- STEP 1: Clap to an 8 count rhythm, pause, and have students mirror clap back to you. Inform students as to whether their clap sounded the same or different and why.
- STEP 2: Next sing the beginning of the song Red River Valley to students (or any other song with a strong repeating chorus). “Then come sit by my side if you love me Do not hasten to bid me adieu Just remember the Red River Valley And the cowboy that’s loved you so true”
- STEP 3: Have students echo the chorus of the song back to you.
- STEP 4: Proceed to sing each of the verses of the song (or choose a student to sing those verses) and have the class sing the chorus after each verse.
LESSON IDEA:
Use this warm-up as a way to begin any poem unit or compositional analysis project. You could also use this as a way to begin a lesson on repeating patterns in math.
EXTENSION:
This warm-up is ideal for lessons where students will be creating their own music because it allows them to consider the concept of a musical chorus that repeats throughout a song.
 |  |  |