The Musical Staff


The staff is made up of five lines and four spaces. The notes are written on the lines and spaces. The pitches are named, A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

A phrase is a complete musical thought. Just like a sentence is a complete spoken thought.

Think of someone with a one-syllable name. Say their name four time as you clap quarter notes.
Can you find the quarter notes in the song below?
(Click here for the sheet music)

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

Have a Musical Day!!! *smiles*

Catherine
"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com

Musical Form

Music has melody, rhythm, and harmony. These are the three main elements of music.

Music also needs form. Form is what organizes and structures music. Much of music is written in the ABA form. This is also known as ternary form. People like the idea of hearing a section, leaving that section, and then returning to that section.

Let's take "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" as an example. The first section and the last section are the same. The middle section is different.

(click here to listen to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
(click here to see the music of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Exercise:
Write a short song in the ABA form. If you would like to share it with me, please send it to me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

If you have any questions about teaching music or about learning music please email me at: Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

Have a Musical Day! *smiles*

Catherine
"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs included:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com/

Questions and Answers


1. What is a Shantey?

Shanties were the work songs sung aboard sailing ships. There are different types of shanties. Each has it's own rhythm and goes with a certain job on board a ship. On larger ships there would be a shanteyman, a singer hired for his huge voice and his ability to make up verses for songs. Each verse he made up would further help getting the work done.

A well-known Shantey is the song "Rio Grande".

(Click here to listen to the melody.)

Suggestions:

1. Think of adjectives to describe how a shantey might be sung.

2. What musical instruments might be used to help get the work done?

3. Write and play a percussion pattern that would work with this song.

If you have a question you would like me to answer about learning music please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

Have a Musical Day!!! *smiles*

Catherine
"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey, we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs include:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com

Discovery Page:

Find out the answers to these questions and then see how many of your family and friends know the answers. The answer are at the bottom of the page.

1. True or False. All cultures that measure yearly calendars have New Year celebrations.

2. In Jewish tradition, what is the symbol for the new year -- Rosh Hashana?

3. The Chinese New Year is also known as what?


The Song: "Auld Lang Syne"

"Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung each year at midnight on New Year's Eve in most English speaking countries. It signifies the start of a new year.

"Auld Land Syne" is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. It was set to a traditional folk song. It is not known if the tune we now sing is the original tune that Burns used. The tune to which "Auld Land Syne" is sung is pentatonic.

Literally translated "auld land syne" means "old long since".

Some Interesting Facts:

Billy Joel sang and released Auld Lang Syne in his live CD titled "2000 Years - The Millenium".

Bobby Darin recorded a Christmas version in 1960.

In George M. Cohan's song "You're A Grand Old Flag", the first line "Should auld acquaintance be forgot": is part of the original song's chorus.

"Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve" uses Auld Lang Syne as it's 'theme' song.

If you have a question you would like me to answer about learning music please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com

Have A Musical Day!!! *smiles*

Catherine

"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey, we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs include:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches

The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com


Answers:
1. True.
2. In Jewish tradition, honey is a symbol for the new year -- Rosh Hashana. At the traditional meal for that holiday apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten to bring a sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show honey and an apple, symbolizing the feast.
3. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Luna New Year, occurs every year on the New Moon of the first lunar month, about four to eight weeks before spring.

Preschoolers, Toddlers, and Babies

Pat, Walk, and Play the Beat. The even, steady beat of the song is usually the quarter note. Listen to the song below and pat the steady beat that your hear. Then clap the steady beat that you hear. Then walk to the steady beat that you hear. If you have rhythm instruments use them to play the steady beat of songs during the week.

(click here to listen to the song. Remember to do the activites as the song is playing.)

Here is what the quarter note looks like.

Practice drawing the quarter note.

If you have a question about music or music lessons that you would like me to answer, please email me at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!

Have a Musical Day!!! *smiles*

Catherine
"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey, we will work and learn together." - Catherine

Books with CDs include:
Impressions Volume One, Two, and Three
Marches
The Frog Prince
CDs include:
Wedding Bells
Lullabies

http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine
www.ShoutLife.com/ClassyKeys
http://catherinesmusicnotes.blogspot.com