Category Archives: Musical Explorers at Home, Fall 2020

Unit 1: Indian Music with Falu

Melody will take us on a journey to India to meet our first artist, Falu. Use SG8, SG9 and SG10 to meet Falu and prepare your students to learn about the music of India. Genre Overview There are two primary traditions in Indian classical music: Hindustani from northern India, and Carnatic from southern. Falu is…

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…

PDF Downloads

Teacher Guide Fall 2020 ↓ Download the Fall 2020 Musical Explorers Teacher Guide   Student Guide Pages ↓ Download all SG pages in one PDF ↓ SG1 Welcome to Our Musical Trip! Introduction ↓ SG2 Musical Explorers World Map Introduction ↓ SG3 Musical Explorers World Map Introduction ↓ SG4 Explore the Sounds of Our City…

Lesson 1: Learning “Rabba”

Aim: How can melodies be transformed through ornamentation? Summary: Students will sing “Rabba,” and learn how melodies can be modified using ornamentation. Materials: chart paper, colored pencils or markers, collage materials, scarves, Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, 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: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7,…

Lesson 2: Learning “Allahoo”

Aim: How are scales used in Indian music? Summary: Students learn “Allahoo,” understand the scale used in the song, and compose melodies using the sargam, a form of Indian solfège. Materials: Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9 Vocabulary:…

Unit 2: Cumbia with Gregorio

Melody will take us on a journey from India to Colombia to meet our next artist, Gregorio. Use SG13, SG14 and SG15 to meet Gregorio and prepare your students to learn about cumbia. Genre Overview Colombia has been called “the land of a thousand rhythms,” and cumbia is one of the most ubiquitous and enduring…

Lesson 1: Learning “El Pescador”

Aim: What are the basic elements of a cumbia song? Summary: Students learn to sing “El Pescador” and learn the instruments and basic rhythms of cumbia. Materials: classroom instruments, found objects, Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8,…

Lesson 2: Learning “La Piragua”

Aim: How is the cumbia rhythm expressed in dance? Summary: Students learn the cumbia dance and create their own dance rhythms. Materials: Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9 Vocabulary: refrain, rhythmic layers > See Glossary José…

Unit 3: Calypso with Etienne

Melody will take us on a journey from Colombia to Trinidad to meet our next performer, Etienne. Use SG19, SG20 and SG21 to meet Etienne and prepare students to learn about calypso. Genre Overview Calypso traces its roots to West Africa in the 1600s, drawing on traditions of social commentary and improvisational lyrics in song….

Lesson 1: Learning “Mary Ann”

Aim: What are the characteristic rhythms of calypso? Summary: Students learn to sing the chorus to “Mary Ann” and explore calypso rhythms with found percussion instruments. Materials: percussion instruments made from everyday objects, Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8,…

Lesson 2: Learning “J’ouvert Barrio”

Aim: How is rhyme used in calypso lyrics? Summary: Students learn to sing and dance to “J’ouvert Barrio,” and explore rhyme in calypso lyrics. Materials: Long stick or bar (for limbo), Musical Explorers online audio Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9 Vocabulary: chipping,…

Glossary

12-bar blues: a common musical form of the blues where the music and lyrics follow an A-A-B format accordion: a musical instrument with a keyboard and/or buttons where the sound is produced by squeezing metal bellows in and out Ahava raba: a specific mode used in klezmer music alegre: middle-pitched hand drum, used in cumbia…

Concert Experience

Before the Digital Concert Review the three artists and their music. Look at SG24 and have students find the artists and regions represented on the map. What do you remember about the artists and their music? As you discuss the music, use the passport activity on SG25 and SG26 to discuss the countries your class…

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…

Video Index

Unit 1: The Music of India Unit 2: Cumbia Unit 3: Calypso Unit 4: Blues

Professional Development Resources

Unit 1: Music of India     Unit 2: Cumbia     Unit 3: Calypso

Standards for Music Education

Georgia Standards of Excellence in General Music – Elementary Creating ESGMK-2.CR.1: Improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments. ESGMK-2.CR.2: Compose and arrange music within specified guidelines. ESGMK-2.CR.3: Share creative work. Performing ESGMK-2.PR.1: Sing a varied repertoire of music, alone and with others. ESGMK-2.PR.2: Perform a varied repertoire of music on instruments, alone and with others. ESGMK-2.PR.3: Read…