"In the Land of Oz” is a clapping game. The song is funny and the students will think the words are silly. After they know the song well, show them the clapping pattern in the air with you as everyone’s partner. This pattern is tricky and it may take several classes until the students are able to do this with their own partner. Practice several times with the students being your "air partner" in each class before they try with their own partner.

Each person starts with left hand up and right hand down. Their partner’s left hand is under their right and their partner’s right is over their left. One hand will clap up and the other down. Do this twice, then repeat reversing hands with your partner. Your left hand will now be down. Next clap your own hands twice and both partner’s hands twice. Repeat the pattern. As with all clap games, they will be more successful if they practice it first as if it was an action song, copying the teacher.

Denise Tip: In teaching this pattern, I have the most success when I practice the pattern with eight claps up, then eight claps down first. When they are successful with eight, I go to four claps up and four claps down. Then I go to two claps up, and two claps down.

“Tideo” is a reading song for Grade 3. Teach the melody by rote, or sing the song in solfa if you’re teaching solfa.

Two lines of partners face each other. There should be no more than six people in each line. (It is ideal to play this game with two sets.) The head couple does a step-close down the alley (Step-close, step-close, step-close, step-close). On, “Jinglin’, jinglin’, jinglin’ Joe,” partners join hands and jump with heel out. Jump with left foot out, right, left, right. On the words, “Jingle at the window,” all students in the lines pat the rhythm of the words RL RL RL. On the syllables “ti-de” clap your own hands twice. On the syllable “o” clap both of your partner’s hands. On “Jinglin’, jinglin’, jinglin’ Joe,” partners join hands and jump with heel out. Jump with left foot out, right, left, right. On the words “Jingle at the
window,” all students in the lines pat the rhythm of the words RL RL RL. On the syllables “Ti-de” clap your own hands twice. On the syllable “o” clap both of your partner’s hands.

Another Way to Play: Students form a circle with arms raised as windows. One student goes in and out of the windows. On “jingle at the window,” they stop in front of a student and performs the actions with the student. Then both students go through the windows.

Playing and Creating: Improvise 8 beats of melody on CDE GA between repetitions of the song.

This song is an opportunity for students to practice using different tempos. This is a hand-clap chant. Show the students the actions and encourage them to play the game with a partner. When they have practiced, try it faster! When they get really good, try it at the presto tempo as shown below

This is a traditional Japanese New Year song. This is a good song to use to talk about phrases. The phrases are regular four measure phrases (a a’ b c). Ask the students to tell you which phrases are the same or very similar and which are different. Show the form with letters or with shapes. Use the song to review the dotted half note.

This is a Japanese New Year's song.

Choose one of the 2 bar rhythms shown play along with the song using instruments.

Read the slides to learn about Taiko.

Watch the taiko drumming video.

Show only 10-15 minutes per class.