Music teacher Andrea Rosenthal Warnken recently attended a workshop given by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. The guest clinicians were Peter and Mary Amidon who focused on traditional community dances and singing games. They also shared how storytelling and folktales can augment the music curriculum.
Andrea immediately put some of these activities into her lesson plans. Ask your younger students about their experience in music class with sleeping bunnies and riding ponies. Older students have enjoyed Irish community dances.
In the video below, 5th grade students practiced using Orff instruments combined with moments of singing. The students make it look easy, but trying to sing and play at the same time is a bit like patting your head while rubbing your belly. The 5th graders did a terrific job of working together as a team.