Multicultural Music – Mrs. Hale's Harmonies

I Let Her Go Go

This is one that works beautifully with students. I Let Her Go Go easily scaffolds and has a melody that students really enjoy singing. I will provide tips for teaching it in the game section below. Suggested Grade Levels: 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade Analysis: History:There are plenty of resources that say this songContinue reading “I Let Her Go Go”

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

This is one of my favorite beginning-of-year activities to do with my 3rd and 4th grade students. This is around the age where they start thinking they’re too cool to sing and dance with their teacher, but My Bonnie immediately changes that. I love the focus and the smiles that appear on the kids’ facesContinue reading “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie seems to be a staple in Orff Schulwerk repertoire. It is something that I have encountered during my undergraduate career and in many Orff workshops. I personally have not used this with my students, but wanted to look into it because it seems like many other teachers use this song regularly. SuggestedContinue reading “Wee Willie Winkie”

Zemer Atik (Nigun Atik)

I first learned Zemer Atik during my undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville. I thought it was one of the most beautiful dances I had ever been a part of and I still believe that. So far I have only taught this once to 3rd grade students. They find the A section a bitContinue reading “Zemer Atik (Nigun Atik)”

Los Machetes

This is a favorite dance with my 3rd and 4th grade students! We actually just used this as an opportunity to learn about and celebrate Cinco de Mayo last week. One 3rd grader even said they wanted to perform this dance for every Cinco de Mayo. This is the first year where I have understoodContinue reading “Los Machetes”

La Raspa

Cinco de Mayo is next week, so many music teachers will be excited to pull out La Raspa and teach it to their students. Please consider why you are doing this with your students. Is it just for a fun folk dance? If that is your only answer, please reconsider. Teaching international folk dance isContinue reading “La Raspa”

Sasha

I love using Sasha as a way to get students moving after a break from school. This allows us to mingle with our classmates in a safe, structured way that also gets us back into the right mindset for music. My students love this dance because of its catchy tune and because they get toContinue reading “Sasha”

Seven Jumps (Syvspring)

“Seven Jumps,” or “Syvspring” in Danish, is a fun folk dance from Denmark that my students love. Everyone inevitably catches a fit of the giggles as we struggle to keep our balance! It involves dancers joining in a circle and walking, hop stepping, or sashaying during the chorus. In between each chorus, there are 1-7Continue reading “Seven Jumps (Syvspring)”