For Cub Scouts (Weblos for those of you scoring at home) there are several achievements in the book and one of them is music, including folk music and learning an instrument. I am thinking about buying Megs for the group (8 or 9 boys) and teaching them a simple song.
Question: what simple song is good for nine-year-old boys. It should be short, simple, and interesting enough for them to want to try for about fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes they are clamoring for a snack. It’s a small window of opportunity. Is it do-able?
Or it may be a a complete disaster, with all of them blowing into it as hard as they can ans running around trying to use it as a sword or a telescope or something.
What am I, nuts?
I’ve been teaching a 9 year old girl for a few weeks. She has a sweetone but had a lot of trouble with the reach. She’s getting better but when she plays a G her A finger tends to lift up.
I’ve only got her playing simple stuff now, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle Twinkle Litle Star, etc. I hope to intro either Star of the County Down or the Foggy Dew at some point soon.
John,
If you buy your megs from the whistle shop, Thom, has a Music Pocket Book for Irish Tin Whisltle that costs only 90 cents each. In it is the tune Rakes of Mallow that is simple to learn. If the boys have ever seen the John Wayne movie about the boxer who retires to Ireland, The Quiet Man, they will recognize the theme. There are a number of easy, recognizable tunes in the little book and each has notes and tablature (finger charts) for each tune.
Most important in any lesson to make sure they see how you …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-08-27 17:01 ]
One very, very easy song to learn is Scarborough Faire.
“Swanee River” and “Home on the Range” are familiar tunes, easy to play, and sound good on the whistle.
Row Row Row your Boat works good with kids because once they get it they can do rounds. I also find with children that if they know the song in their head, it is easier for them to do it with their fingers.
Sandy
Another good tune for Cub Scouts would be “The Old Gray Mare,” the tune to which they’ll probably already know, although my group of Cubs had other words –
We all know toads go “Pop” when you step on them,
“Pop” when you step on them,
“Pop” when you step on them.
We all know toads go “Pop” when you step on them;
Better wipe your shoe.
Anyway, the tune (“Air on An Old Gray Mare” ?) if played in G, doesn’t go into the second octave, and it only uses five notes. The only note they may have trouble with is the low D, but my 9-year old sons were able to get that in about ten minutes. Most of the tune is lower octave, left hand.
We all know toads go splat in the ceiling fan,
etc., etc.
When you toss them up.
Put the words on poster board and draw the fingerings in underneath. They’ll enjoy being able to accompany this delightful little song.
[ This Message was edited by: gonzo914 on 2002-08-28 06:11 ]
Whatever song you choose make sure the kids know it by heart already so you can use your limited time to learn the fingering rather than learning the tune.
Doc
Excellent advice everyone. Thanks.
I am also considering scheduling my turn for around Christmas and doing a Christmas song, since they are well known. Jingle Bells seems easy.