1. Have the students read the rhythms.
2. Read the words in rhythm.
3. divide the class into 2 groups - one reads the rules, the other does the ostinato
4. Give the students a suggested body percussion to go with the first line.
For example: stomp stomp stomp stomp pat pat pat pat pat pat pat
5. Read the second line and have students each create a body percussion pattern for it. Keep a beat on a woodblock or a drum and have them do the line four times, working out a body percussion. Divide the class in half and have one have perform and the other half of the class watch. The watchers should choose several performances that they like. As a class choose one body percussion pattern to use for the second line. Switch roles for the third and fourth lines.
6. Choose instruments to play the ostinato.
7. Decide on a form for performance
For example:
- drum and say the ostinato 2x as an intro
- ostinato continues while chant is performed 2x
- end with the ostinato 2x dim.

Try the game at a variety of tempos.

This is an easy four-part round that provides great practice singing in parts. Explain that the song comes from a time when homes were heated by building a fire in an open fireplace. If someone wanted to warm up, they would go closer to the fire. A “clinker” was a hot coal that had rolled out of the fire.

Read the rhythms. Sing “Little Tommy Tinker,” using rhythm names instead of the words. Read the melody, using either letter names or solfa. “Little Tommy Tinker” uses the solfa note high do. Have students identify the high do in the song. Practice the melody and actions in unison before dividing into parts. Divide the class into two groups and sing “Little Tommy Tinker” as a two part round. Have the second group begin after two measures. When the students are successful performing the round in two parts, try it in three parts, starting new groups after one measure.

A clinker is a hot coal, and when Tommy Tinker sat on it, it HURT!

Little Tommy Tinker sit in place
sat upon a clinker. jump up, holding your bottom
He began to cry. wipe eyes
Ma! Ma! throw arms into the air 2x
Poor little innocent guy. clasp hands together, bring to chest and sit down

Learn about Vivaldi.

Use body percussion or instruments to play along with Vivaldi.

Choose one instrument (sticks) to play the loud parts. (forte)
Choose another instrument (hand drums) to play the quiet parts. (piano)

Begin and lead a discussion on answering a question or request with a YES. For example, SAY:

Please answer the following questions with a YES or NO:

Would you like some ice cream? (YES)
Would you like some worm topping on the ice cream? (NO)
etc. based on likes and dislikes of student group. Continue with discussion, playful or serious, on the
commitment of saying YES to something. When someone says YES, they make a promise or commitment to
do what they say they will do.
Final question: Would you like to learn a song about saying YES? (YES) Then let’s make a commitment to
make music together plus learn and review music concepts!
Play the full performance recording and ask students to make a fist with their R hand and pump it in the air
every time they hear the word “YES.”

Practice rhythm reading at different tempos.

Try exercise 2, 3 or 4 and choose the tempos to try.