ANOTHER Basketball Routine! Dynamite by BTS

 Check out my new basketball routine to Dynamite by BTS! 

This one is so fun and great for Moving On/ Graduation Ceremonies~ In fact, that's why I created it! My 4th graders are loving learning it to perform for their families. 

To teach this routine, I usually spread it out over 2 class periods. The first class we learn the verse and Chorus, giving ourselves breaks during the Pre-Chorus and 2nd Chorus.  Then in our second class we fill in the blanks and try the whole thing all together! All of the sections are pretty intuitive for my students,  especially after they see it a few times- they really feel like the movements match the song. To help cue us in a different way, we talk about how different parts of the choreography match different rhythms to help cue ourselves. Basketball routines are always great for to rhythm practice, identifying form, gross motor skills, connecting to PE, and so much more! And of course, they are SUPER FUN! 

This song uses a few basic skills throughout: 

~Bounce/ Catch (Ta Z) This happens in the verse AND Chorus! 

~Dribble with R, L, and Alternating hands (Quarter note pulse)- This one happens in the pre-chorus! 

~Pass between hands above head/ at waist (Quarter OR eighth note pulse- up to you!)- This one is in the 2nd Chorus 

We also punch the air with the ball and swirl it around our heads during the Chorus. 

I have never been super athletic so I am always sure that ALL kids can feel successful with the routines I create.  The hardest part is the dribbling, but I let kids know they can always use their dominant hand the whole time if that is easier.  After they do basketball in PE, my students are pros! 

The Form of the song is as follows: 

FORM 

Intro
Verse 

Pre-Chorus 

Chorus 1

Verse

Pre-Chorus 

Chorus 1 

Chorus 2 

Chorus 2 (adapted) 

Chorus 2 (adapted) 

Chorus 1 

Chorus 2 

Intro- walk out slowly bouncing (ta Z ta Z) 

Verse Choreo

Bounce Catch (4x)  (we think of this as Ta Z T Z | Ta Z Ta Z)

Bounce Catch with quarter turn R each bounce

Bounce Catch 4x

Bounce Catch with quarter turn L each bounce

Pre-Chorus Choreo

6 Dribble with Right Hand  (The dribbles are all quarter notes!)

On Oh-Oh Punch out before switch to L

8 Dribble with L hand

4 with R 

4 with L

7 dribble alternating hands and then catch on 9 to be ready for what is next

Chorus 1 Choreo 

Hold in both hands and punch up r, l, r, l (on ah-ah-I’m) 

Stars tonight- swirl around head

Repeat 

On Shining….   Bounce 4x slow (Ta Z Ta Z)

Hold in both hands and punch up r,l,r,l 

Swirl around head 

Chorus 2 Choreo

(dy nanananana) Pass back and forth (8 up and 8 down) (If you wanted you could do 16 for each as eighth notes here!)

On Shining….   Bounce 4x slow

Hold in both hands and punch up r,l,r,l 

Swirl around head 

Chorus 2 Adapted Choreo
(Dy nananana) Pass back and forth above head for 4
Pass back and forth at waist level for 4
pass back and forth above head for 4
Bounce 1x

Basketballs in the music room!

As you may know, one of my very favorite things to do is make up (and have the kids make up) prop routines! They are great for this year, because many props can be easily sanitized between classes and they are super fun.  I use prop routines to introduce students to new music, give them an opportunity to move to their favorite music in class, teach form, teach mood, and more! 

When it comes to basketballs (or kick balls), we always start in 2nd grade with Bounce High, Bounce Low to get used to bouncing together in class and expand from there.  After we are awesome at just bouncing to the beat, I challenge students to make up movements to show off their skills. They can toss the ball, pass under their legs, move side to side, etc.  In fact, a few of the movements in my newest routine came from ideas from my kiddos! 

As we get better at our ball skills, we move on to more challenging routines. A few years ago, in combination with our PE class, we did a routine to Trepak from The Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky, and last year during quarantine we did Believer by Imagine Dragons (videos below).  This year, for Mozart's Birthday, I made up a routine to Rondo Alla Turca that my 3rd and 4th grade students LOVED it! We were able to practice ball skills, rhythms (sixteenth notes!), form, and have so much fun.   Note- When talking about the form of this piece we discuss how Mozart's Rondo is a little different than other rondos.  Typically a rondo has the A section repeating (ABACADA, etc.) but Mozart's keeps coming back to the shorter B (ABCBABcoda).  I do NOT teach this all in one class- especially only seeing kids for 30 min at a time.  We may do the beginning one day, and then add in the other sections the next class. 

Rondo Alla Turca

Here is a rundown of the routine.  A, B, C and Coda are color-coded! Use the video to help decode what I mean- this rundown is meant as a reminder.  Feel free to adapt the routine and do what is best for your students! 

4 slow bounces, 7 passes between hands fast 

4 slow bounces, 7 passes between hands fast 

3 dribbles to the right, then 3 to the left 2x 

4 slow bounces (adding a quarter turn each bounce if you want!), 7 passes between hands fast

3 dribbles to the right, then 3 to the left 2x 

4 slow bounces (adding a quarter turn each bounce if you want!), 7 passes between hands fast

2 tosses up (not too high or you won't catch it in time!), 2 slow bounces  4x 

8 beats- dribble fast and lower to ground, Next 8 stand back up 

8 beats- dribble fast and lower to ground, Next 8 stand back up 

16 beats - Swirl, swirl, swirl, toss, swirl, swirl, spin 

8 beats- dribble fast and lower to ground, Next 8 stand back up 

16 beats - Swirl, swirl, swirl, toss, swirl, swirl, spin 

8 beats- dribble fast and lower to ground, Next 8 stand back up 

(Note about the C section- this is where I have kids improvise and show off their awesome skills.  Some keep it as I teach, but others like to spin the ball on their finger, pass it behind their back, dribble between their legs, etc.  I just ask that they pay attention and are ready for the next section! If this were to be done in a performance, we would discuss phrase length, repeating sections of the movement, etc. so it wasn't chaos as it can be when they are just improvising) 

2 tosses up (not too high or you won't catch it in time!), 2 slow bounces  4x 

4 slow bounces, 7 passes between hands fast 

4 slow bounces, 7 passes between hands fast 

3 dribbles to the right, then 3 to the left 2x 

4 slow bounces (adding a quarter turn each bounce if you want!), 7 passes between hands fast

3 dribbles to the right, then 3 to the left 2x 

4 slow bounces (adding a quarter turn each bounce if you want!), 7 passes between hands fast

2 tosses up (not too high or you won't catch it in time!), 2 slow bounces  4x 

Punch air to R, Punch to left, swirl around head, bounce twice

Punch air to right, punch to left, swirl around head, bounce three times

Punch air to R, Punch to left, swirl around head, bounce twice

Punch air to right, punch to left, swirl around head, bounce three times

Toss in air 

Bounce

Bounce 

Bounce 

Toss to finish! 

I hope your students LOVE this routine as much as mine do! And don't forget to check out the other basketball routines below! 

Trepak from The Nutcracker Ballet 

Believer by Imagine Dragons

Tuesday Book Club - I Promise by Lebron James

Have you seen this amazing book by Lebron James yet? Yes- That Lebron James. This book is beautifully illustrated by Nina Mata. Click the book to get it from Amazon. 

This is a wonderful rhyming book full of promises students can make to themselves to be their best! It is the perfect lesson after returning in the new year! 

 Promises include: 

I promise to use my voice and stand up for what's right. And when things get tough, to keep up the fight. 

I promise to be me. 

I promise to ask for help whenever I need it. 

My students this year got to read the book and then create their own I Promise Rondo! The A section of the Rondo was created by me, and then each class made a few of their own Promise Chants for the other sections.  After the chants were created, we went to chrome music lab and added melodies.  They were a little tough to sing, but the kids LOVED creating a full song with a melody, a drum beat, and words. We ended up with a really cool video! We just used body percussion this year, but instruments could easily be used in all sections when social distancing and sanitizing after each touch is no longer required. 

Student Promise Chants Include: (Click the link to get to the Chrome Music Lab Melodies) 

I promise to treat others how I want to be treated. Respect my school, listen carefully, never give up

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/6718303171510272

I promise to be nice, kind fair and honest, to be brave. I promise to not lie

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/5938940519907328

I promise to listen and be a good citizen, I promise to keep trying, to fight for whats right. 

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/6151831041343488

I promise to be nice, I promise to be kind, I promise to not be mean. 

https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/5842112594575360

Here is notation for the A section! 

Tuesday Book Club- The Mitten by Jan Brett

One of my favorite books to use in the Winter, especially with K and 1 is The Mitten.  A Ukrainian Folktale adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett.  (Click the picture to get the book!) Students love seeing the mitten grow as more animals join in. 

Much of my lesson was adapted from this blog: High Shoals Music Blog. She also has an adorable Orff Instrument component that I haven't done- but need to, so be sure to check it out! 

After the first reading, we assign a rhythm to each animal using descriptive words in the book. These usually end up being similar, and I have a "deck" of common phrases kids come up with, using both stick notation and iconic notation.   Sometimes kids come up with silly things, and that is totally fine with me. We write all of our patterns on the board and then can refer for the rest of the lesson. Common phrases are below- all 2 beats long.

Tired Mole 

Snowshoe Rabbit or Hopping Rabbit

Snuffling Hedgehog or Prickly Hedgehog 

Big Owl or Swooping Owl

Digging Badger 

Trotting Fox 

Great Bear 

Meadow Mouse or Tiny Mouse 

White Mitten or Snow White Mitten 

Grandma Baba

Nicki 

Many of my patterns end up being the same rhythm, but usually we are either still prepping quarter and beamed eighths, or have JUST learned them, so I don't mind the kids having practice hearing rhythms with different words. 

Depending on the class, we may read the story again and have each student choose an animal to be, and an instrument to play their pattern on (in non-covid times of course- this year no instruments).  While reading, we chain the patterns together so when the Mole comes, just the mole kids play, but when the Fox comes many pages later, we hear the mole, rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger AND fox in turn as their animal names are stated in the story.  On the sneeze we ALL get to play random for 3 seconds.  If I want more individual assessment, we may have students "act out" the story so each animal is only one student.  Then I can hear them play their own pattern and assess steady beat, rhythm and more quickly while having fun! 

Finally, kids then get to make up their own 8 beat patterns using decks of animal cards with the patterns.  If we are still preparing quarter and eighth, I use my iconic notation decks, but if we are practicing we use the stick notation decks. Get the decks HERE.  They are not super fancy, but they are what I use (Examples below)! While the mittens, Baba, and Nicki cards are not used while reading, they are included in the decks for students to create their own patterns. I always have blank cards ready so students can add their own if they come up with something awesome earlier in the lesson (just paper cut to the same size as my laminated cards)! 

After a few minutes to organize their 8 beat patterns (4 cards) students get a chance to share their creations. They read their patterns with both animal words, and rhythm words (ta, ta-di; long, short-short, etc.) This is another great quick assessment! Sometimes we share in a rondo form using the Mitten Song in the blog post mentioned above.  I also love using the 2nd verse of "Snowpants" from Music K-8 (which is about mittens of course). 

Do you use this wonderful book? Let me know how in the comments! 

 

21 things in 21

 Hello! We made it to 2021! 

Quick post to share 21 things I want to do in 2021! I was listening to the Music Teacher Coffee Talk podcast last night where they went through their 20 in 2020 lists laughing and reflecting on this past crazy year.  I thought it sounded like a fun idea, so here goes! This list is personal and professional things.  

1. Get off the phone and with family! Be intentional about one on one kid time. 

2. Make up more prop routines/ body percussion videos to popular songs (one a month at least!) 

3. Sew more (esp quilting!) 

4. Read 60 books (I did it this year, but quarantine definitely helped so I am keeping the same goal for next year). 

5. Explore Columbus Parks with family 

6. Take a drumming course 

7. Get better at Ukulele 

8. Write more postcards to students 

9. Organize recorder materials 

10. Keep Exercising (go for 5 nights a week!) 

11. SING! Hopefully in a performance or musical (thanks, covid) 

12. Present at a music or district conference or workshop/ chapter share 

13. Blog more! 

14. Sleep! Prioritize sleep more and go to bed earlier 

15. Be intentional about breakfast

16. Try more new recipes

17. Keep a Gratitude Journal - write one quick thing each day that I am grateful for

18. Plan at least two programs based on Children's Books (songs and routines!) 

19. Organize Craft Corner in Basement 

20. Organize teaching manipulatives 

21. Go somewhere new (I'm hoping by summer or fall travelling mask-less will be an option again!) 

Tuesday Book Club - Wonderful World

I LOVE this book illustrated by Tim Hopgood! (I love all the musical books illustrated by him!) 

Click the book cover to check out the book on Amazon. 

What a Wonderful World is one of my favorite songs and has such a great message. When using this book, we watch and listen, then create our own songs of things we are grateful for!  I have done it as a whole class, but it could be a great composition project as well! These are some of my favorite pages: 

To create our songs, after reading the book/ listening to the song we list as a class things we are grateful for, or things that cheer us up, or things that bring light when we are feeling down. After our list is complete (I try to get something from each kid), we sort the list into Rhythm Building Block Chunks (see picture).  Your chunks could look different depening on what grade you are working with.  

After we write our list, we use Chrome Music lab to create our song! Students choose the colors needed for each syllable of our chosen words.  For each song I chose 4-8 items from our list.  We then came up with a pattern for the percussion and sang our songs!  Two examples are shown below! 

This lesson is great for any time of year, but especially during the Holdiay Season! It is always great to reflect on the joy of the season and focus on what we are grateful for, especially after this rough 2020! 

Tuesday Book Club- Boo! A Book of Spooky Surprises

Boo! A Book of Spooky Surprises by J. Litton is one of my son's (and my students) favorites! I made up a little melody to go with the pages and he loves singing it to his little sister.  This is a great book for fall.  It does not mention Halloween specifically but utilizes a lot of typically Halloween characters like spiders, ghosts, witches and wizards so be sure to know your school and students before you use it. Click the picture to see where you can find the book! 

Night Owl, Night Owl   |    m-d m-d

Was that you?                |     l,-d m___

Were you the one who  |     m m-f  m  f

Shouted Boo!               |      m  d   l,___



For the last line I change it up a bit to make it a little more excited for the reveal

m-f m-f m-f m__   mm-f m-f  m-f  m___     l-si  l___


After I sing the book, we turn it into a guessing game, where one student hides their eyes, and another chosen by the teacher shouts "I'm a ___(their Halloween costume) and I say Boo!" or another phrase fun for the season and the student hiding their eyes sings "___, ___(guess x2) was that you?, Were you the one who shouted boo?" using the melody above.  If the guesser guesses correct, they get another turn (up to 3 turns total in my room) but if they are wrong, the student who tricked them gets a turn to hide and then guess. 

Another fun way to use it in older grades is to turn the book into a Rondo.  For each page turn, call on a student to make a 4 character pattern/ rhythm and either say it twice OR say the pattern and then say "Were you the one who shouted boo?"  

Example: Zombie, Ghost, Witch, Bat :||                  OR 

Zombie, Ghost, Witch, Bat. Were you the one who shouted boo?

You could even have students say their character pattern first, and then say your rhythm language the second time through such as: 

Zombie, Ghost, Witch, Bat.
Ti-Ti, Ta, Ta, Ta (or Ta-di, Ta, Ta, Ta or Du-de, Du, Du, Du, etc.) 

What fun books have you adapted for your classroom?