The kids always love “Primary Composer.” The idea comes directly from the October 1984 issue of the Friend magazine, so it has been around for a long time now. Draw a large musical staff on the chalkboard. Make a variety of notes from paper, such as quarter notes, eighth notes, whole notes and half notes. Make a note for each song you wish to review and then make a list for the pianist. Post the notes underneath the staff on the chalkboard. Invite the children to choose a note and put it on a line or a space on the staff. Sing the review song for that note. Then repeat with another note. Leave enough time at the end for the pianist to attempt to play the “composition.” Have someone keep track of the note placement on a piece of paper. This “music” can be given to the pianist to play.
I have done this a couple of times in our Primary and the kids loved it! Your notes look awesome, by the way:)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea! Pretty much every post you do is now in my files. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI am the chorister in Primary but we don't have a pianist or a piano!! We use a CD player and CD's for the year. Any suggestions on how to teach this way would be mighty helpful!!
ReplyDeleteThanks ladies, I do appreciate your kind comments.
ReplyDeleteNaomi, I'm sympathetic to your challenge. I often have to do singing time without a pianist, and I don't care much to struggle with the CD's. I usually end up just singing without accompaniment. If you know how to play the notes, I'm hoping that your meetinghouse library will have a small keyboard because that would work great. You might also try the small handbells that you can find in better toystores or teacher stores or a Chime-a-long or something similar. A recorder (a wooden or plastic flute-like instrument) would work. Even picking the notes on a guitar or asking someone who plays any kind of instrument would work. Good luck!
you have no idea how much i appreciate your ideas! I often struggle to come up with an idea for my primary, and I turn to you all of the time. thank you SOOO much! I hope you get to stay primary chorister as long as I am.
ReplyDelete