Instrumental Music Circle: The Sound Ensemble

Instruments used in the circle

LINK: Instrumental Music Circle

Because the students had already created sound with an array of random objects during our previous meeting, today they explored sound with actual musical instruments. They warmed up with the sound of their own palms as they became familiar with the three different claves of the rumba complex: yambu, guaguanco and columbia. Then, they picked a musical instrument and began to play with the different sounds they could produce.  Working as an ensemble, Sally created a rhythm, using the rhythmic claves.  The rest of the students added to the rhythm of the claves the sound of their own instrument. The result was a layering of sounds that felt harmonious, polyrhythmic and fun.

The experiential turned academic when the students went back to their respective groups and worked of creating a lesson plan based on the exercise we did, the Instrumental Circle. Using the Miami Dade County Public School's curriculum, they chose Music as a subject, the grade level and the objective that best reflected the idea they wanted to teach. The following are examples of the work the students accomplished.

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Rhythmic Patterns

By

Myra Orillac, Ana T. Moreno, Carmen Boyd, Isabella Iglesias

Level: First Grade

Objective: Repeat (echo) dictated rhythmic patterns on rhythm instruments or using body sounds.

Activity

This was our objective and we achieved it through each one of us had a different instrument: the maracas, drums, hand palms, flutes, and many more. 

By repeating the rhythm, we improved and got more engaged in the activity. 

By doing this, students gain more interest and at the same time have fun in class. 

This is key when teaching a lesson, since it enhances memory retention and positivism while going to the classroom, eager to learn the next lesson.

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The C Scale

By

Christina Beltran, Marissa, Kennedi, Amanda, Angela Moon, Alexia Hirlemann

Level: 3rd Grade

Objective 2:

Play and sing by imitation on the C scale                                                       50 min class

Activity

1. Start by having teacher show 3 examples of playing percussion and humming in a c note

2. Get all children in a circle, one by one they are given an instrument and allowed 5 minutes to play      and experiment with the instrument

3. Now the teacher will go around the circle one by one and have students play a repetitive sound or        beat from the 3 options.

4. Practice this once through

5. Then the next time around one by one the students will incorporate a sound in a c note to the                group.

6. Following this the group will go around again incorporating both the sound of their percussion            instrument and their voice. We will record this and play it back to the group!

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Percussion for Melodies

Level: 

Objective: Compose, notate and play percussion music for melodies performed

Activity:

Practice with different instruments and objects to make sounds. 

Use different levels of water in glasses to make different pitches and sounds.

By giving each student different cups  (with different levels of water filled in them) they can end up harmonizing and making different pitches with each cup.


Have the students experiment who has the highest pitch… who has the lowest pitch… what is causing this? 

Is it the glass that is filled the most or filled the least? 

Using this critical thinking will cause them to think about the science behind the music, while enjoying the sounds they are producing.

LINK: Water Cups