NYS Learning Standards for the Arts (Music)

Standard 1: Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts
Standard 2: Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources
Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art
Standard 4: Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of the Arts

National Core Arts Standards (Music)

MU:Pr4.1.K/1a: With guidance, demonstrate and state personal interest in varied musical selections.
MU:Pr4.2.K/1a: With guidance, explore and demonstrate awareness of musical contrasts.
MU:Pr6.1.K/1a: With guidance, perform music with expression and technical accuracy.
MU:Cr1.1.K/1a: With guidance, explore and experience music concepts (e.g., beat, rhythmic patterns, sound exploration).
MU:Re7.1.K/1a: With guidance, demonstrate awareness of music contrasts.
MU:Cn10.0.K/1a: Demonstrate how music relates to personal experience.

Objectives

Sing known songs with group participation.
Explore animal sounds and vocal expression.
Play egg shakers to a steady beat and rhythmic patterns.
Move rhythmically to a music-based brain break.
Listen to and participate in a folk song with narrative structure.

Materials

“We Are Cloverbank”
“Down on Grandpa’s Farm” (Key of D)
Animal puppets (farm animals)
Egg shakers
Youtube for “Shake-a My Egg” and “I Know a Chicken”
Space for movement (Danny Go Rhythm Break)
“Fair Rosa” audio or accompaniment

Procedures

1. Opening Song & Community Building (5 minutes)

Sing “We Are Cloverbank” together to foster community and routine.
Focus on confident singing voices and following the melody.

2. Creative Vocal Play – “Down on Grandpa’s Farm” (8 minutes)

Sing together in the key of D.
Introduce animal puppets.
Invite each student to choose a puppet and sing the animal’s sound when it’s their turn.
Class echoes the sound with appropriate vocal inflection (exploring timbre and vocal creativity).

3. Instrument Play – Egg Shakers (8 minutes)

Distribute egg shakers.
Perform with “Shake-a My Egg” and “I Know a Chicken”.
Emphasize steady beat and rhythmic response.
Model playing on beat; allow for creativity in movement with shakers.

4. Movement & Rhythm Brain Break (5 minutes)

Collect shakers and guide students to open space.
Lead a Danny Go Rhythm brain break.
Emphasize rhythmic movement, coordination, and musical cues.

5. Listening & Folk Song Participation – “Fair Rosa” (10–12 minutes)

Transition to seated or relaxed position.
Introduce the story and context of “Fair Rosa” (age-appropriate summary).
Encourage active listening for melody and story.
Optionally sing or echo refrains or phrases.

Assessment

Observe student participation in singing and echoing.
Listen for correct use of vocal expression during animal sounds.
Check rhythmic accuracy and coordination during egg shaker play.
Monitor ability to follow movement cues and participate fully.

PDF Version

Putting It All Together

Auditorium, Courses, General

1. Lowering the Screen (Module 3)

Find the wall-mounted rocker switch (next to the lighting touchscreen).
Press and hold the DOWN side until the screen is fully lowered.
Put it back to center once the screen is all the way down.

2. Connecting Your Computer (Module 3)

Use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to the projector.
Locate the power button on the projector (all the way to the left).
Press it once. The projector takes about 30 seconds to warm up
Select “Input C” if it’s not already showing the computer.

3. Turning On the Wireless Microphone (Module 2)

Press and hold the power button until the light comes on.
Speak into the mic to test. Adjust volume on the mixer (channels 9-10) if needed.

4. Adjusting the Lights (Module 1)

Turn off the Working Lights.
“Enable” the Stage Lights.
Press “Home” and “Preset 4”

5. When You’re Done

Turn off the projector using the power button.
Power off the wireless mic.
Disconnect your computer.
Raise the screen by holding the UP side of the rocker switch.
Turn off the Stage Lights (Enable).
Press “Home” on the light controller.
Press “Preset 1”.

Go back: Using the Projector

Using The Projector

Auditorium, Courses, General

What’s Already Set Up

Computer HDMI is connected to Input C (usually via HDMI)
DVD Player is connected to Input B
Sound plays through the speaker on the cart
- To use the main speakers, make sure the headphone cable is plugged into the splitter behind the projector
- Turn up sliders 15 and 16

Turning On the Projector

Find the power button (furthest to the left).
Press it once. The projector will take about 30 seconds to warm up.
The image should appear on the screen automatically.

Choosing the Right Input

You’ll need to tell the projector what you want to watch:

To show the computer screen:

Press the “Input” button until “Input C” is shown
Wait until the projector switches

To show the DVD player:

Press the “Input” button until “Input B” is shown
Wait until the projector switches

If nothing happens, check that the computer or DVD player is turned on.

Adjusting the Picture

Use the Focus and Zoom rings on the projector lens.

Where’s the Sound?

Sound comes from the speaker on the cart.
Use slider 15 and 16 to add more sound into the big speakers.
Make sure the volume is up on your computer or DVD player, and the sound system is turned on.
See Module 2 if you need to review how to use computer audio

Turning It Off

Press the power button on the projector.

Quick Tips

No image? Make sure the input source is selected and the device is powered on.
Blurry picture? Adjust the focus ring on the lens.

The Projector Screen

Location of the Screen Control

The rocker switch for the projector screen is located behind the proscenium arch on stage right, directly next to the touchscreen lighting controller.

How to Operate the Screen

The switch has three positions:

Press Down – Lowers the screen.
Press Up – Raises the screen.
Center Position – Stops movement.

⚠️ Important: The screen will automatically stop at the fully up or fully down positions, but always return the switch to the center when not actively raising or lowering the screen. Leaving it up or down can damage the motor over time.

Go back: Using The Mixer

Go to the final Module: Putting it All Together

Baby Beluga Sing Along

Curriculum, General, Songs

Baby Beluga is a song by Raffi about an imaginary beluga whale. We pass my belgua puppet around the room on the beat while we sing.

I keep the beat using a hotel bell and we pass, hug, pass, hug, pass, hug, pass, hug…

Lyrics:
Baby beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale on the go

Baby beluga, baby beluga
Is the water warm
Is your mama home with you, so happy

Way down yonder where the dolphins play
Where you dive and splash all day
Waves roll in and the waves roll out
See the water squirtin’ out of your spout

Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga
Sing your little song
Sing for all your friends, we like to hear you

When it’s dark, you’re home and fed
Curl up, snug in your water bed
Moon is shining and the stars are out
Good night, little whale, good night

Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga
With tomorrow’s sun, another day’s begun
You’ll soon be wakin’

Baby beluga in the deep blue sea
Swim so wild and you swim so free
Heaven above and the sea below
And a little white whale on the go
You’re just a little white whale on the go

Good afternoon!
I’m sorry I haven’t been doing daily updates, but I didn’t want to overwhelm anyone.

Here’s what I’m going to do:
Daily updates here on my website. You do NOT need to do everything. All I want you to do for now is to visit the site when you want to sing something.
Don’t worry about missing something. There are no assignments at the moment, just opportunities to sing some songs we normally do together in class!

Let’s start with a song I had my daughter Emma help with. I needed a child’s voice to do the repeats so you could sing along.