Percussion, conductors and singing in a round
10th March 2023
The Percussion Club at BNIS is a chance for children to explore various types of instruments played by hitting or striking with the hands or a stick. The children will be exploring the making of rain sounds with shakers and rainmakers. This activity is the proper way to help us celebrate, and encourage, the return of the rains to Nanyuki!
When was the last time you sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’? Can you remember its melody? Students have been using this childhood classic to help them learn about round songs. A round song is when two or more people sing the same tune, but start it at different times. This exercise trains a person to maintain vocal independence despite hearing other tunes around them.
You can do it with any song you know well, why not have a go? Grab a friend - one of you begins singing a song. Once the first line is over, the other person starts singing from the beginning as the other continues singing. See if each of you can maintain vocal autonomy by singing independently regardless of the person beside you singing a different part of the song at the same time. BNIS students are getting quite good at round singing!
Some students have also been looking at orchestra conductors. They have studied different hand-motions conductors make and what they mean. They have also studied the meaning of various musical terms for dynamics and speed and how conductors use these when conducting an orchestra. The students have analysed different professional conductors and their interpretation of pieces of music and have even had a go at conducting their peers as they sang, clapped and/or played instruments. We have some great conductors in the making at BNIS!
