Sing a song about the right to freedom for all people.
Materials
Maraca
Optional: colorful scarves
Instructions
The words of this song were written by the poet James Weldon Johnson. The words were set to music by his brother, Rosamond. It was first performed in 1900 by a chorus of 500 school children in Jacksonville, Florida to commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was president during the Civil War and helped to end slavery in the United States. This song is regarded as the African American national anthem.
Sit in a circle. As you listen to this song, pass and shake a maraca to the steady beat. Is the beat fast or slow? (slow)
After listening to the song, answer these questions. What two parts of the melody were the same? (The beginning and the end) What part was different? (The middle) What is the form of the song? (ABA form)
A: Stand in a circle. Sharing a scarf with your neighbors, walk to the steady beat around the circle.
B: Stop. Pass the scarves to the steady beat around the circle.
A: Sharing a scarf with your neighbors again, walk to the steady beat.
Practice singing the song together, phrase by phrase, until everyone is confident.
On Let our rejoicing rise and facing the rising sun, work on the upward interval leap to rise and sun by opening the jaw and singing with the head voice.
On Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; work on relaxing the voice to sing the lowest notes without shouting.
Sing the entire song together. Add a step-touch swaying movement with the feet to keep the beat while singing.
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