There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly

Watch second graders from Boone Meadow Elementary use Orff instruments to perform the book “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly” by Simms Taback.

This activity requires that the notes of each instrument be labeled using numbers, using painters tape and a Sharpie. Tell younger students not to pay attention to the letters this time, only the numbers. To get the instruments set up correctly, label the bass notes 1-13 starting on the bottom C. Then label the altos 1-13 but this time starting on the low E, and finally label the sopranos 1-13 starting on the low G. Once you get past the high A you continue the sequence from the bottom C. This way, when the students all play their note labeled “1,” a C major chord will sound (CEG). As students continue up the instrument the harmony will continue as well, and the result will be beautiful music at the mention of a simple sequence of numbers.

This lesson was created and taught by William C. Doublestein from Boone Meadow Elementary during the 2022-2023 school year. Subscribe to the Bow Tie Music YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/BowTieMusic for hundreds more great lesson ideas.  You can also follow Bow Tie Music at www.Facebook.com/BowTieMusic1, and be sure to come back to www.BowTieMusic.net for new lessons posted regularly!

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