Movement in the Music Classroom, with COVID Adjustments

• Sandy Knudson
• Posted 9/12/20
• 0 comments

More than ever, our students need to move. Quarantine life has taken its toll on our bodies. Move often and with joy! Here are a few things to consider: 

Use a simple prop, in this example, a paper plate. I did this activity every year on the first day of kindergarten and first grade. My students sat in a semi-circle with a huge “blue space” (color of my carpeting) in which to move. I demonstrated taking my plate to a spot and being able to walk around it without bumping into anyone else. I also demonstrated the wrong way, placing my plate so close that I would bump into my friend as I moved. I passed out the plates quickly and asked them to wait for my signal to pick them up.  

Instructions: You cannot touch anyone else as you move, or you lose your plate. When I say FREEZE, you must stop, or you lose your plate. 

First, each child found a spot. Then, each child walked around the plate.  

Teacher narrative: Now, put your finger in the middle of the plate and walk. Jump over and back several times. Now, pick up your plate. You are a waitress/waiter. Hold it with two hands and move quietly across the room to a customer and FREEZE. You just received a note from your teacher saying you got into trouble today. Hold it behind your back and walk very slowly to your front door. You don’t want to give this note to your parents and FREEZE. You just received a letter awarding your family a free trip to Disney World. You are waving it in the air as you  find your Mom and FREEZE. Your little brother just made a dirty diaper. Someone has to take it to the trash outside. Hold your nose and hold it away from yourself and walk very carefully and FREEZE. You just adopted a sweet little puppy. Bring the puppy to my basket and gently lay her (the paper plate) in my hands and return to your seat. 

This activity goes a long way to teaching a student how to obey the space rule. Using a prop and dramatic play makes it even more fun! 

Want to make a circle? Our arm extension is about 2 feet, so consider using 2-foot pool noodles or a pair of rhythm sticks as extenders. Each child can hold an end and stretch arms to spread out. Not everyone can fit in your circle. Have an alternate activity for those not in the circle, perhaps playing the steady beat on unpitched percussion of your choice. 

Circle dances will work well. Find a recording of Old Brass Wagon, adapt as needed. March and jump, old Brass Wagon. Stretch up tall, Old Brass Wagon. Touch your toes, Old Brass Wagon.  In other words, now is a time to explore non-locomotor motions!! Be creative. Young students love to rub their bellies, touch your nose, etc. In addition, any recording of a lively jig or reel would work as well. 

Class warmups could include a happy upbeat song. For instance, I love to use Happy (from Despicable Me 2 by Pharrell Williams)!  The refrain returns many times. Figure out what motions you want for the first verse, several actions for the refrain and something unique for the two times the bridge occurs.  

Consider using yoga poses in a more sustained song. Many classical tunes would work including Morning from the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg or Erik Satie’s’ Gynmnopedie, etc. 

The song Seven Jumps is a simple circle dance to adapt. You can imitate the motions in the version or create your own! ( Rhythmically Moving)  The Israeli dance Zemer Atik can be performed without the hand hold.  Consider a song using rhythm sticks like Dandiya Raas from India. 

Use hula hoops and let two people dance together inside the hula hoop. Partner dances like La Raspa or Sasha would work. Hand sanitize afterward. 

Want to practice locomotor motions? Have sit spots spaced around the room. Use an 8 beat phrase of music to walk to the next station.  Or jog, hop, jump, march, gallop, etc. inside your own hula hoop! 

Line dances work well. All of these songs can be adapted to work in your music classroom: 

Mexican Hat Dance, Chicken Dance, Cha Cha Slide, Electric Slide, Limbo Rock, Macarena, Hokey Pokey, Cupid Shuffle, Cotton Eye Joe, Old Town Road, YMCA, Conga, Wobble. The sky’s the limit. 

Consider taking your class outside. All you need is a Bluetooth speaker and a microphone for you! Enjoy the freedom of moving in fresh air! 

Finally, be gentle with yourself. This school year is like student teaching or your first year of teaching; you are nervous to try things for the first time. Some things will go well; others will not. Find some music that you LOVE; find a dance that you LOVE and adapt it!!! 

Reach out and ask for help. Follow a Facebook group or podcast or blog that is generating positive ideas. Have a group of colleagues with whom you regularly chat via Zoom. Ask some of your students to help you with a test kitchen Zoom call.  Try out ideas with them and ask for their feedback. They will give it to you! 

And, speaking of Zoom, here are some tips for using movement in a Zoom format.  

• Share your computer sound. Click share screen and under the Advanced tab, click on computer sound. 
• Ask students to pin your video. There are three small dots on the side of your picture. The dropdown menu has pin video as an option. 
• Make sure they can see your feet! Position your computer in a place that is well- lit and affords a good view. 
• Urge your students to touch the edges of their screen. Stretch to the left/right/top and touch that edge of your screen, etc. 

Here are some great resources for dance ideas and accompanying music:  

• Dudley & Jacqueline Laufman, Traditional Barn Dances with Calls & Fiddling, Includes DVD & 2 CD’s 
• Phyllis Weikart, Rhythmically Moving 1-9, CD’s and book  
• Peter and Mary Alice Amidon have great dances for children: Chimes of Dunkirk, Listen to the Mockingbird, and Sashay the Donut. The accompanying CD’s are great for dancing in the absence of a live band. I also love the New England Dancing Masters CD’s- Any Jig or Reel and Other Side of the Tracks. 
• John Feierabend DVD’s,  Move it and Move It 2!  Great ideas for moving to classical music. 
• Listen Up!: Fostering Musicianship Through Active Listening by Brent Gault 

You can do this! Remember, ask for help and be patient with yourself. Your main task is to connect with your students and share music- making that feeds your soul and theirs. Listen to music that you love, whether it be classical, jazz, folk, or popular, analyze the form, and let your mind be creative. Happy moving.