Did you hear Maestro say ..? (tempo, dynamics, pitch) - Video

Did You Hear Maestro Say ... ? (tempo, dynamics, pitch)

This song is great for reinforcing the elements, tempo (speed), dynamics (loud and quiet) and pitch (high and low). I think it's best to do the actions right from the start of each verse so that the children can start copying them as they sing, and then follow the instruction for loud/soft fast/slow high/low.

• Did you hear Maestro say
• Clap your hands for today?
• Teacher loudly: clap them loud! (Children clap loudly)
• Teacher quietly: clap them soft! (Children clap quietly)
• __
• Did you hear Maestro say
• Stamp your feet for today?
• Teacher loudly: stamp them loud! (Children stamp loudly)
• Teacher quietly: stamp them soft! (Children stamp quietly)
• __
• Did you hear Maestro say
• Tap your knees for today?
• Teacher loudly: tap them loud! (Children tap loudly)
• Teacher quietly: tap them soft! (Children tap quietly)
• __
• Did you hear Maestro say
• Roll your hands for today?
• Teacher quickly: roll them quick! (Children roll hands quickly)
• Teacher slowly: roll them slow! Children roll hands slowly
• __
• Did you hear Maestro say
• Wave your arms for today?
• Teacher quickly: wave them quick! (Children wave arms quickly)
• Teacher slowly: wave them slow! (Children wave arms slowly)
• __
• Did you hear Maestro say
• Make a silly sound today?
• Teacher in high voice: make it high! (Children make a silly, high-pitched sound)
• Teacher in low voice: make it low! (Children make a silly, low-pitched sound)

Improving the singing

At one point here I say, 'I think we can get that a little bit better!' The problem, as I taught the song, was a lapse in concentration so I drew the focus back by giving specific instructions to look at me and listen, which was enough to produce better singing. This was one of our first sessions and the children were still finding it interesting being filmed, as you can see! It's a long, quite demanding song and, had I been in an ordinary classroom situation without needing to record more of the song for Music Playtime, I would have stopped sooner and come back to the song another day.

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