Week 4. Man. It's hard to believe we've been doing this for almost a month!
I'm finally starting to get in a groove...somewhat. I hope you had a restful weekend and were still able to make some good memories even though it was not the usual kind of Easter weekend. Last week I found a poem that seemed very a propos to this time. I actually liked it so much I read it during one of our team zoom meetings. :)
In the poem, the emperor recites arithmetic to himself when things don't go well. It's his silly little mantra. It just reminded me that we should find the activities and things we like to do, or things that help us feel "normal" or as normal as possible when things are not going the way we want them to. I hope this week finds you with some new rhythms and perhaps some of the old ones too.
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THE EMPEROR’S RHYME
Poem by A. A. Milne
Poem by A. A. Milne
The King of Peru
(Who was Emperor too)
Had a sort of a rhyme
Which was useful to know,
If he felt very shy
When a stranger came by,
Or they asked him the time
When his watch didn’t go;
or supposing he fell
(By mistake) down the well,
Or he tumbled when skating
And sat on his hat,
Or perhaps wasn’t told,
Till his porridge was cold,
That his breakfast was waiting –
Or something like that;
Oh, whenever the Emperor
got into a temper, or
Felt himself sulky or sad,
He would murmur and murmur,
Until he felt firmer,
This curious rhyme which he had:
(Who was Emperor too)
Had a sort of a rhyme
Which was useful to know,
If he felt very shy
When a stranger came by,
Or they asked him the time
When his watch didn’t go;
or supposing he fell
(By mistake) down the well,
Or he tumbled when skating
And sat on his hat,
Or perhaps wasn’t told,
Till his porridge was cold,
That his breakfast was waiting –
Or something like that;
Oh, whenever the Emperor
got into a temper, or
Felt himself sulky or sad,
He would murmur and murmur,
Until he felt firmer,
This curious rhyme which he had:
Eight eights are sixty-four;
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
Carry one,
And take away Eleven.
Nine nines are eighty-one;
Multiply by three.
If it’s more,
Carry four,
And then it’s time for tea.”
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
Carry one,
And take away Eleven.
Nine nines are eighty-one;
Multiply by three.
If it’s more,
Carry four,
And then it’s time for tea.”
So whenever the Queen
Took his armour to clean,
And didn’t remember
To use any starch;
Or his birthday (in May)
Was a Horrible day,
Being wet as November
And windy as March;
Or, if sitting in state
With the Wise and the Great
He happened to hiccup
While signing his name,
Or The Queen gave a cough,
When his crown tumbled off
As he bent down to pick up
A pen for the same;
Took his armour to clean,
And didn’t remember
To use any starch;
Or his birthday (in May)
Was a Horrible day,
Being wet as November
And windy as March;
Or, if sitting in state
With the Wise and the Great
He happened to hiccup
While signing his name,
Or The Queen gave a cough,
When his crown tumbled off
As he bent down to pick up
A pen for the same;
Oh, whenever the Emperor
Got into a temper, or
Felt himself awkward or shy,
He would whisper and whisper,
Until he felt crisper,
This odd little rhyme to the sky.
Got into a temper, or
Felt himself awkward or shy,
He would whisper and whisper,
Until he felt crisper,
This odd little rhyme to the sky.
“Eight eights are sixty-four;
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
Carry one,
And take away Eleven.
Nine nines are eighty-one;
Multiply by three.
If it’s more,
Carry four,
And then it’s time for tea.”
Multiply by seven.
When it’s done,
Carry one,
And take away Eleven.
Nine nines are eighty-one;
Multiply by three.
If it’s more,
Carry four,
And then it’s time for tea.”
**********************
Listening Log Reminders:
-use your music words (piano/forte/largo/presto) to describe what you hear
-write down or draw instruments you hear
-use at least 2 colors in your drawing
-include a copy of your Listening Log in your packet
Activity 1
This week features the string family. String family instruments are made of wood and strings. The strings are bowed or plucked to create sound. This piece is a familiar one and you most likely have heard it before. This version in played by a string quartet (2 violins, a viola and a cello).
Listen to movement one: Allegro from “Eine Kleine Nacht Musik” (“A Little Night Music”) by Mozart
- 1st Time Listening: Choose a position (sitting, standing, laying) and listen with your thinking voice while moving.
- 2nd Time Listening: Move to the music. Change your movements with the music.
Activity 2
- 3rd Time Listening: Move to the music. Forte- jump Piano- tiptoe
Additional Optional Resources
- My favorite recording of "Eine Kleine Nacht Musik" is by the Hagen Quartett. If you love it as much as I do, you can listen to the ENTIRE thing on my spotify playlist here.
- If you want to hear what plucking (pizzicato) sounds like, look up "Pizzicato Polka" by Johann Strauss II. It's a fun little piece to dance around to.
- Create a Mozart Facts Flip Book If you like to Print/Cut/Color things
- String Family Coloring Sheet This doesn't have ALL the string instruments but it has some common ones.
- And of course feel free to share your musical experiences with me if it does not cause you any stress or add another tedious thing to your to-do list! I love hearing from you and seeing your home videos/ hearing your voices😄
