This is a reading song. Read the rhythms, the note names, and practice singing the melody. Sing the song with the words then play the singing game.

Game directions: Form a seated circle. When the song begins, the teacher pretends to drop a button into the hands of three or four students but really drops the button into the hands of one student. The rest of the students watch the whole process and at the end, guess who has the button.

If you remember the game, play it.
If you don't remember how to play, watch the video that follows.

Try the clap pattern with the song.
This is a tricky pattern.

Start by having students be "your partner" in the air. Practice the pattern for pair one, then have students try this pattern with a partner. Remember that you can slow videos down!

The pattern for pair one will be:
beat 1 clap own hands
beat 2 clap partner’s hands above
beat 3 clap own hands
beat 4 clap side partner’s hands
beat 5 clap own hands
beat 6 pat knees
beat 7 clap own hands
beat 8 clap side partner’s hands

Practice the pattern for pair two with students being "your partner" in the air.
The pattern for pair two uses the same movements, but on beat 2 pats knees.
beat 1 clap own hands
beat 2 pat knees
beat 3 clap own hands
beat 4 clap side partner’s hands
beat 5 clap own hands
beat 6 clap partner’s hands above
beat 7 clap own hands
beat 8 clap side partner’s hands

You will need drums, (tubanos or other), guiro (or other scraper) and a Bass Xylophone (or G-D Boomwhackers).

Option 1: Teach the Orff arrangement for Four White Horses

You will need drums, (tubanos or other), guiro (or other scraper) and a Bass Xylophone (or G-D Boomwhackers).

Option 2 - Teach one of the accompaniments (tubanos, guiro) as an ostinato to perform with the song.

An ostinato is a repeating pattern. Playing an ostinato with a song is way to have students perform two (or more) parts.

Download

Option 3 - Create your own ostinato, and play it while you sing the song. Divide the class into two groups. One group plays the ostinato, the other sings the song. Switch parts.

Choose an instrument to play the ostinato.

Try clapping, playing or patting this ostinato while you listen to "Four White Horses"
ta ti-ti ta ta
Create your own ostinato and play it on an instrument with the song.

Download

"Four White Horses" is a song from the Caribbean.
The Caribbean is where steel pan orchestras were created.

Watch a video about the steel pan orchestra.

Mr. Anderson explains what the different instruments in the steel pan orchestra are,
how they are played, and where the steel pan orchestra came from.

This play-along is in 3/4 time and uses dotted half notes.

Use the Venn Diagram to compare the two orchestras: steel pan orchestra & western classical orchestra

Here are some questions to get you started:
- What kind of instrument families play in each orchestra?
- Where did these two orchestras come from?
- Who plays in these orchestras?
- What kind of music do these two orchestras play?
- Can both orchestras play at different tempos?
- Can both orchestras play at different dynamics?

Do the Body Percussion Lesson #7 - Ode to Joy

Replay the video as needed to learn the sequence.

Review the Body Percussion Lesson #6

Fast forward the video if you remember all the steps.

Create your own body percussion sequence and perform with the audio track.

Use movements from both Lesson 6 and 7.

You could start by doing the sequences for Lesson 6 or 7, then adding your own ideas.

Try performing with the audio track.