Sing & Ring in Spring

 

Spring is the perfect time to sing and ring about nature’s glory.  ChimeWorks offers some suggestions below for lesson plans using a variety of teaching techniques and objectives.

With these folksongs, we can enrich our students with a greater appreciation of the beauty of the world around them.  Many of these songs have been passed through the centuries and are classic examples of fine musical literature for young musicians.

All  of these lesson plans are available for immediate purchase and digital download at the cost of $2.29 each – just pennies per student – in our “Handchimes in the Classroom & Rehearsal” store.

 

Lesson Plans with Chordal Harmonization

 

Come, Follow Me

• Use: Secular
• Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
• Type: Chords
• Chords: 3
• Canon: Yes
• Topic: Nature
• Language: English
• Origin: England

Come Follow is an English folk song dating from the late 17th century.  It was written by John Hilton in 1652.  It is a three part round or canon.

 

I Love The Mountains

• Use: Secular
• Level: 3 – 6
• Type: Chords
• Chords: 4
• Canon: Yes
• Topic: Nature
• Language: English
• Origin: America

I Love the Mountains is a traditional American campfire song passed down through generations.

 

Lesson Plans with Harmonization by Ostinati

Sakura

• Use: Secular
• Level: 3 – 6
• Type: Ostinati
• Topic: Spring
• Language: Japanese
• Origin: Japan

Sakura is a traditional Japanese folk song telling of springtime and cherry blossoms.  It dates from the late the Edo period between 1603 and 1868.  It is based on the Phrygian mode.

 

Come, Let Us All A-Maying Go

•  Use: Secular
• Level: 3 – 6
• Type: Ostinati
• Canon: Yes
• Topic: Spring
• Language: English
• Origin: England

Come, Let Us All A-Maying Go is a three part round or canon.  John Hilton the younger was an Early English Baroque composer.

 

Lesson Plans Using Icons to Teach Music Literacy

Bunessan (Morning Has Broken)

• Use: Sacred, Secular
• Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
• Type: Icons
• Topic: Nature, Praise
• Language: English
• Origin: Scotland

The melody, Bunessan, was named after a town in Scotland.  During the 19th century it was set to the text of Morning Has Broken.

 

Baa, Baa Black Sheep

• Use: Secular
• Level: K – 2
• Type: Icons
• Topic: Animals, Nursery Rhyme
• Language: English
• Origin: England

Baa, Baa Black Sheep is an English nursery rhymed dating back from 1731.  Its original context is thought to be a complaint on the taxation of wool.