What a great experience and lesson! I would LOVE to recreate the dancing that we did at the end of this portion today. What an amazing experience. I know my kids would love the fighting style of dance. I loved learning how each of the motions connected to something and how the earth is such a part of the dancing. I love teaching about the Civil War and Spirituals and how they are connected to so many other types of music!!! I am excited to add what I learned today to my classroom. I think it will give the kids a new look at what it meant to be a slave and the lives that they lived. I just can't say enough about the experience... FUN! I am excited to take and share what I can of this.
Reflection #3: Wow! This was way fun! I was so busy trying to mimic our dance leader that I didn't have time to worry about how awkward I must have looked. Makes me think that dancing with a group is a wonderful way to bond with others. The power of rhythm is strong and elemental. This has been a terrifically fun class so far -- I definitely need to dance more!
Wow! What a fun work out. Perfect for energizing a class. Don't know that I would remember all the steps but I can certainly improvise. Perhaps have the kids brainstorm on a story and the movements to symbolize it. Focus on how we are connected to nature. First tell the story of how it was used as a West African dance. Fun, fun, fun!!!
Reflection #3 (Negro Spirituals & Civil War Era): Loved the dancing and the historical aspects of the Negro Spirituals. Great historical reference and alignment with the music. I love how much we change from lecture to movement. Excellently planned day.
As a music teacher who LOVES teaching spirituals, I thoroughly loved the spirituals portion of this class--I feel that they are a wonderful way to teach not only history but also basic music concepts such as call and response, melody and harmony, etc. And the dancing was a lovely way to end our day--Nooemia had such energy and obvious love for her subject matter. I look forward to tomorrow!
- Dancing remains and opportunity for entertainment and courtship. - Minstrel shows - Songs tell are full of patriotic fervor- share battles/news of battles, pride in flag and Union and Confederate platforms. Parodies of other areas songs (North vs. South) were written to mock the other. - Music used for Underground Railroad: songs contain secret messages. “Follow the Drinking Gourd”. Songs were also a comfort during their workdays. Women could not speak while they worked, but were allowed to sing. - Songs have biblical messages and references, or use lots of call and response.
I really enjoyed the dance examples for this section. A very lively and creative way to story-tell through movement. Also an excellent cultural connection to share with students as well as a great lesson in a music classroom when discussing drumming and movement.
What a rich music/dance heritage is found in this historical period. There are so many easily-seen connections to modern music and dance that it is a natural choice for helping our students to experience historical context and significance. I could spend the entire year teaching African-American spirituals and work songs and thoroughly enjoy it! What a way to give the students some insight into the life and perspective of a slave.
Replies
What a great experience and lesson! I would LOVE to recreate the dancing that we did at the end of this portion today. What an amazing experience. I know my kids would love the fighting style of dance. I loved learning how each of the motions connected to something and how the earth is such a part of the dancing. I love teaching about the Civil War and Spirituals and how they are connected to so many other types of music!!! I am excited to add what I learned today to my classroom. I think it will give the kids a new look at what it meant to be a slave and the lives that they lived. I just can't say enough about the experience... FUN! I am excited to take and share what I can of this.
Reflection #3: Wow! This was way fun! I was so busy trying to mimic our dance leader that I didn't have time to worry about how awkward I must have looked. Makes me think that dancing with a group is a wonderful way to bond with others. The power of rhythm is strong and elemental. This has been a terrifically fun class so far -- I definitely need to dance more!
Reflection #3 (Negro Spirituals & Civil War Era): Loved the dancing and the historical aspects of the Negro Spirituals. Great historical reference and alignment with the music. I love how much we change from lecture to movement. Excellently planned day.
As a music teacher who LOVES teaching spirituals, I thoroughly loved the spirituals portion of this class--I feel that they are a wonderful way to teach not only history but also basic music concepts such as call and response, melody and harmony, etc. And the dancing was a lovely way to end our day--Nooemia had such energy and obvious love for her subject matter. I look forward to tomorrow!
- Dancing remains and opportunity for entertainment and courtship.
- Minstrel shows
- Songs tell are full of patriotic fervor- share battles/news of battles, pride in flag and Union and Confederate platforms. Parodies of other areas songs (North vs. South) were written to mock the other.
- Music used for Underground Railroad: songs contain secret messages. “Follow the Drinking Gourd”. Songs were also a comfort during their workdays. Women could not speak while they worked, but were allowed to sing.
- Songs have biblical messages and references, or use lots of call and response.
I really enjoyed the dance examples for this section. A very lively and creative way to story-tell through movement. Also an excellent cultural connection to share with students as well as a great lesson in a music classroom when discussing drumming and movement.
What a rich music/dance heritage is found in this historical period. There are so many easily-seen connections to modern music and dance that it is a natural choice for helping our students to experience historical context and significance. I could spend the entire year teaching African-American spirituals and work songs and thoroughly enjoy it! What a way to give the students some insight into the life and perspective of a slave.