Comments on: Skin and Bones Part 1

By: Leslie Dooley

Leslie Dooley — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:04:59 +0000

Thanks for the great lesson suggestions, Drue. I like to use this song for recorder players to practice the low E.

By: Tyler Vance

Tyler Vance — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 00:42:13 +0000

This song is also a great way to introduce creative play to any class and any age, inviting the students to become active musicians in creating the final product. I use it to introduce opera every year. It’s perfect! A soloist and chorus (we have a ghost chorus sing the “Song of the Wind.” Simple costumes and props are introduced (old sheets and a hat and broomstick, cardboard headstones, etc.). Add some found sound and interpretive/improvised dance to set the scene, and voila! The students can also experiment with vocal play, using their whole vocal range during the “Song of the Wind.” The kids also get excited to introduce alternative endings to the song, or change the whole feeling by changing the scene or the protagonist. (What if a kangaroo sang this at a circus? How would we change it?)

After they have participated in their own opera, they are suddenly very interested and open to what is usually their first contact with classical opera–not a small feat for a very rural district in the mountain northwest!

By: Jim Bean

Jim Bean — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 16:30:38 +0000

Great process. I’ve used this with 3rd and 4th graders with full body shadows and cut out props on a shadow screen.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 18:19:54 +0000

I just used this for the first time in one of my 1st grade classes and they loved it! They can’t wait to do it again and I can’t wait to use it with them in 2nd grade!

By: Donna Fleetwood

Donna Fleetwood — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:29:45 +0000

Great spiraling strategies, Drue!! I always say you need to know 10 good songs and 1,000 ways to use them!!

By: Deborah Pitts

Deborah Pitts — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:41:14 +0000

This looks great– thanks!

By: Leslie Varden

Leslie Varden — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 11:09:29 +0000

This is brilliant!! Love these ideas and can’t wait to share them with my students. Thank you for sharing!

By: Charity Gillotti

Charity Gillotti — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 19:22:14 +0000

This is fantastic and has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of spiraling songs from year to year. What a new world for me to try, thank you!

By: Jillian Scozzafava

Jillian Scozzafava — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 18:06:34 +0000

I love this!! Thank you for posting!

By: Marti Bessinger

Marti Bessinger — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 13:29:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing Mr. Drue. Awesome all around! Marti Bessinger