Activities: Set 1
Chapter navigation:
Track 1: 'Hoedown' | Track 2: 'Tumatokokiri' | Track 3: 'Renegade Fighter'
Intended outcomes
- Identify and respond to changes in music (PK)
- Identify, describe and respond to musical elements and structures (PK)
Track 1: 'Hoedown'
Resource: Into Music 2 (published by Learning Media )
Tone colour
Questions for students:
- How many instruments can you identify?
- When are the brass instruments 'showing off'? (That is, when do they have an important role?)
- Which instruments mostly play the melody?
Form
Questions for students:
- There are two contrasting tunes – can you identify both?
- Can you identify the point where the first tune comes back in the third section of the piece?
- Can you hear when the music is meant to be danced to, and when it's not?
Dynamics
Question for students:
- How does the composer use dynamics to give the piece an exciting finish?
Texture
Questions for students:
- Can you identify a part of the music that has a very 'thick' texture (lots of instruments playing)?
- Can you identify a part of the music that has a 'thin' texture (few instruments playing)?
- Can you explain the contrast between these two?
Extension activities
- Using computer software or a multi-timbral keyboard, explore the sounds of orchestral instruments.
- Choose one of these sounds, and attempt to play one of the contrasting tunes from 'Hoedown'.
Track 2: 'Tumatokokiri' (Keeper of the Drum)
Resource: Ears Wide Open (available from SOUNZ )
Rhythm
Use 'Rhythmic perception' worksheet in the Ears Wide Open students' activity book.
Tone colour
Questions for students:
- How many instruments are being played before the voice starts? Describe the sound of each one.
- Can you name any of the instruments?
Form
Use 'Listening' worksheet in the Ears Wide Open students' activity book.
Directions for students:
- Decide on a written symbol for each of the instruments.
- Draw a diagram to show how these sounds fit together.
Extension activities
- Find out about the hue puru hau, hue rara, ku, pakuru and other taonga puoro.
- When, where and for what purpose were they played?
Track 3: 'Renegade Fighter'
Resource: Sweet! A taste of New Zealand Music – free to all intermediate and secondary schools in 2003 (published by New Zealand Music Industry Commission )
Tone colour
Questions for students:
- What is the first instrument that you hear?
- What happens next?
- Why is this a contrast?
- What other instruments are playing?
- What effect does the electric guitar have on the piece?
- How does the guitar affect the song's sound?
Form
Questions for students:
- Can you hear different sections in the song?
- How do you know when a new section begins?
- Which section repeats the most?
Texture
Directions for students:
- Compare the texture of the first few seconds of the song with the chorus.
- Make a collage or drawing to show the contrasts.
Dynamics
Direction for students:
- Add words to your drawing or collage to describe the changes in dynamics in the piece.
Extension activities
- Learn to play the opening melodic idea.
- Add the following chord progression: E, E7, Am, C, D.
- Use the chord chart on page 35 of Sweet! to perform the song.