Category Archives: 2019-20 Curriculum

Introduction

Welcome to Musical Explorers! Musical Explorers is designed to connect students in grades K–2 to the musical community of the Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry as they build fundamental music skills through listening, singing, and moving to songs from a wide variety of musical styles. In the coming year, you and your students will meet…

How to Use the Teacher and Student Guides

This Teacher Guide contains six units, each devoted to one of our Musical Explorers genres. Every unit contains two lessons, each focusing on a song; the lessons guide you through the process of learning the songs, as well as teaching relevant musical concepts and exploring the cultural context of each genre. There are multiple activities…

Meet the Artists

Kaia Kater, Folk Music   Growing up surrounded by the folk music of her family in Montreal, Kaia took those ties to West Virginia to learn more about folk music and storytelling. Now, she puts her skills and roots to work as a singer-songwriter and has released three albums that focus on social issues, personal narratives,…

Becoming Musical Explorers

In this introductory unit, you will find activities and warm-ups you can use throughout the year. Start by introducing Melody on SG1 and the musical region on SG2. Where is our state on this map? As we explore these regions, what kinds of music do you think we might find? On SG3–5, you will find…

Vocal and Body Warm-Ups

Start each lesson with warm-up activities in order to establish a routine that fosters healthy vocal technique, kinesthetic learning, and active listening. The following warm-ups are designed to work as a sequence but can also be used as stand-alone activities, depending on time, objective, and teacher preference. Finding Your Breath Smooth and Bouncy Breath: Breathing…

Unit 1: Folk Music with Kaia

Melody will take us on a journey to Toronto, Canada to meet our first singer, Kaia. Use SG7–9 to meet Kaia and prepare students to learn about folk music. Genre Overview American folk music is a genre that spans our country’s geography and draws on traditions that pre-date the nation’s founding. Broadly defined, folk music…

Lesson 1: Exploring “John Henry”

Aim: How can we understand how music tells a story while learning to sing the folk song “John Henry?” Summary: Students learn and sing “John Henry” while understanding how music can be used to tell a story. Materials: rhythm sticks, Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC:…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Freight Train”

Aim How can we learn about melody and folk instruments through Elizabeth Cotten’s “Freight Train?” Summary: Students explore melody and banjo through the folk song “Freight Train.” Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9 Vocabulary: banjo, melody Learn the Melody of “Freight Train”…

Unit 2: African-American Spirituals with Huxsie

Melody will take us on a journey from Toronto, Canada to Savannah to meet our next artist, Huxsie. Use SG13–15 to meet Huxsie and prepare your students to learn about African-American spirituals. Genre Overview African-American spirituals originated in the slave quarters of the American south, and are sacred songs with lyrics based on stories from…

Lesson 1: Exploring “Follow the Drinking Gourd”

Aim: What is the hidden meaning in “Follow the Drinking Gourd”? Summary: Students learn to sing “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and explore the hidden meaning of the song and the code found in the lyrics. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, pencils Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.CN.NL-AH.8,…

Lesson 2: Learning “This Train Is Bound for Glory”

Aim: What musical opposites can we find in “This Train Is Bound for Glory”? Summary: Students explore the meaning of the song, and learn musical opposites of dynamics (loud/soft) and tempo (fast/slow). Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE1, ESGMK-2.RE.3,ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1, GM.CR.NL-AH.2, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9 Vocabulary: dynamics, gospel,…

Unit 3: Hip Hop with Basik Lee

Melody will take us on a trip across town to meet our next artist, Basik Lee. Use SG19–21 to meet Basik Lee and prepare your students to learn about hip hop.   Genre Overview Hip hop’s roots lie in the ancient storytelling traditions of the West African jelis, who Europeans called “griots,” that were brought…

Lesson 1: Learning “Hip Hop Hooray”

Aim: What are the basic building blocks of hip hop? Summary: Students will learn the hook to “Hip Hop Hooray” and learn about key elements in hip hop songs. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.CN.1,ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1 , GM.CR.NL-AH.2, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9 Vocabulary: b-boying/b-girling, beatboxing, DJing, graffiti, hook,…

Lesson 2: Learning “Time of Grace”

Aim: How do we find rhythm in words to create hip hop songs? Summary: Students explore lyrics and message as they learn “Time of Grace,” and explore ways to create their own hip hop songs. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1, GM.CR.NL-AH.2, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8,…

Concert Preparation: First Semester

Before the Concert Review the three artists and their music. Look at SG25 and have students find the artists and regions represented on the map. What do you remember about the artists and their music? Listen to each song. Brainstorm with students about how to be active listeners, enthusiastic performers, and successful audience members during…

Unit 4: Salsa with Gino

Melody now takes us on a journey from the Trustees Theater to Charleston, South Carolina to meet our next artist, Gino. Use SG29–31 to meet Gino and prepare your students to learn about salsa. Genre Overview Salsa is the name given to Afro-Cuban dance music as it is played in the United States. The Spanish…

Lesson 1: Learning “El Manisero”

Aim: What is the clave rhythm and where can we find it in “El Manisero?” Summary: Students learn to clap a basic clave pattern and sing the chorus of “El Manisero.” Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.CR.NL-AH.1, GM.CR.NL-AH.2, GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.CN.NL-AH.8 Vocabulary: clave rhythm, claves, coro, salsa…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Vamanos pa’l Monte”

Aim: What rhythmic and melodic patterns can we hear played on instruments in “Vamanos pa’l Monte?” Summary: Students learn to identify salsa instrumental patterns in “Vamanos pa’l Monte.” Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8 Vocabulary: cascara, guajeo, tumbao Sing “Vamanos pa’l Monte” Listen to “Vamanos pa’l Monte”…

Unit 5: Klezmer Music with Dan

Melody now takes us on a journey from Charleston, South Carolina to Athens, Georgia to meet our next singer, Dan. Use SG34–36 to meet Dan and prepare students to learn about klezmer music. Genre Overview Klezmer music is the folk music of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. The Yiddish word “klezmer” originally meant “musician.”…

Lesson 1: Learning “Bulbes”

Aim: What can we learn about klezmer music through a Yiddish folk song? Summary: Students sing “Bulbes” in Yiddish and explore the Ahava raba mode through improvisation. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, pencils Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9 Vocabulary: Ahava raba, klezmer music, Yiddish Sing “Bulbes” Listen to “Bulbes,”…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Hob ikh mir a mantl”

Aim: How can we learn about using something old in a new way through a Yiddish folk song? Summary: Students learn to sing “Hob ikh mir a mantl” and explore the story of the song. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, crayons Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9 Vocabulary: ritardando…

Unit 6: Brass Ensemble with Hollie and Bernard

Melody will now take us on a journey from Athens, Georgia to Atlanta, Georgia to meet our next musicians, Hollie and Bernard. Use SG40–42 to meet Hollie and Bernard and prepare your students to learn about the brass ensemble. Genre Overview Brass ensembles have a long and varied history in the United States, from community…

Lesson 1: Exploring “Rondo alla Turca”

Aim: How can we explore the instruments in the brass family while listening to the steady beat in music? Summary: Students learn the instruments in the brass family. Students learn to move rhythmically to “Rondo alla Turca” while building vocabulary to describe the brass ensemble. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3,…

Lesson 2: Learning “Stars and Stripes Forever”

Aim: How can we explore steady beat and marching with “Stars and Stripes Forever”? Summary: Students learn to move along to “Stars and Stripes Forever” while building vocabulary to describe the American brass band. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, scissors, glue, popsicle sticks, markers or crayons Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.3, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.5,…

Concert Preparation: Second Semester

Before the Concert Review the three artists and their music. Look at SG47 and have students find the artists and regions represented on the map. What do you remember about the artists and their music? Listen to each song. Brainstorm with students about how to be active listeners, enthusiastic performers, and successful audience members during…

Family Resources

Welcome to Musical Explorers!  This year, your student is taking an exciting musical journey. Musical Explorers is designed to connect students in grades K–2 to the musical community of the Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry as they build fundamental music skills through listening, singing, and moving to songs from a wide variety of musical styles….

Glossary

Ahava raba: a specific mode used in Klezmer music ballad: a story that is set to music banjo: a 5-stringed instrument played by plucking the strings b-boying/b-girling: hip hop dancing; also known as breaking beatboxing: a form of vocal percussion that imitates beats used in hip hop brass family: instruments that are made out of…