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MAY 2005 PBS Ready To Learn is supported by a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Education, PR/Award Number R295A00002 ALL MUSIC RULES!

www.pbskids.org/music.html Look for Music and Art Appreciation Skills @ www.pbskids.org/clifford/caregivers/bigideas.html

ALL MUSIC RULES! This lesson will provide an opportunity to look at many different types of music; hopefully, some that children may have never experienced before. People enjoy various types of music because everyone has different tastes (like foods); no sound is better than another! First, ask children what kind of music they like and if they think everyone likes the same music as they do. Then, watch My Music Rules to see how Arthur and D.W.’s musical tastes are different, but one is not necessarily “better” than the other. Next read Duke Ellington to learn about a famous musician; a jazz pianist. While reading, note how the author/illustrator team visually represents Ellington’s sounds. Afterwards, encourage children to participate in a free association activity! Play all different types of music and have children draw or paint whatever they feel best represents the sounds they are hearing. This will help children realize that there are many diverse types of music and everyone enjoys different sounds; but, all music is pretty cool! Related Web Resources:

VIEW: ARTHUR (410) My Music Rules

Tuesday, May 31,2005 @ 4 p.m Cellist Yo-Yo Ma faces jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman have the toughest gig of their careers...in the Elwood City library! D.W. and Arthur have different opinions about whose music will rule after these greats duke it out in the battle of classical versus jazz. While the two siblings are arguing, Yo-Yo Ma asks them: “Why do you have to like only one kind of music? Do you like only one kind of food?” Then, the musicians talk about how the only rules in music are based on what people like to hear, and those rules change all the time. At the end, Joshua Redman and Yo-Yo Ma play something together and all the kids join in! While You’re Watching…

Ask children: What types of music do you like to listen to? Can you imitate its sounds? Discuss different musical “genres” – how each has sound characteristics that group them together. Some examples may include: jazz, classical, rock, country, folk, reggae, hip-hop, blues, electronic and many, many more! For a comprehensive list visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genres_of_music

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MAY 2005 PBS Ready To Learn is supported by a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Education, PR/Award Number R295A00002 ALL MUSIC RULES!

Other Recommended Books: If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong

by Roxane Orgill, Leonard Jenkins (Illustrator) Philadelphia Chickens: A Too-Illogical Zoological Musical Revue by Sandra Boynton Giraffes Can't Dance

by Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees (Illustrator) Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka

READ: Duke Ellington:

The Piano Prince and his Orchestra By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

As a young boy, Duke hated piano lessons. Then he heard the “soul-rousing romp” of ragtime and was hooked! Duke Ellington rose to popularity playing at the Cotton Club and later, Carnegie Hall. He became one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. In this book, the author and illustrator tell the story of Ellington using rhythm and movement that match the sounds and images of his jazzy world. The blending of words, symbols and pictures bring his character to life and will teach children about this legendary musician and the music that made him famous.

DO: Free Association with Music

Bring together a collection of different types of music. Tell children that they are going to do an activity using music and their imaginations! Before you start, point out certain pages of Duke Ellington where the illustrations are directly based on the description of his sounds (for example when: “his notes are like a kite tail in the wind. A musical loop-de-loop with a serious twist.”). Provide a supply of art materials. Give children one piece of paper for each music sample you have and number each page accordingly (for example: if there are 6 samples, pages would be numbered 1-6). Play each piece of music for a few minutes, giving children time to draw whatever shapes, motions or moods they associate with the sounds they hear. Encourage them to relax and move their hand along with the beat of the music. After, put up all the drawings organized by number, and tell children the type of music that went with each number and discuss its qualities. Look for similarities and differences. Everyone listened to the same sounds, but most likely interpreted what they heard differently; this is what makes each of us (and our relationship to music) unique! *YOU COULD ALSO TRY THIS ACTIVITY USING MOVEMENT!*

Remember: Libraries have great collections of tapes and CDs for lending!