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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

XOXO - You'll Love this Holiday Play-Along

Here come the holidays! And here's one my favorite holiday play-along activities for classroom, music room or easy-to-prepare performance. This video has been a favorite with many student groups (and their teachers). In appreciation of my followers and TPT customers, I want to share it here. This activity will help students experience and explore timbre, melody, form, and rhythm ostinatos in a joyful, novel way.

Instructions
You will need one pair of rhythm sticks and one wrist bell band for each student. I make wrist bells by stringing three jingle bells onto a piece of braided (flat) elastic. These are a great investment and will serve you well for many years.

Have students put the wrist bell band on their dominant wrist -- the one they use to hold their top rhythm stick. Have them play along with the video, reading the iconic notation for the ostinatos. The "X" means to tap their sticks on a beat, and the "O" means to shake their bells (while still holding sticks). 


For younger students, use the macro beat, at a tempo of 82 BPM. For older students or adults, use the micro beat at a tempo of 164.  
 
Explore and map the form of this delightful composition with your students. Then let them compose new ostinatos using "X' and "O."  Enjoy!
 
Form: Introduction, A, A (softer w/flute variation), B (mallets), bridge (intro.), A (clarinet), A (louder), bridge (bass clarinet), C (brass), D (bass clarinet, tuba), C (circus-like), bridge, A, A(louder), coda 
 
 
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14 comments:

  1. The Schofield FamilyDecember 19, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    This was very fun, thanks for sharing! I had to create my own pictures to print because my room(s) don't have projectors but the kiddos still enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeri Crosby - Youkulele NotesDecember 19, 2013 at 10:26 PM

      I'm so happy to know this was helpful and enjoyable! I'm glad you were able to adapt it. I have also created rhythm icon cards which I use for several different pieces. Thanks for stopping by and giving feedback. Merry Christmas to you : )

      Delete
    2. carrie.gabouryNovember 2, 2015 at 5:16 PM

      Would you be willing to share a copy of the pictures you created?

      THanks!

      Delete
    3. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2017 at 6:23 AM

      I love these rhythm cards and students do too!
      Could you please share your other rhythm icon cards for other different pieces. Thank you!

      Delete
  2. The Schofield FamilyDecember 19, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 1, 2014 at 7:35 PM

    Jeri,

    I found the video on youtube finally. Thanks so much. Linda

    ReplyDelete
  4. DanaDecember 8, 2014 at 3:09 PM

    Thanks for posting. I'm going to try this next week.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jeri Crosby - Youkulele NotesDecember 8, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    I hope you and your students have lots of fun and success with this. I've been using it this week with my kiddos, and it's been a hit again. Thanks for your feedback, Dana.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Christine WuDecember 26, 2014 at 2:15 PM

    Hi! This looks like so much fun! How did you get them to keep their jingle bells quiet while they played their sticks? I want to try this next week, even though it is technically a little late in the season. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jeri Crosby - Youkulele NotesDecember 27, 2014 at 8:24 AM

    Hi Christine,
    The wrist bells do softly 'jing' along, but the sound is overpowered by the clicking of the sticks. I have students pulse their hands (and sticks) in the air on the jingle icons so there is a noticeable difference. Hope this helps. Enjoy : )

    ReplyDelete
  8. carrie.gabouryNovember 2, 2015 at 5:16 PM

    Do you have a ppt of the cards used to create this?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeri Crosby - Youkulele NotesJanuary 20, 2016 at 8:14 AM

      Carrie,
      Was it you I sent the cards to? If not, please send me your email address, and I will send you the cards.

      Delete
  9. UnknownNovember 28, 2015 at 7:48 AM

    Hi!
    Thanks for sharing. I'm my students will have a great time playing the XOXO.
    Here I leave you with a Peter I. Tchaikovsky's Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy Play- Along
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-0uF6cMllY&index=7&list=PLi6_dJOWMTMfS4De765zv-qkZkb_DpECq

    ReplyDelete
  10. JenniferNovember 20, 2017 at 6:58 PM

    Would you will be willing to share the cards? I’d love a copy if you are!

    ReplyDelete

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