot” episode. My hope is that it’s an actionable teaching idea that applies some larger principles, and gives you some inspiration on your drive to work. For my part, it keeps me thinking through many ideas and connections so I stay energized as well.

______

Process:

Sing the song and play the game (Recruiting interest / Optimize relevance, value, and authenticity)

In small groups, students create jumping motions that match the lower vocal part (Sustaining Effort & Persistence / Foster collaboration and community)

Students check to see if their motions match the length of the lower vocal part (Self Regulation / Develop self-assessment and reflection)

Find the show notes here

Find the show notes here: https://victoriaboler.com/podcast/teaching-a-partwork-piece-on-orff-instruments

Find the show notes here: https://victoriaboler.com/elemental-conversations/2021/9/6/kindergarten-music-informance-ideas-the-carrot-seed