The World's Greatest Dances and Dancers:
Here's something from the 1943 movie called Stormy Weather, most famous for this amazing dance routine by the Nicholas Brothers, and Cab Calloway singing and leading the band. The Nicholas brothers grew up in a musical family but never had a formal dance lesson when they were growing up - they learned to dance by watching others and practising. This dance was unrehearsed and filmed on its first take, prompting famous dancer Fred Astaire to say that it was the best dancing he had ever seen on film. Watch how they do the spilits - and get up from that position - how hard do you think that would be? (Don't try it yourself!)
And because it was Saint Patrick's Day this week, let's look at some very well known Irish dancers - Riverdance - Lord of the Dance. Like the Russian dancers, these, too, have to be in perfect synchronised time - and must be very fit. What do you notice about the way the Irish dancers use their arms? Notice how they, to, finish so suddenly - and keep still without puffing and panting. Do you think they are fitter than athletes and sports players?
Have a look at this video of Russian dancers. Notice how they are so precise and perfectly synchronised. This is a sailors' dance. How fit do you think they need to be to be able to dance for so long and yet be able to stand still and not puff, but smile at the end of their performance?
BODY PERCUSSION
Some new routines for body percussion:
Parts C and D may be little bit easier than parts A and B, but you can do these in any order. Once you know them off by heart, you can also link them together, or do each of them at the same time with others. You will need to practise each one for a bit to become confident and accurate.
Body Percussion Routine Part A
Body Percussion Routine Part B
Body Percussion Routine Part C
Body Percussion Routine Part D
Watch this school group performance of a basic body percussion where different rhythms are added in sequence to make a very clever sounding rhythm. Can you copy each different group's rhythm?
Pop Corn
Follow the instructions on this Pop Corn video to make a range of body percussion sounds. Check the settings if you want to slow it down a bit. And you might enjoy the Swedish Chef's version of Pop Corn also.
Alpha Four - Body Percussion This is a bit tricky to start with, as you try to copy and follow instructions and keep up. Try it a few times and you will get better at it.
The Truthful Step - a body percussion lesson from Tribal Groove - involves clap, stamp, slap.
Here's a collection of body percussion routines to try. You will need to pause the video and practise each one a few times, then make your own combinations.
Here's another set of body percussion routines. You may want to pause to practise each one as per the other ones above. Skip to 30 seconds into the video to start.
Clap the cymbal part from Carmen Toreador Song by Bizet. Watch the video and follow the instructions. You may want to pause it and practise it a bit to work out the pattern.
SONGS:
- The wreck of the Diddley by Fatcat and Fish Face
- Liver Lover by fleaBITE - Hard to keep up with, but join in the chorus. Find the lyrics on this blog post
- Don't Sit Under the Poo Tree by fleaBITE - another fast-moving song that's hard to keep up with to start with. Find the lyrics on this blog post.
- No Toast by fleaBITE
- Favourite Undies by Fatcat and Fishface
- Birdbrain by Fatcat and Fish Face - Can you keep up with the lyrics? Excellent for enunciation practice. You can find the lyrics here.
- I knew You Were Treble - to help you learn the names of the notes on the treble clef music staff
- Ode to Treble Clef - to help you learn the names of the notes on the treble clef.
The Story of Music, Part 1:
Music is a collection of sounds arranged into patterns. These sounds can be produced by human voices or humans making sounds using their body, or by playing instruments - or even by nature.
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| From Newmusicbox |
2. Think of some different sound patterns you can make using your body . . .
3. How could you use as an instrument to make some sound patterns?
Music can affect our emotions - the way we feel. For example, music can sound happy or sad, exciting, scary, peaceful or uneasy.
Happy by Pharell Williams - Obvious enough
Kyrie from The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. You may like to try listening to this first without watching the video, and then compare your feelings after watching it while you listen.
This is a piece of music is conducted by the actual composer, Karl Jenkins. It's called "Kyrie Eleison". The words Kyrie Eleison come from the Greek Language and mean "Lord have mercy". They were used in some forms of pagan worship and were later incorporated into Christian worship.
This piece of music evokes a range of emotions and is certainly guided by the accompanying video. This modern work, was composed by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins and first performed in 2000. It is about the horrors of war and is subtitled "A Mass for Peace".
At 1:50 there is a special part sung by a boy soprano, which means a young boy who can sing very high notes. After that, the whole choir joins in. Can you hear 4 different singing parts: soprano (high female voices),alto (lowest female voices), tenor (high male voices), bass (lowest male voices). (Stop at 4:40, but you may like to find it and watch the entire piece at home.)
1. How does the music make you feel? What words can you use to describe your feelings?
2. How does the video change or support the way you felt listening to the music?
3. What was it about the music that made you feel the way you did?
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| Do you agree with this statement? Can you give examples |
Music can be a solitary experience, when you sing or play an instrument for your own purposes, or music can be a shared experience, when you are part of a large group performing an item or an audience experiencing a performance.
