Lesson video

Hello, musicians.

It's me again, Mrs. Steele.

And I'm so excited to be back with another music lesson.

Today's lesson is called "Controlling Dynamic Changes Within a Song." We've got lots of singing and lots of fun to do together.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to change dynamics when singing and know that dynamics means how strong or soft I'm singing.

Here are the keywords that we'll need in our learning today.

Dynamics, how loudly or quietly the music is played or sung.

Conductor, a person who directs musicians or singers.

And gestures, hand actions used by the conductor to lead the singing or playing.

But first, as we always do, let's warm up our voices, our bodies, and our minds so that we're ready to move, play, and sing safely.

Join in with these warmups so that you're ready.

<v ->Let's begin by warming up our bodies</v> because we know how important it is to warm up before we start making music and singing.

We'll begin with a stretch.

Arms high into the air.

Onto our tiptoes.

Hold onto a monkey bar.

And we are going to not let go of that monkey bar, but we are going to lower our heels to the ground, so we're going to get taller.

Lowering to the count of four.

Here we go.

One, two, three, four.

Gosh, you're all super tall.

Drop your fingers, and your wrists, and your elbows, and your shoulders.

Relax your knees and go br-br-br-br-br.

<v Children>Br-br-br-br-br.

</v> <v ->Very good.

Let's do that one more time.

</v> Stretch up onto your tiptoes.

Hold onto the monkey bar.

Lowering our heels to a count of four.

Go in one, two, three, four.

Gosh, you're so tall now.

Drop your fingers, and your wrists, and your elbows, and your shoulders.

Relax your knees and br-br-br-br-br.

<v Children>Br-br-br-br-br.

</v> Very good.

Now let's take up as much space as we can.

Make a really, really big space.

Huge shapes.

And we are going to shrink down into a titchy, tiny shape.

Tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, like a little seed.

And we are now going to grow back to a big shape.

Are you're ready? One, two, three, go.

Grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow.

And relax.

<v ->Let's learn how to breathe like a singer.

</v> I want you to imagine that your body is a balloon.

If you were a balloon, I wonder what color you would be.

What color would you be? <v Pupil>Blue.

</v> <v ->You'd be blue.

Okay.

</v> So some of you're blue balloons.

You might be a different color.

We are gonna blow up our balloons by breathing in like a singer.

Are you ready? (everyone breathing in) And out.

(everyone blowing out) This time, let's see if we can make our balloon even bigger by making sure we get lots of air into our lungs, keeping our shoulders down.

Are you ready? (everyone breathing in) (everyone blowing out) <v ->Let's try one more.

</v> (everyone breathing in) <v ->Oh no, I've let my balloon go.

</v> <v All>Zzzz-zzzz-zzzz-zzzz.

</v> <v ->Follow me.

</v> <v All>Mmmm-mmmm-mmmm-mmmm.

</v> Zzzz-zzzz.

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah.

<v ->Let's sing "Cheh Cheh Kule" three times,</v> each time with a different dynamic.

Don't forget to sing the response.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kule ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kofi sa ♪ ♪ Kofi sa langa ♪ ♪ Kaka shi langa ♪ ♪ *** aden nde ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kule ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kofi sa ♪ ♪ Kofi sa langa ♪ ♪ Kaka shi langa ♪ ♪ *** aden nde ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kule ♪ ♪ Cheh cheh kofi sa ♪ ♪ Kofi sa langa ♪ ♪ Kaka shi langa ♪ ♪ *** aden nde ♪ Now it's time to explore changing dynamics within a song.

We can show changing dynamics while we sing.

Let's have a go at showing these gestures with our arms. This is the gesture for sing loudly.

And here's the gesture for sing softly.

Are you ready? Do it with me.

Let's try the gesture for singing loudly.

Here we go.

And softly.

Loudly.

Softly.

Great conducting.

Let's listen to "A Keelie Makolay." When the children start to sing quieter, show your sing softly gesture.

And when they sing louder, show your sing loudly gesture.

Listen carefully and show your gestures.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ <v ->It is time for a check-in with our learning so far.

</v> Which of these gestures can we use to show singing louder? Do you think it's a, b, or c? Press pause to decide together.

Did you work it out? Here comes the answer.

It's b, sing louder.

Well done if you remembered that.

Now it's time to sing along with "A Keelie Makolay." Show the dynamics changing with your conductor gestures.

Here comes the music.

♪ Ready, steady, off we go ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ A Keelie Makolay, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ Mo paco meeno sway ♪ ♪ O mo paco meeno sway ♪ <v ->Here's a song we already know, "Alive Alert Awake."</v> We could sing this song with different dynamics.

Watch the video first to remember how it goes.

And you could join in if you like.

♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake ♪ ♪ I'm awake, alert, alive ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake ♪ ♪ I'm awake, alert, alive ♪ ♪ I'm alive, alert, awake, enthusiastic ♪ <v ->Your next challenge is to choose a conductor</v> to lead "Alive Alert Awake" using our conductor gestures.

The conductor can change the dynamics of everybody singing by showing the sing loudly sign or the sing softly sign.

Press pause to choose a conductor and get ready.

Then meet me back here, and I'll play the music.

Are you ready, conductor and singers? Here we go.

Sing "Alive Alert Awake," but watch your conductor for the gestures and sing loudly or softly.

(bright upbeat music) Let's sing another song we know, "Get Your Body Moving," and show your gestures as you change dynamics in the song.

Here comes the music.

♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ Get your body moving ♪ ♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ With this happy song ♪ ♪ When the day is done and the night is young ♪ ♪ And the stars are shining brightly ♪ ♪ When the morning comes and you want some fun ♪ ♪ It's time to sing this song ♪ ♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ Move your body now ♪ ♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ Get your body moving ♪ ♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ With this happy song ♪ ♪ When the day is done and the night is young ♪ ♪ And the stars are shining brightly ♪ ♪ When the morning comes and you want some fun ♪ ♪ It's time to sing this song ♪ ♪ Step, step, clap and raise your hands ♪ ♪ Stamp your feet and turn around ♪ ♪ Side to side and up and down ♪ ♪ Move your body now ♪ <v ->How was your performance?</v> Here are Jun and Jacob's thoughts about theirs.

Jun says, "Showing the gestures helped me to remember to change dynamics from loud to quiet." And Jacob says, "The song sounded better when we changed dynamics for the quiet bit because it made the louder bit feel more exciting." Great noticing.

Now let's move on to singing a song using more than one dynamic.

Listen to "Crooked Castle." Can you notice when the singing begins to get louder? Here comes the music.

(gentle music) ♪ Midnight at the eerie castle ♪ ♪ Whispers start to creep ♪ ♪ Can you hear those crooked creatures ♪ ♪ Stirring in their sleep ♪ ♪ Open up the doorway wide ♪ ♪ What's that going on inside ♪ ♪ Every ghost and every beast ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a feast ♪ ♪ Every ghoul, one and all ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a ball ♪ ♪ Midnight at the eerie castle ♪ ♪ Whispers start to creep ♪ ♪ Can you hear those crooked creatures ♪ ♪ Stirring in their sleep ♪ ♪ Open up the doorway wide ♪ ♪ What's that going on inside ♪ ♪ Every ghost and every beast ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a feast ♪ ♪ Every ghoul, one and all ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a ball ♪ <v ->Did you spot when the singing gets louder?</v> Yes, the singing starts to get louder as we open up the doorway wide and ask what's going on inside.

Once that door is open, we can hear the party inside, so this part is sung more loudly.

It gets quiet again after that.

Listen carefully for the change in dynamics.

(gentle music) ♪ Midnight at the eerie castle ♪ ♪ Whispers start to creep ♪ ♪ Can you hear those crooked creatures ♪ ♪ Stirring in their sleep ♪ ♪ Open up the doorway wide ♪ ♪ What's that going on inside ♪ ♪ Every ghost and every beast ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a feast ♪ ♪ Every ghoul, one and all ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a ball ♪ ♪ Midnight at the eerie castle ♪ ♪ Whispers start to creep ♪ ♪ Can you hear those crooked creatures ♪ ♪ Stirring in their sleep ♪ ♪ Open up the doorway wide ♪ ♪ What's that going on inside ♪ ♪ Every ghost and every beast ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a feast ♪ ♪ Every ghoul, one and all ♪ ♪ Phantom friends are having a ball ♪ <v ->It's time for a check-in with our learning.

</v> Who do you agree with most, Andeep or Izzy? Andeep says, "I think the whole song should be sung quietly to make it more spooky." And Izzy says, "I think the bit about the feast and having a ball should be sung louder because parties can be loud.

It makes the song more interesting too." Press pause to decide together.

Who do you agree with more this time? We're going to set the scene of a spooky castle by singing softly.

And when the doorway is open wide, we're going to start to sing louder as the song becomes more exciting.

So when you get to this part of the song, begin softly and show your conductor gesture for getting louder as you sing.

Then we're going to imagine the party is in full swing, and we're going to sing louder because everyone's having a party.

So sing this part of the song in your louder singing voice.

Now it's time to learn the song "Crooked Castle" and sing along to the piano track when you're ready.

Remember, we're going to begin by singing softly.

Then gradually use our louder voices as that door is opened wide.

And then when we get to the part where the party's in full swing, we're going to sing in our louder voices.

Press pause to use the audio track to learn "Crooked Castle," and then sing along with the piano track when you're ready.

How did you get on learning the song? Alex and Laura really enjoyed this challenge.

Alex says, "We began singing softly.

It felt spooky and exciting." Did you begin the song using your softer voices? And Laura says, "When we sang loudly, it felt exciting and less scary.

It made me think the ghosts and beasts were all friendly and enjoyed having a party." Did you use your louder voices in that part of the song? We've come to the end of our lesson together today, but before we go, let's take a moment to think about everything we've been learning.

We know that changing dynamics can help tell the story in a song, and we can sing loudly and quietly in the same song.

We know that changing dynamics can help share the feeling of a song, and a conductor can lead us by showing gestures to change the dynamics.

Wonderful singing and great musical learning, everyone.

I'm already excited to see you sometime soon for another music lesson.

Bye-bye, everyone.