Tree Frog Productionsand Kerri-

Leaps & Rounds	June/July 2002

Volume One, Number One
Theme: Rhythm (pulse, pattern, grouping)
Focus: Breath

WELCOME!

Hello, Friends!

I would like to introduce you to Tree Frog Productions through this online newsletter, Leaps And Rounds, dedicated to promoting music and dance education for all ages. This opening issue will tell you about current workshops and classes in the Olympia area, provide tips for using music and dance with your students, and update the work of the Tree Frog Studio and Kerri-oke Publications. I hope you enjoy this newsletter. If you have questions about our work or would like more information, please e-mail us at contact@treefrogpro.com

In these times of unrest and confusion, we can look to the children to show us the way. Let us sing a little, play a little and dance a little each and every day to remind us of who we are and where we are going.

May the music light your way,

-Kerri Lynn

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kerri Lynn's next presentation will be a Music Workshop for Lesley University, held in Vancouver, WA, June 7-9 and June 28-30. She will also be presenting Rhythm Workshops again this year at the Summer Dance Institute For Teachers in Seattle, WA (Anne Green Gilbert, Director) for the beginning and returning teachers on July 15, 16 and 23. Visit www.creativedance.org for more information. Her fall will continue to be busy with Orff-Schulwerk Chapter workshops in Oregon, California, New Jersey and Nevada. Studio lessons will be available upon limited, special arrangement during the summer months. Contact us for more information or call the Tree Frog Studio at 360-456-0375.

2002 DRAMA CAMP

This year's drama camp will be a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Session I, for grades 2-6, will be Oscar Wilde's, "The Selfish Giant", with original music and arrangements written by Kerri Lynn Nichols. Session II, for grades 6-12, will be "Free To Be. . .You And Me". All classes are held at First United Methodist Church of Olympia and the fee is $50, with some scholarships available. If you would like more information about this program or to sign up, please contact Delores at 360-943-2661 or e-mail us at contact@treefrogpro.com.

SESSION ONE: (Grades 2-6) "The Selfish Giant"
Workshop: August 5-9, 9 am - 1:30 pm
Performance: August 9th, 7 pm

SESSION TWO; (Grades 6-12) "Free To Be. . .You And Me"
Workshop: August 12-16, 9 am - 1:30 pm
Performance: August 16th, 7 pm

NEW RELEASES!!!

Music Moments To Teach Academics by Kerri Lynn Nichols

At last, Kerri Lynn's text for teachers of all subjects is available! Great for classroom teachers as well as music specialists, this source book is full of activities, research and practical ideas to assist educators in integrating music into the curriculum to enhance learning. Excellent for beginners and experienced musicians alike. Includes chapters for math, science, social studies, language arts, visual art and wellness as well as an extensive resource section. Thousands of seed ideas to build upon and explore with your students. $ 25.00

Music For Dancers (compact disc) All songs written and performed by Kerri Lynn Nichols

A companion recording for the book of the same title, this phenomenal CD can stand alone as an excellent resource for creative music and movement experiences. The collection includes seventeen newly composed pieces plus four pieces from the original audio tape. Each song focuses on a specific musical element (i.e. pulse, pattern, pitch, etc.) and is designed to help the listener explore the concepts of music through movement. Great for music specialists, dance teachers and kids of all ages! CD booklet describes each piece by tempo, meter, key, form and mood. Suggestions for using the recordings can be found on the Tree Frog web site. $ 17.00

Visit resources for an order form and a complete list of available books and CDs.
Online purchases can be made at www.johnsmusic.com or www.jwpepper.com.

RESOURCE REVIEW

Teaching Creative Dance In Schools & Studios (VHS), Anne Green Gilbert, 2002
Produced by Leigh Kimball & Marianna Haniger
121 minutes, color; $ 60.00

Tree Frog Rating:

At last, a complete and concise look at movement and learning in action. World- renowned creative dance specialist Anne Green Gilbert takes us through practical and effective approaches to teaching movement in a variety of settings to different age groups. A companion to her classic book, Creative Dance For All Ages, this video has it all: lesson plans, choreography, classroom management techniques and integrative learning through movement. The classroom and studio examples are real and uncensored and highlight Anne Gilbert's remarkable teaching style. The video also includes the BrainDance©, performed and described by Anne Gilbert and a pamphlet with music selections, concepts and lesson plan formats. High quality music selections are taken exclusively from Eric Chappelle's four-CD set, Music For Creative Dance: Contrast And Continuum which are skillfully composed and beautifully orchestrated specifically for creative movement experiences. A must-have video for any studio or classroom teacher working with children in movement. We give this our highest rating of three frogs!!!

Order through www.creativedance.org or NDA/AAHPERD 1-800-321-0759

QUOTE

"It is music's lofty mission to shed light on the depths of the human heart."

-Robert Schumann

TEACHER TIPS

Names: Building Blocks For Teaching Rhythm

Names are the perfect seeds to create enriching music and movement experiences rich in the concepts of rhythm: pulse, pattern and grouping. Here are just a few of the many examples that have worked with kids of all ages:

1. The class stands in a circle. The first person says their name and the group repeats it back in unison to create a call-response pulse. Continue around the circle. Pat a pulse with the chant. Try different paces, pitches or voices with each round.

2. Continue around the circle as above, but each person claps the pattern their name creates by clapping the syllables. The group echoes. Which names have one syllable? Two? Three? More? Once the names are known, go around the circle and clap each person's syllable pattern without saying the name. What rhythmic patterns are created as we go around the circle? Add drums or other small percussion instruments on a pulse as an accompaniment.

3. Divide the class into four groups according to the syllabic patterns of their names (ones, twos, threes and mores!). Each group creates a continuous chant of their names. Which groups are chanting in a grouping (meter) of two (Ker-ri)? Three (Mer-i-lee)? More? Combine names from different groups to create mixed and irregular groupings (meter). Try playing these combinations on a hand drum using strong and light strokes. Layer two or more of the group chants at the same time to create new, complex groupings.

LESSON PLAN

Musical Element: RHYTHM
Concept: PULSE

Warm-up:

Introduce the concept (pulse) through hear, see, say and do. Write pulse on the board and say it; have the class echo you. Pat a pulse on your shoulders and have the students copy you. Give examples of other pulses. Pat on different body parts at different speeds. Walk around the space to a variety of pulses.

Exploration:

Music For Dancers, #1 "Pulsation", Kerri Lynn Nichols

This piece is written in AB repeated form and is created with layered pulses: whole, half, quarter and eighth notes. Students move through general space to one of the pulses they hear. When the music changes, they create a pulse movement with a nearby partner in self space. For a change, try adding small percussion instruments or create your own pulse game.

Developing Skills:

Rhythmically Moving, V.2, #1 "Rakes Of Mallow", Phyllis Weikart

To develop mallet technique and rhythmic competency,pass out a pair of rhythm sticks to each student and have them each sit in a large self space. Teacher sits in front and taps the sticks in a pulse to the music on the floor, lap, shoulders and in the air. Vary the pace of the pulses and add combinations. Focus on proper relaxation and breath. Add half tosses for hand-eye coordination and cross-lateral patterns for a brain challenge. Encourage safe, respectful use of the rhythm sticks.

Creating:

Idea #1: Using one of the recordings from earlier in the lesson, alternate sections of pulse in unison while moving around the room, with sections of pulse improvisation. End with a unison pulse. (Beginning)

Idea #2: Divide your class into small groups, 3-5, and have them create a rhythmic piece with their sticks that includes pulses of three different speeds. (Intermediate)

Idea #3: Pass out Stomp type equipment: brooms, dust pans, garbage cans, pop can shakers, etc. and have small groups create a musical movement piece that uses pulses of different paces. (Advanced)

Reflection:

For Ideas #2 and #3, share each group's informance with the larger group. Give positive feedback for each. Reinforce good audience behavior with the 4 A's: attend, allow, appreciate and applause.

Sit in a closing circle. Each person says one word about the lesson and the group echoes it back in a pulse. Take a few deep, cleansing breaths in a slow pulse together.

NOTE: You can select music other than those suggested or do the activities unaccompanied.

BUILD YOUR BRAIN!

Fundamental Focus: Breathe

Don't underestimate the power of good breathing to enhance your life and brain power! As the first of the eight fundamental movement patterns closely associated with brain development and function, breath is essential to successful music and movement experiences. If you simply change the breath in your life, you will begin to notice significant changes in the way you think and feel. BREATH IS THE PULSE OF LIFE! Here are a few tips for yourself and your students:

-Become conscious of your breath. Notice when you are breathing shallow and try to deepen it. Breath when you are in the shower, traffic, sitting at your desk or standing in line. Give yourself a rejuvenating treat by taking three, full-body, expansive breaths.

-Exhale slowly. Many times we take a long, slow, deep breath into our body, but rush the exhale. Hold the breath for just a moment, then exhale slowly or through a "pinhole" to get the full benefit.

-In your lesson warm-up, take a breath and and exhale on a pulse of S-S-S-S-S. . . until you have exhaled completely. Try other consonants and speeds of pulses.