Movement Exploration: Can you move like this?

Have you ever explored movement for the sake of moving in the general music classroom? This book contains suggestions for meeting this objective. I have often felt tied to meeting performance standards related to singing and playing instruments. This book offers movement as a means to achieve singing and playing but without an obvious connection. It has ten chapters for intentional exploration in young children (although you could use them at all ages). Chapter 1 is broken down in 4 sections of parts of the body as it related to the whole. In chapters 2-3 the themes revolve around time and space. In themes 4-5 they offer opportunities to express awareness of height and weight. Chapters 6-7 require contrast between locomotion and flow in connection with sound. Chapters 8-10 conclude with themes of shape, working with others and organic creativity.

Aside from the summary above, this book is quite helpful and practical. We often read books with information that may not contribute to our daily practice. This book however can be used as frequently or as infrequently as needed to engage elementary music students. I plan on using these activities from the 10 themes to prepare young students for the styles and skills to interpret music through song, play and verbal description.

Let's continue to keep diversity of engagement in the classroom as consideration of pacing, whole brain learning and fun!