Category Archives: 2016-17 Curriculum

Foreword

Welcome to Musical Explorers! This curriculum is designed to connect students in grades K–2 to the diverse musical community of the Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry as they develop listening, singing, and composing skills. The 2016-17 curriculum features artists who live in the Lowcountry and throughout the Southeast. 2016-17 also features Falu Shah, a Carnegie…

How to Use This Guide

With your guidance, Musical Explorers develop habits of active and engaged listening through a process that includes using recurring prompts, follow-up questions, modeling, and short, repeated listening. Prompts: As students encounter new songs throughout the curriculum, ask them questions about the music. We have included some scripted suggestions, which appear in italics. These prompts are…

Lesson 1: Becoming a Musical Explorer

Aim: What can Musical Explorers do? Summary: Students identify themselves as explorers of the Lowcountry’s music. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Time Required: 40 minutes (two 20-minute activities) Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.4, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.8, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.5, MGK-2.6 Vocabulary: explorer, opposite Introduce the “Musical Explorers Song” Introduce Melody on SG1. Where is our school on this map?…

Lesson 2: Exploring our Voices

Aim: What happens in our bodies when we breathe, hum, and sing? Summary: Students explore their singing and talking voices. The exercises learned may be done as a warm-up. It may take some time for students to know and feel that their singing and talking voices are very different from each other. Materials: Musical Explorers…

Unit 1: Brass Quintet Music with Mike

Find Mike’s Hometown Melody now takes us on a journey to Thunderbolt to meet our first musician, Mike. Use page SG5 and help the students do the following: Locate Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia. Locate Mike on the map in Thunderbolt, Georgia. Complete the activity.   PDF Downloads SG5 ↓ Download File

Lesson 1: Learning “Stars and Stripes Forever”

Aim: How can we explore steady beat and marching with “Stars and Stripes Forever”? Summary: Students learn to sing and 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 Time Required: 40 minutes (four…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Hoe-Down”

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 gallop to “Hoe-Down” while building vocabulary to describe American brass band music. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Time Required: 40 minutes (four…

Unit 2: Old-Time Music with Kaia

Find Kaia’s Hometown Melody now takes us on a journey from Thunderbolt, Georgia all the way to Elkins, West Virginia to meet our next singer, Kaia. Using SG9, help students do the following: Locate Mike in Thunderbolt, Georgia. Locate Kaia in Elkins, West Virginia. Complete the activity.   PDF Downloads SG9 ↓ Download File

Lesson 1: Learning “Camp a Little While in the Wilderness”

Aim: How can we learn to sing “Camp a Little While in the Wilderness” through call and response? Summary: Students will learn to sing “Camp a Little While in the Wilderness” while learning about the style of Old Time music. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, markers or crayons Time Required: 30 minutes (three…

Lesson 2: Exploring “John Henry”

Aim: How can we understand how music tells a story through the old-time song “John Henry?” Summary: Students learn and sing expressively to “John Henry” while understanding how music can be used to tell a story. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, pencils Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities) Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6,…

Unit 3: Zydeco Music with Jeffery

Find Jeffery’s Hometown Melody will take us on a journey from Elkins, West Virginia to Opelousas, Louisiana to meet our next singer, Jeffery. Use SG14 and help students do the following: : Locate Kaia in Elkins, West Virginia. Locate Jeffery in Opelousas, Louisiana. Complete the activity.   PDF Downloads SG14 ↓ Download File

Lesson 1: Learning “Hard to Stop”

Aim: How can we explore tempo with the song “Hard to Stop?” Summary: Students learn to sing and move along to “Hard to Stop” while building vocabulary to describe musical opposites. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, markers or crayons Time Required: 40 minutes (four 10 minute activities) Standards: GA:MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.8, MK-2GM.9,…

Lesson 2: Learning “Allons a Lafayette”

Aim: How can we explore rhythmic patterns with the song “Allons a Lafayette?” Summary: Students learn to sing and move along to “Allons a Lafayette” while building vocabulary to describe rhythmic patterns. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, markers or crayons, yarn, scissors, cardstock, hole puncher Time Required: 40 minutes (two 10-minute activities and…

Concert Preparation, Semester 1

The First Concert Review the diverse artists the students have encountered so far. Mike (Brass Quintet Music) Kaia (Old-Time Music) Jeffery (Zydeco Music) Look at SG20 and have students identify the artists and genres represented on the map. What do you remember about the artists and their music?  Brainstorm a list of responses with the…

Student Guide Library

Browse and download the entire index of student guide pages from the 2015-16 Musical Explorers Teacher Guide or download all 45 Student Guide pages in one file. Introduction SG1 Welcome to our Musical Trip! ↓ Download File SG2 Musical Explorers Song  ↓ Download File SG3 Musical Explorers Song Sign Language  ↓ Download File SG4 Vibrations…

Glossary

accordion: a box-shaped instrument with a keyboard and bellows Art Songs: traditional Western European classical music performed by one singer and one pianist ballad: a story set to music banjo: a stringed instrument whose strings are plucked; common in American folk and bluegrass music brass family: instruments that are made of metal and played by…

Unit 4: Music of India with Falu

Find Falu’s Neighborhood Melody now takes us on a journey through New York City to meet our next musician, Falu. Use SG24 and help students do the following: Find the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Hop on the New York City Subway with Melody and locate Falu in Little India, New York…

Lesson 1: Learning “Rabba”

Aim: How can we recognize ornamented melodies in Music of India? Summary: Students learn to sing “Rabba” while exploring melodic patterns and ornamentation. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, markers or crayons, chart paper, scissors Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities) Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3 Vocabulary:…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Eastbound”

Aim: How can we use note patterns to explore Music of India? Summary: Students explore the Indian five-note scale and learn to sing “Eastbound.” Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio Time Required: 40 minutes (four 10-minute acitivities) Standards: GA:MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.8, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3 Vocabulary: scale, solfège, sargam Sing “Eastbound”…

Unit 5: Art Songs with Heidi

Find Heidi’s Hometown Melody has returned from her trip to New York City and now takes us on a journey to Beaufort, South Carolina to meet our next musician, Heidi. Using SG33, help students do the following: Locate Melody at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Locate Heidi in Beaufort, South Carolina. Complete the activity.  …

Lesson 1: Learning “Heidenröslein”

Aim: How can we learn to sing “Heidenröslein” with a healthy singing style? Summary: Students will learn to sing “Heidenröslein” while learning about German Art Songs. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, markers or crayons Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities) Standards: GA: MGMK-2.1, MGMK-2.6, MGMK-2.7, MGMK-2.8, MGMK-2.9 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.5, MGK-2.6…

Lesson 2: Exploring “Das Veilchen”

Aim: How can we recognize different emotions while listening to “Das Veilchen?” Summary: Students explore “Das Veilchen” while exploring emotions and mood through lyrics and music. Materials: Musical Explorers CD or online audio, pencils, crayons or markers Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities) Standards: GA: MGMK-2.1, MGMK-2.6, MGMK-2.8, MGMK-2.9 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.4, MGK-2.5, MGK-2.6…

Unit 6: Salsa Music with Gino

Find Gino’s Hometown Melody will take us on a journey from Beaufort, South Carolina to Charleston, South Carolina to meet our next musician, Gino. Use SG38 and help students do the following: Locate Heidi in Beaufort, South Carolina. Locate Gino on the map in Charleston, South Carolina. Complete the activity.   PDF Downloads SG38 ↓ Download File  …

Lesson 1: Learning “El manisero”

Aim: What is the clave pattern 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 Time Required: 30 minutes (three 10-minute activities) Standards: GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.2, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: MGK-2.1,…

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 Time required: 30 minutes (two 15-minute activites) Standards: GA: GA:MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.5, MGK-2.6 Vocabulary:…

Concert Preparation, Semester 2

The Second Concert Review the diverse artists the students have encountered so far. Falu (Music of India) Heidi (Art Songs) Gino (Salsa Music) Look at SG42 and have students identify the artists and genres represented. What do you remember about the artists and their music? Brainstorm a list of responses with the students. Listen to…

Learn to dance with Bobby (video)