Nisse Polka

nisse

Nisse Polka This past summer I was in Finland at JaSeSoi Ry’s International Music Village (Finnish Orff Association).  It was amazing and I loved my time both in Finland and making music with musicians and teachers from 14 countries.  I also fell a little in love with the Scandinavian lifestyle and their connection to the…

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Teaching and Dancing the Circle Waltz Mixer

Circle Waltz Mixer

Teaching and Dancing the Circle Waltz Mixer If you are dancing regularly with your students then it is a short and easy step to have an evening community dance with students and parents. I recommend starting out by having a dance for, say, only the fourth graders and their parents and siblings. Have the fourth…

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Lesson: Leaf Children

A beautiful children’s book and autumn leaves inspire creative movement and encourage children to make aesthetic choices about instrumental accompaniment to their leaf dance. A repeated refrain from the book provides an opportunity for vocal improvisation and the lesson also includes suggestions for creating an operetta. This lesson is suggested for children in grades K-1. Download…

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