Movement plays such an integral part of most music classes. We use movement to help students to understand how their bodies move through music. We use movement to help students move to music. We use movement to help students understand musical concepts such as melodic direction, phrase, and tempo. We use movement to expose our students to a variety of classical pieces. We use movement to help students understand and appreciate other cultures through folk dance. I can’t think of a day where I don’t use movement as part of my music instruction! Today, I’m sharing 5 of my Favorite Things for Movement!
Movement Stories for Young Children
This is such a lovely, silly, collection of stories that children can act out. What I love about them is the connection to Laban Efforts Factors (Unfamiliar with Laban? You can read more about Laban’s work here.) My students love pretending they’re pickles and cats with naughty shoes! They’re perfect for those days you need to change up your lesson plan or your sub tub!
The Book of Beginner Circle Games
There are so many fabulous Feierabend books and resources, but if I could only pick one to start with, this would be it. So many great folk songs and play parties with games included. It’s a must have for every music teacher!
Teaching Movement & Dance AND Rhythmically Moving
If you plan on teaching folk dance in your classroom, this is a must-have resource. Phyllis Weikart’s materials are the gold standard for movement education. All of the dances are laid out step by step, and many have modifications presented as well. The recordings are also phenomenal as well!
Alabama Gal
If you love teaching folk dance and the Weikart materials are not in your budget, then consider the New England Dance Master’s books! This collection of folk dances are favorites with my own students. Again, the dances are laid out step by step and the recordings are included as well. The Amidons are active clinicians and presenters, so you might even be able to see them at a conference near you!
Music for Creative Dance
I love Eric Chappelle’s Music for Creative Dance recordings for creative movement! The pieces are short and have contrasting sections. They’re perfect for exploring flow, weight, space, and time (see Laban Effort Factors). Many pieces have AB form and serve as a great model for understanding form too!
Do you have a go-to movement resource that you can’t live without? Leave me a comment below!
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