This is a medley of two songs: "America, the Beautiful" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee (America)."
"America, the Beautiful" was written in 1893. A teacher named Katharine Lee Bates visited Pike's Peak in Colorado which gives a hundred-mile view from its summit. She was inspired by the purple mountain majesties and spacious skies. It inspired her to write a poem called "America, the Beautiful." The poem was first published in a magazine in 1895. Later, the poem was set to music by Samuel A. Ward. The song became so popular that it almost became our national anthem!
The words to "My Country 'Tis of Thee" or "America" were written in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith. The melody has been known for over 200 years in Europe and is the same melody for the British national anthem called "God Save the Queen." It debuted In Boston, Massachusetts by the Park Street Church's children's choir in 1831..
Sing the "America, the Beautiful" melody together. Work on phrases with high notes, such as above the fruited plain and America, America.
Display photos or slides of lyrics from the song, such as "amber waves of grain," a "fruited plain" and "sea to shining sea." There are several picture books available to display images from the lyrics of this song.
This song has a time signature of 4/4. (This can be displayed for the group under the Interactive Content tab on the EEMC website. Click on Music Notation.) Demonstrate a 4-beat conducting pattern with one hand: Down, to the left, to the right, and up.
Sing and conduct "America, the Beautiful" together. (As an additional challenge, show how to conduct with both hands.)
Sing the "My Country 'Tis of Thee (America)" melody together. Work on singing the repeated notes with accuracy in Land where my father's died, Land of the Pilgrim's pride. Work on singing the descending interval for Let freedom ring with correct pitches and without rushing.
This song has a time signature of 3/4. (This can be displayed for the group under the Interactive Content tab on the EEMC website. Click on Music Notation.) Demonstrate a 3-beat conducting pattern with one hand: Down, to the right, and up.
Sing and conduct "My Country 'Tis of Thee (America)" together. (As an additional challenge, show how to conduct with both hands.)
Sing the entire medley together.
Perform in a patriotic concert, dressed in red, white and blue. Hold American flags while singing this song. Hold up posters of each of the 50 states at the end of the song, if desired.
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