ISME, Early Childhood Commission
Conference Session, Canary Islands, July
11- 16, 2004
Mahiye
Morgul: Music and Drama Teacher, Author. ISME Member:1337
Title:
Recreational Music Activities /
Variations on a theme with Choral Method in Childhood Music Education.
Mahiye
Morgül
Music
Teacher, Yahya Çavus School
06370
Batikent
Ankara / Turkey
www.mahiye.com
Phone
number: 0090 312 2563605
Content:
Tradiotinal music in Turkey is linear and not polyphonic.
Children find it difficult to understand
and to make polyphony. The Kodaly Method provides the teacher with great possibilities
in this regard. If the music teacher has knowledge of creative drama and
experiment, she/he can create a very attractive music lesson. This study is
built on the universal song “Twinkle twinkle little star” as the theme. The aims are to facilitate
the making of polyphony, to create music and to understand musical
concepts at this stage of progress. As well as creating a new game with
familiar materials, recreational musical activities provide the most enjoyable
experiences for children. Especially because they are very creative. These
special features lead the way to how to teach musýc; the children suggest a new
rule, then they themselves apply it again and again. So, our theme will be
changed one parameter at a time: ýt’s a set of variations. This result of this workshop may appear a little bit like minimal music. But as this
workshop progresses, and as you will see, much is learnt about variation
technique.
Recreational
Musical Activities / Variations on a
Theme with Choral Method in Childhood Music Education
Mahiye Morgül ( Music and Drama Teacher – Türkiye)
Background:
Tradiotinal music in Turkey is linear and not polyphonic.
Children find it difficult to understand
and to make polyphony. The Kodaly Method provides the teacher with great possibilities
in this regard. If the music teacher has knowledge of creative drama and
experiment, she/he can create a very attractive music lesson. This study is
built on the universal song “Twinkle twinkle little star” as the theme. The aims are to facilitate
the making of polyphony, to create music and to understand musical
concepts at this stage of progress. As well as creating a new game with
familiar materials, recreational musical activities provide the most enjoyable
experiences for children. Especially because they are very creative. These
special features lead the way to how to teach musýc; the children suggest a new
rule, then they themselves apply it again and again. So, our theme will be
changed one parameter at a time: ýt’s a set of variations. This result of this workshop may appear a little bit like minimal music. But as this
workshop progresses, and as you will see, much is learnt about variation
technique.
Theorical Framework:
According to Zoltan Kodaly, children listen to each
other when they sing and so they develop
musical hearing. Their body is their metronome. It can move rhythmically and
aesthetically. Choral Method is a group activity. It is important for a child
to participate in group activities and to work and play as a member of group A child who is in the music group can reach
success as a result of group dynamism. Creative Drama method points this out
and it is the same concern as that of
Choral Method. Both methods share music and drama. Children love to dance and
sing at the same time. They are happy to see the success of the group. And so,
they can understand musical concepts and
analyze other compositions.
Method:
Warm-up is the first activity, that is communication with
oneself using Alexander Technique. In this, abdominal muscles, head, and neck
will be made ready. Breath will be enlarged by an imaginary game. These are
also activities for concentration. The children are grouped in twos. Using the
techniques of Creative Drama, every
couple create their own dance while they sing. They touch each other during
this exercise. This is communication and corporation with partner. Then they
perform their own individual dance. The results of these activities are
self-confidence, creativity, control, and consistency. After choosing one of
the dances, performing it in front of the audience by the whole group raises
this to the level of artistic activity. After this, variations on the theme
activities will be started. Each variation is intended to lead to another one
step at a time.
Recreational Music
Activities
Details of The Plan of
Presentation:
Warm-up: 3 min.
To prepare the abdomen muscles by drawing number with foot.
To prepare the head and neck by imaginary balloon.
To prepare the breathing by “fly in my palm” game.
To prepare the tongue and full body by imaginary clock.
Song and dance: 10 min.
Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star /Jp.Khira
khira hikaroo /Tr.Yasasin okulumuz
-“Dialogue in pairs, create your own dance and sing the song in two minutes. If you want to
use chiffon, here it is.”
-“Show us your own dance.”
-“Let`s choose one of them and play it with the whole
group.”
The theme on staff: Solfeggio 2 min.
See: There are two phrases; A and B. There is Da Capo al
Fine. There are repeat sections and the sign of repeat measure. The theme is
made up with quarter notes. (Melody is minimized?). Its structure is AABA.
Variation /
Recompose by new rhythm pattern: 3 min.
Each measure of theme is changed according to new rhythmic
pattern.
To build the theme we made first example as before. Second
one is the melody. The third one is
different, “Do it solfeggio”.
1 2
3
The rhythmic patterns can be according to high class; with
syncope, triple, 1/16 note etc.
Variation /
Recompose with new vocal sounds: 5 min.
(Adding new vocal sound to rhythm pattern.)
Add “du du du du” to first one.
Add “dubi dubi dubi du” to second one.
Add “du du dubi du” to third one.
Recreational Music Activities
Variation / Recompose
with new musical elements: 5 min.
(Adding new musical element to vocal sound.)
Add piano and tied two notes on theme.
Add forte to
first measure and pianissimo to
second measure with “dubi…” vocal
Add allegro and accent to A phrase, add adagio and legato to B phrase with “du du dubi du” vocal. (In reality,
students write those elements on staff.)
Variation /
Recompose with new beat: 5 min.
(You may use handout for your children. It may the writing
and reading exercises.)
Using chiffon is
suggested. Chiffon is Turkish folk dance material.
3/4 beat is difficult for Turkish children. But 5/8 beat is
easy for them.
a- 3/4 Waltz b- 5/8 From Turkish Folk
lal la
lal la lay li
ri lil lam
In waltz; you may swing and shake your chiffon.
In 5/8; hang chiffon between the two fingers on right hand
and clap on to per beat.
Variation /
Recompose by polyphony: 15 min.
Add ostinato
DO-SOL ( C and G ) with half note. You may play the piano or bass metallophone.
Make round. The second group starts after two beats.
Make gamelan. In
theme per quarter note is changed to half note for the second group without
repeat when the first group is singing melody.
Add ostinato to
gamelan for three groups if you want.
(This activity needs a handout in classroom for them to see
the structure.)
Final: 5 min. (If the participants want)
With chosen activities.
1.Music and dance, “Twinkle twinkle…”
2.Round, “dubi dubi dubi du”
3.Changed tempo allegro / adagio, “du du dubi du”
4.Gamelan, solfeggio.
5.Waltz, “lal la”. (with shiffon)
6.5/8 beat, “lay liri lil lam” (round with shiffon)
Evaluation: 5 min.
“Close your eyes and think about this study. Did you have
good fun? Did you have any important experiences? When your feelings are OK,
open your eyes. Share your ideas with us. Thank you.” (Please write your ideas
and give me after workshop)
Mahiye
Morgül
Some ideas: “Wonderful! Wonderful! I enjoyed the way your incorporated singing + movement with a great preparation before the lesson. The exercise to keep everyone motivated was great. Thanks!” Donald De Vito University of Florida Sidney Lanier School Music Director USA devitod@ufl.edu “I particularly liked the variations on familiar theme, from very simple to complex. It was interesting to use Turkish rhythms, particularly as a round.”Robyn Trinick / New Zeland
r.trinick@ace.ac.nc “I will tell to everybody this workshop. It was most important one.” Helena Oliveira / Brasil(Opera singer, 82 Years old) “My English is not well, but I understood and I liked. Thank you.” Ana Maria Souze / Bahia/Brasil anni@amazon.com.br