1. Sing scale, focus on do,re,mi
2. Play “Solami” game:
(I pronounce it like "salami.")
(1) I sing 3 syllables with Curwen hand signs.
(2) They echo.
(3) If I sing "so la mi" in that exact order, they do not echo.
All students stand. If they echo correctly with hand signs to the best of their ability, they keep playing. If not, they are out. If anyone even begins to sing after I sing "so la mi," he/she is out. I tell everyone not to argue and not to tell on anyone else. We play this game for only a few minutes, and I minimize any winning and losing. I tell them it doesn't really matter. We are just practicing our singing.
3. Teach the word: PENTATONIC scale = 5 notes. (Like “pentagon” has 5 sides.)
4. Teach Oh, Won’t You Sit Down (Section A) by rote. Teach that it’s a Spiritual. Teacher continues to sing, students clap every time they hear the word “sit.”
- Students start to sing, continue clapping on “sit”. Tell them to listen for the pattern: “mi,re,do”. When we identify, add signs on “look around”.
5. Show notes on the staff. Teach terms: staff, treble clef, 5 lines, 4 spaces
- do = “G”, re = “A”, mi = “B”
6. Show visual on the board of xylophone bars. Students play xylophone part. Click sticks together on “sit”.
