Song Painting: The Swan from Carnival of the Animals

• Carly Schieffer
• Posted 8/23/20
• 0 comments

The creative movement to the Swan was demonstrated by Kim Zerke (music teacher in Owatonna, MN) at Kodaly Level II at Drake University summer of 2011 and is shared with permission. 

Music: The Swan from Carnival of the Animals 

• Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns 
• Year: 1886 
• Targeted grade level: 1st grade 
• Concept: high vs. low (melodic) 

Teaching process: 

The class is seated in scattered spots throughout the room. Remind students of their body boundaries: keep hands to self, do not touch anyone/anything 

1. Hand each student a paintbrush. Students will draw, imitating  the teacher (listening, moving, vocalizing) 
2. Push play. Teacher models high or low through vocal exploration using a paintbrush. The teacher responds to the smooth/legato playing of the piano (observing) 
3. Class imitates (listening, moving) 
4. At the end of the song, the teacher shows one last note of music and initiates clapping at the end of the piece; class claps (listening, observing) 
5. The teacher asks if students can identify words that would describe the song: smooth, quiet, etc. (listening, creating) 
6. The teacher asks the class to identify the animal of this piece: swan (listening, deducting) 

Extension:  

Students listen to the piece again while drawing a swan.  I recommend using this extension on a separate day. The teacher discusses the other animals in this suite: lion, donkey, cuckoo, elephant. 

Assessment: 

 Informal Formative (teacher observation) Are the students following the teacher modeling? 

Noteworthy Contributor

Carly Schieffer

Carly currently serves as adjunct faculty at Mount Mercy University where she teaches undergraduate music education methods courses to both majors and non-majors and supervises student teachers, serves as the conference chair for the Iowa Music Educators professional development…

Discover more from Carly