7369 old music 2402 - KET

this case, the designers were looking
for something inspired by the music
and the format of the series. One idea
was to create a set that had an old-time
tent show feeling to it. That led them to
a book of paintings by American artist
Thomas Hart Benton. Find a book of
his paintings for your students to
explore, analyze, and enjoy.
Other Family Traditions
Ask each student to identify some
aspect of folklore in their home life. It
could be a story from their parents or
family, a jump rope game, a rhyme or
riddle learned from a friend or family
member (other than a verbatim TV
jingle). Organize a “Trading Traditions
Day” when the students share their
stories, games, and riddles by telling
how they learned them and where they
came from and then by teaching them
to and performing them with classmates.
Connections Across the
Curriculum
This series lends itself to research
and writing opportunities; to exploring
and analyzing time periods, patterns of
migration, and other events in our
nation’s history and development; and
to learning about and appreciating
ethnic and cultural contributions and
influences.
Social studies is an area where crosscurricular
connections are natural. For
example, you might enhance a social
studies unit on the Civil War and
slavery by using Program 4, in which
Sparky and Rhonda Rucker sing a code
song from the period, “The Gospel
Train,” and Program 11, with Odetta
talking about the westward movement
of African-Americans following the
war. In fact, many of the performers
include songs about the life, history,
and contributions of African-
Americans as well as about contemporary
issues such as civil rights.
Several of the programs could also
be used in an exploration of sound
(science and music). Malcolm Dalglish
(Program 1) and Mike Seeger (Program
14), for example, both discuss how the
length of a string or a pipe affects the
highness or lowness of a musical pitch.
Incorporating Community
Resources
Who are the artists and musicians in
your community? Can you invite them
into your classroom to share and
perform? Where can you take your
students so they can experience a
musical performance firsthand? Here
are some ideas to get you started:
• Invite a community storyteller,
singer, or musician to class for a
discussion. Perhaps a parent
performs or carries on a traditional
art form and would be
willing to come to your class.
• Ask teachers or other workers
within your school for suggestions
about artists/musicians in
your community. A nearby
college or arts organization
might be able to lead you to
artists who would be willing to
come into your classroom.
• Does your local college have a
folklore department or someone
in the music department who
could visit your class?
• Apply for a grant to bring in a
musician, storyteller, or instrument
maker. Most states have
arts councils that either provide
grants to bring artists into
schools or can help teachers find
ways of bringing artists in.
• Think about all of the cultures
that may be represented in your
community or school (African,
Hispanic, Japanese, Vietnamese,
Middle Eastern, Caribbean, or
others represented by exchange
students who may be in your
school system for the year—the
possibilities are endless). Are
there volunteers from these
groups willing to visit your
class? If so, ask them to bring
recordings of their music with
them so students can compare
and contrast the music from
different cultures. Convey to
students the importance of
appreciating and showing
respect for all types of culture
that surround them.
• Ask a traditional dance caller to
come to class and teach.
• Visit a local music festival, folk
dance, or other community
event.
Sing-Along
Many of the songs in this series have
a purpose—to help a baby get to sleep,
to make working a bit easier. Some
songs are just meant to make us laugh
and have fun. Whatever their other
purposes, we hope the Old Music for
New Ears songs will get you and your
students singing, clapping, moving, and
playing along.
KET, The Kentucky Network 11