Sing and play a musical scale on pitched instruments.
Materials
Display of Curwen hand signs for solfege
Bells, Orff metallophones and xylophones with mallets
Instructions
As you listen to the song, join in the actions!
Doe a deer, a female deer: cup hands on top of head to show ears (not antlers!)
Ray, a drop of golden sun: Stretch out your arms like rays of sunlight
Me, a name I call myself: Thumbs to chest
Far, a long, long way to run: Jog in place
Sew, a needle pulling thread: Pretend to sew with a needle
La, a note to follow sew: Hands up to shoulders in an "I don't know" movement
Tea, a drink with jam and bread: Pretend to drink tea with your pinky up
That will bring us back to Do-oh-oh-oh: Cup hands to show doe's ears again.
This song shows us how to sing a musical scale by using shortened Latin words from long ago. Try showing the Curwen hand signs for each of the eight pitches. Then, try using these hand signs while singing the song.
Doe is now Do.
Ray is now Re.
Me is now Mi.
Far is now Fa.
Sew is now Sol.
La is still La.
Tea is now Ti.
Doe is now Do.
Distribute bells and Orff instruments. Use these eight notes for the musical scale: CDEFGABC. Practice playing the scale together.
Try playing one note on the bells for each phrase in the song. Practice once, then try it with the recording.
Doe=Do=C
Ray=Re=D
Me=Mi=E
Far=Fa=F
Sew=Sol=G
La=La=A
Tea=Ti=B
Doe=Do=high C
Challenge: at the end of the song, there is a fast scale: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do (Sol, Do)! Try playing this on your bells if you can!
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