Sing, Say Dance, and Play in a Culturally Responsive Way — Part 5

• Manju Durairaj
• Posted 10/14/21
• 0 comments

Teaching Singing the Virtual Way

The ideas, notes, and materials are the intellectual property of Manju Durairaj. Please use and adapt them for use in your music room. However, you do not have permission to share without the express permission of the author.

Singing during this time has proven very difficult. I find that recording myself works best to teach singing in a virtual format, whether synchronously or asynchronously. Google Slides and Seesaw are both effective platforms for students to watch pre-recorded videos of me singing. In the two lessons below, we will explore using both.

Bee, Bee, Bumblebee

To teach this familiar chant and song, we will explore Google Slides and SongMaker (see Part 3 of this article series). The lesson’s goals include identifying the number of sounds on each beat, exploring the melodic contour, and recreating the melody.

• First, I will record myself singing and acting out the song, the game, or using a prop. Then I upload the video recording onto a slide for students to use as a visual aid.
• In this lesson, students are identifying the number of sounds on each beat. Therefore, I create a slide that has visuals to guide them in determining the rhythm of each beat using graphic notation.

• Next, I incorporate the melodic contour of the melody in the slides. If I were teaching this lesson in person, I would print out these visuals and allowing my students to trace the melody as they sing the song. Or, if students have their own devices, they can follow the melody using the drawing tool.

• Ultimately, my goal is for students to go into Chrome Music Lab – SongMaker and recreate the melody. First, students trace the melody again in the color-coded slide.

• I then create a template for my students to use in this program. The students can trace the boxes on my template in Google Slides before working in SongMaker.

• Next, I create the partial melody I want students to complete in Chrome Music Lab – SongMaker. I save the link for my composition and send my link to the students. Students can then fill in the missing parts of the song themselves.

• To assess students’ work, they can save their work by creating a new link and sending it back to me using Seesaw or Google Slides.
  • Seesaw: Bee, Bee, Bumblebee
  • Google Slides: Bee, Bee, Bumblebee
  • Tideo: Activity Library (seesaw.me)

Traditionally, general music teachers will add clapping games and a variety of instruments to accompany this popular folk song. I have adapted the activity to include items students might have in their homes in the virtual setting. Using Google Slides and Seesaw, I can connect with my students in a meaningful way.

• Utilizing Google Slides, I again uploaded a video of myself teaching students to increase the level of complexity by adding drumming procedures playing a cardboard box and a couple of wooden spoons. Using technology and these props kept students engaged while learning the song and exploring different types of percussion.
• Students continued the lesson identifying and practicing sixteenth notes within the context of the song. This process can be accomplished using Google Slides or using Seesaw if you want students to work asynchronously.
• Utilizing Seesaw, students can drag the rhythms into a predesigned template and then record themselves performing their created rhythm. Link to example.

The following article, Part 6: Chanting and Hand-Clapping Games from a Distance, will examine ways to teach hand-clapping games and chants in virtual settings.

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Sing, Say, Dance, and Play in a Responsive Way

Article Series

Part 1: Detangling the Terminology 
Part 2: Creating a Learning Partnership 
Part 3: Technology and the Music Room 
Part 4: Opening Routines – Creating Connections 
Part 5: Teaching Singing the Virtual Way 
Part 6: Chanting and Hand-Clapping Games from a Distance
Part 7: Integrating Dance in an Online Setting
Part 8: Playing & Performing With Online Musical Tools
Part 9: Video – Sing, Say, Dance and Play in a Responsive Way