March is the perfect time to bring Irish music and dancing into your music classroom! Whether you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day or explorng world music, these engaging videos will help your students experience the energy and tradition of Irish music.

This Irish Music & Dance Choice Board is designed to make lesson planning easy. It includes a variety of video categories so you can mix and match to fit your students’ needs. You can introduce Irish music through listening examples, teach about traditional instruments, and get students moving with dance performances and play-alongs.

What's Included?

This collection is divided into seven categories. Be sure to scroll left and right to see all of the categories. Scroll up and down to see the videos in each category.

• Listening Examples – Introduce students to the sounds of Irish music.
• Irish Instruments Informational Videos – Learn about instruments like the tin whistle, bodhrán, and Irish harp.
• St Patrick's Day History for Kids - Short informational videos about the origins of St. Patrick’s Day.
• Dance Performance Videos – Watch Irish dancers in action and see different styles of Irish dancing.
• Dance Lesson Videos – Step-by-step instructions to help students try Irish dancing themselves.
• Irish Music Play-Alongs – Fun body percussion and percussion play-alongs to keep students engaged.
• Movement Irish Folk Dance Videos – Get students moving with Irish-inspired movement activities. Teach simple folk dances that work well for elementary students.

How to Use These Videos in Your Classroom

• Start with a listening example to introduce Irish music.
• Show a dance performance video to inspire students.
• Try a dance lesson video to get students moving.
• Add an Irish music play-along to reinforce steady beat and rhythm.
• Finish with an Irish folk dance for a fun, active experience.

My Experience Using This Choice Board

March is always a busy month in the music classroom with Music in Our Schools Month, Read Across America, spring concerts, and even spring break. Most years, I wasn’t able to devote an entire class period to St. Patrick’s Day or Irish music, so I found ways to incorporate it into my lessons in smaller chunks.

• For Kindergarten and first grade, we kept it simple with a steady beat activity and some super simplified dance steps to "Maggie in the Woods" or another lively Irish jig. 

• Second and third grade students explored Irish instruments like the uilleann pipes and bodhrán, then played along with an instrument-focused video or learned a folk dance like "The Irish Washerwoman."

• For fourth grade, I focused on triple meter by using a 6/8 rhythm reading video followed by Irish music centers. This tied in perfectly with my Triple Meter Adventures with Leprechaun Games lesson, which you can check out here:

• With fifth grade, we often watched one or two Riverdance videos to observe the style, followed by "Trading Taps," which led to a discussion comparing Irish step dancing with African American tap styles. This conversation was a natural extension of the work we did during Black History Month and helped students make meaningful connections between cultures. 

Conclusion 

These small but impactful activities allowed my students to experience Irish music and dance in an engaging way without requiring a full class period. Whether you have five minutes or fifty, this choice board can help you bring the energy of Irish music into your classroom!

Want to grab the full collection? Click the button below to access the Irish Music & Dance Music Teacher Choice Board!

Musically yours,

 

  

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It's time to add a sprinkle of leprechaun magic to our music lessons. With the shimmering promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we embark on a journey of rhythmic exploration through the enchanting world of Leprechaun Games. While our compass remains true to our curricular goals, we'll weave in the spirit of a beloved cultural holiday, celebrating St. Patrick's Day with themed rhythm practice. So, grab your shamrocks, and let's dive into a treasure trove of musical fun where learning meets leprechaun lore!

Working in small groups offers numerous benefits for students in a music classroom. It fosters collaboration, encourages active participation, and provides opportunities for peer learning and support. Small group activities also allow for personalized instruction and differentiated learning experiences tailored to individual student needs. In this blog post, we'll explore four engaging triple meter center games designed to facilitate the review and exploration of rhythm concepts in elementary music education. These activities are fun for students and offer valuable opportunities for reinforcement and application of musical skills.

If you're interested in learning more about managing music centers effectively, be sure to check out our detailed guide titled "Navigating Elementary Music Centers: Teacher Strategies, Procedures, And Success Tips."

Game Instructions:

Center Game #1: Write the Rhythm Room

At this center, students will find four rhythm cards and a corresponding Write the Room worksheet. The Write the Room Worksheets can accommodate either Level 1 or Level 2 rhythm cards. Students' task is to copy the rhythm patterns from the cards into the boxes with matching pictures. They should then chant each pattern using rhythm syllables. For an extra challenge, students may write their own pattern in the space provided.

Center Game #2: Triple Meter Composing Corner

For this activity, set up the center with a selection of rhythm cards chosen by the teacher and the Triple Meter Rhythm Composing sheet. In small groups, students will collaboratively choose four rhythm patterns to create their composition. They should copy these patterns onto the composing sheet and then practice chanting the composition using rhythm syllables.

Center Game #3: 3/4 & 6/8 Meter Sorting Station

In this center, provide one set of 3/4 meter and one set of 6/8 meter rhythm pattern cards, along with 3/4 & 6/8 meter label cards. Depending on time constraints and student proficiency levels, you can include four or eight rhythm patterns. Students should shuffle the cards and turn them face down. As each student in turn draws a card, they chant the pattern on each card, and then place it on the correct meter label card. Chanting the pattern is an important part of this station!

Enrhythmic Patterns

Are your students ready to take their rhythmic skills to the next level? Enrhythmic patterns offer a thrilling challenge for young musicians, as they navigate rhythms that sound alike but are notated differently. This activity is an excellent way to deepen understanding and hone listening skills in a fun and engaging manner.

Before diving into the enrhythmic challenge, it's essential to prepare your students adequately. Begin by guiding them through listening, chanting, and moving to triple meter patterns and music. This foundational step sets the stage for grasping the nuances of enrhythmic patterns.

Next, introduce the concept of reading either 3/4 or 6/8 meter rhythms, utilizing your preferred learning sequence. You can incorporate Leprechaun Rhythm Pattern Cards into listening games or center activities to reinforce this concept effectively.

Once your students are comfortable with these rhythms, introduce the "other" triple meter and present the Leprechaun Rhythm Pattern Cards in this unfamiliar meter. This step expands their rhythmic repertoire and prepares them for the enrhythmic challenge ahead.

Enrhythmic Challenge

Now, it's time for the main event: the enrhythmic challenge. Provide your students with two sets of cards representing 3/4 and 6/8 meter rhythms. Guide them through comparing these rhythms and identifying patterns that sound alike. After some guided practice with the whole class, you can transition to playing the "match the patterns" center game (see below). Alternatively, you can utilize the Write the Room worksheet for further individual practice in recognizing enrhythmic patterns.


Remember, this learning sequence is a journey that unfolds over months, not days. As the teacher, you'll be the best judge of when your students are ready to tackle this exhilarating challenge. So, keep an eye on their progress and readiness, and when the time is right, dive into the world of enrhythmic patterns together!

Center Game #4: Enrhythmic Pattern Challenge

At this center, students will find sets of 3/4 meter and 6/8 meter rhythm pattern cards, along with 3/4 and 6/8 meter label cards. Their task is to chant each pattern and match the cards that sound alike.

Triple Meter Fun

Don't forget, triple meter is the hallmark rhythm of Irish jigs, making it the perfect addition to your St. Patrick's Day musical festivities! To enhance your Leprechaun Games, teachers can create their own triple meter rhythm cards using simple materials like index cards or green construction paper. However, for a hassle-free option, consider using the Leprechaun Rhythm Pattern Cards available in Sally's Sea of Songs shop on TPT. These ready-made, print-and-go cards will add a touch of magic to your rhythmic adventures, allowing you to focus on engaging your students in the joy of musical exploration.

In closing, as we bid adieu to our Leprechaun Games rhythmic adventure, let's remember that the ultimate goal of teaching rhythmic notation transcends mere symbol recognition. Just as leprechauns hide their gold at the end of the rainbow, we aim to empower students to audiate the rhythmic treasures concealed within notation, allowing them to hear and understand the sound of the rhythm in their minds. Therefore, as we engage in activities centered around rhythmic notation, let's not forget the importance of ample practice in listening to and chanting rhythms, followed by labeling the sounds with rhythm solfege.

Through these enchanted learning experiences, students develop their ability to decipher rhythmic notation and nurture a deeper appreciation and understanding of rhythm in music. So, as you continue your rhythmic journey with your students, may the mischievous spirit of the leprechauns guide you toward rhythmic fluency and musical expression.

Musically yours,

 

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Are you looking for a way to introduce your elementary music students to the wonder and magic of Baroque music? Look no further than Vivaldi's Spring. This timeless masterpiece is not only beautiful, but it's also an excellent tool for teaching young students about program music and mood in music.

More about the Work

Antonio Vivaldi's Spring is a beautiful and iconic violin concerto that forms part of his larger work, "The Four Seasons." The piece is a notable example of program music, which is a form of music that attempts to tell a story or evoke a specific image or emotion in the listener's mind.

A perfect introduction to Baroque music for students, it highlights many of the genre's signature features, such as virtuosic solo passages, elaborate ornamentation, and the use of contrast and variation to create dynamic musical forms.

In addition to the musical concerto, it's worth noting that Spring also has a corresponding sonnet that Vivaldi wrote himself. Your students may be delighted to find that the sonnet contains descriptive text that matches the music quite well! This serves as an example of programmatic music in poetry. The connection between music and poetry adds a layer of depth and meaning to the piece and can provide an interesting topic for discussion and a jumping-off point for creativity in the music classroom. Here's the sonata:

Spring by Antonio Vivaldi

Allegro
Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Largo
On the flower-strewn meadow, with leafy branches rustling overhead, the goat-herd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him.

Allegro
Led by the festive sound of rustic bagpipes, nymphs and shepherds lightly dance beneath the brilliant canopy of spring.

Breaking it down for your student

As the full concerto is over 10 minutes in length, you may want to consider using one movement at a time, especially for younger students.

Upper elementary students love learning Italian vocabulary! Some of the terms that you may wish to introduce are:

• Ritornello: means "returning" and usually indicates a short, recurring instrumental passage, particularly a tutti section. Both of the allegro movements use this form.
• Tutti: all instruments play together
• Solo: passage played by a single performer
• Mood: the emotional effects on the listener, the atmosphere of the piece

Younger students will enjoy listening for the happy springtime dance represented by the ritornello, as well as the songs of the birds, the blowing breeze & flowing stream, and the thunderstorm in the first movement. 

Encourage Student Creativity

Once you've identified the themes in Vivaldi's Spring, you can encourage your students to create movements or drawings that represent the music. 

Listen & Move

Guide your students to create their own choreography to accompany the music. This not only gets them moving and active but also encourages them to think creatively and expressively. They can use movements and gestures to represent the different elements of spring, such as flowers blooming, birds chirping, and rain falling. Props such as scarves & ribbon wands are the perfect addition to these movement activities.

Does the idea of movement scare you because you are not a dancer? Actually, neither am I. The thought of the behavior management challenges often made me think twice about movement.  However, over time did come to understand that our students need to move. Many times, seated movements of hands, arms, heads, and spines are perfect for a particular group. Don't be afraid to experiment with movement by starting slow and starting low - from a seated position!

Listen & Draw

Because Vivaldi's Spring is program music, this makes it a perfect inspiration for student drawings to represent the mood. As you introduce this drawing activity, consider that student artwork does not have to be realistic images of a springtime scene. In fact, a more abstract drawing using colors and shapes may give students more freedom to express their feelings on paper and minimize the frustration and frequency of the "I can't draw a bird" comments. The different interpretations of how the sound makes students feel will delight you.

Expand Creativity with Classroom Instruments

When I first considered using classroom instruments with this piece, I was concerned that my rambunctious students would simply play along too loudly and overpower the music. That is a very real possibility on any given day. Here are some tips that may help guide students to make an effort to enhance the music rather than drown it out.

First, of course, is to have firmly established rules for handling classroom instruments. Include explicit instruction on how to play them "like the professional musicians do." In addition, teach your students a rest position so they know what to do with the instrument when it isn't their turn to play.

Next, consider which instruments will make the best contribution to the theme of spring and the Baroque style of music. I didn't get out any big drums for this piece! 😁 

Instead, I chose rhythm sticks and jingle taps to play a steady beat on the ritornello section. Students chose instruments to represent the birds, the breeze & brook, and the thunderstorm. Egg shakers, cabasa, triangles, jingle bells, wood block, guiro, rainstick, and wind chimes were usually available for selection.  I didn't have an ocean drum, but I might have considered adding this one to represent the water and the thunder.  The conductor-either the teacher or a student-should direct the groups of instruments to play at their turn.

Finally, a discussion of the dynamics of the piece will serve you well.  Help students notice the changing dynamics and label them with appropriate music terms.  Encourage students to match their instrument playing to the dynamics of the professional performance.

Create a Soundscape-Add Poetry

In addition to (or instead of) adding instruments to Vivaldi's music, consider using those instruments to create a spring soundscape. Use Vivaldi's sonnet above or challenge your students to write their own lyrics or poetry inspired by Vivaldi's sonnet & music. This will allow them to explore the themes of the piece in a more personal and creative way. They can use their own experiences and emotions to craft a unique perspective on spring, and then perform their original work for the class.

Resources for implementation

Drawing & Coloring Pages
If I was teaching this lesson myself, when it came time to draw to the music I would pass out blank pieces of paper and a small number of crayons for each student. However, if I were leaving the drawing lesson for a sub, I might want a little more direction for that guest teacher. I have created some coloring sheets, that may serve this purpose for you as well. You can find them in the free resource library on the Members Page of this blog. (To learn the password, please complete the signup form at the bottom of this page!)

Wakelet Collections

The two Wakelet collections linked below may help you to organize your video resources. The first one is a collection of performances, play-alongs, and movement activities. The second one is what I would use as an actual sub plan. When I include Wakelet collections in sub plans, I always print out a page with general classroom instructions, directions for turning on the computer/projector/speakers, and the SHARE link to the Wakelet collection. It was always helpful to email the plan to an administrator or directly to the sub so they could simply click on the link.

Vivaldi's Spring - Video Performance Collection

Vivaldi's Spring - Music Sub Plan

Finale

By incorporating a variety of listening & creating activities, you're giving your students a more dynamic and memorable learning experience. They'll be able to connect with the music on a deeper level and develop their musical skills in the process. As you unlock the magic of this piece, your students will discover the beauty of music and develop a lifelong love for it. 

Musically yours,

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