Carnival of the Animals - Music Center

(THE LION: say this rhyme forte)
The lions are quite proud
With forte music, which means loud.
(HENS and CHICKENS – say the rhyme staccato)
Graceless chickens played on the strings,
Make staccato music with their wings.
(DONKEYS aka Wild Horses – in a quick tempo)
Donkeys are next, they bray and they kick,
Their music‟s exciting, their tempo is quick.
(THE ELEPHANT – say this rhyme in a slow tempo and low pitch –
remember to keep the steady beat) Optional: hum a low pitch into the
kazoos to demonstrate after the poem.
The elephant‟s tempo is rather slow,
His tusks are big, his pitch is low.
(THE KANGAROO – say this rhyme staccato)
The kangaroo is very hoppy,
Staccato music is quite choppy.
Rhymes
Music Center Anchor Work Model Curriculum Unit: Carnival of the Animals
© 2011 Music Center/Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County. All Rights Reserved.
(AQUARIUM/FISH – say this rhyme legato and piano)
We love to watch the swimming fish,
Who move as legato as they wish.
(BIRDS/AVIARY – say this rhyme in a high pitch)
Birds fly way up in the sky,
Their songs are sweet, their pitches high.
Optional: students can flap gloves staccato before reciting the poem or
hum into kazoo with a high pitch.
(FOSSILS – staccato)
Fossils of dinosaurs, dinosaur bones,
Tap their beat on the xylophones.
(Optional: squeeze empty water bottles to indicate the staccato “bones”)
(FINALE)
And now it‟s time for our finale
We leave the animals at the zoo
It‟s closing time, so let‟s not dally,
We had great fun, hope you did too!
Note: see resources page 38 for other suggestions for poems
Lesson Extension/upper grades: Write a haiku for each animal including the animal name, one adjective and one musical term.
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