Something for a More Advanced Class
Fifth Graders and Laban Efforts - Dactylic Patterns
One of my favorite things about writing Moments and Movement is hearing from subscribers who are using MusicXT in their classrooms every day! These activities will be most effective if you create a culture of movement in your classroom. Subscribers to MusicXT benefit from the ongoing nature of this conversation. It’s not just a few activities for you to borrow… it’s a journey of discovery and a dedication to movement!
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One of the luxuries I enjoy is watching my students grow from Kindergarten all the way through 5th grade. The development of their abilities, their musical instincts, and their capacity to respond to music has become so strong. At my school, by the time they reach 5th grade, many of the students have elected to join the band or the chorus, and I don’t get to see them for general music anymore. The work we’ve done over the years is applied in this new context and everything we’ve prepared them for is put into practice.
This year, I took the students who remained in general music and really dedicated our time to the Dalcroze principles of movement. The class is even more movement heavy than my other grade levels, and we are pursuing the most musical and expressive body technique that we can achieve. One of the ways I’ve found to reach these goals is to study the Laban Effort-Actions.
