Tonal Patterns and Rhythm Patterns - teachings kids pitch skills and rhythm skills
The blog this week isn’t really about a song. It’s about an activity. You can call them “Bum bums.” You can call them “patterns.” You can call them many things, and while you’re thinking up some new fun names, you can watch this video example!
Patterns in class:
Always and forever in every single Music Class, we do patterns. Patterns are an all-distractions-stripped-away super-pure learning tool. They have nothing else going on for the children to pay attention to except for either pitch or rhythm. Have you ever closed your eyes to focus on your thoughts? Have you ever plugged your nose to hear more clearly? No? Just me? Patterns work the same way, by removing everything else so you can completely focus on just one thing.
The great thing about patterns is that kids actually love them. It’s like feeding your child broccoli and realizing it’s their favorite food. This incredibly nutritionally dense musical tool often ends up being one of the things The Music Class kids want to do the most at home!
Patterns at home:
Your teacher's main goal in class is to show grownups how to do these musical activities at home with their kids. The way children learn is through repetition, so your kids won't just show up to TMC class once a week and then start singing perfectly in tune and keeping the beat! You have to do your homework, and that means singing and dancing and practicing patterns at home, too.
We include patterns in the recorded music for every TMC collection to make it as easy as possible to get that repetition. (So you don't have to make up your own patterns if that is too intimidating, but also - you should try! Remember, your job is to model enthusiasm and participation, your teacher and the recordings model accuracy!) Just turn on The Music Class app, and make sure to repeat the "bum bums" with your kids so they are encouraged to sing too!
Here are all of The Elephant Collection songs with patterns and the musical concept that each of these patterns teaches:
The Elephant Collection songs with patterns:
- Out of My Window – Rhythm patterns to practice duple meter
- Duckie Family – Tonal patterns to practice minor tonality
- Alligator – Rhythm patterns to practice 5/8 mixed meter (Click here for more info about mixed meter!)
- Elephant – Tonal patterns to practice Phrygian mode (Click here for more info about Phrygian!)
- The Squirrel – Rhythm patterns to practice triple meter
- Little Bird – Tonal patterns to practice minor tonality
- Sweetly Sings the Donkey – Tonal patterns to practice major tonality