Teaching Descending triads to 3rd Grade Students

Date: February 14, 2010

I know this isn't so much of a choral question as it is a general music question, but I am searching for a good song to use to teach my 3rd grade students about descending triads. I have a plethora of songs, but most seem too "kiddish" for them, and I would like to see if anyone else has some ideas. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

Candice

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Kathryn Bowers on February 15, 2010 7:22am

Off the top of my head -- how about the Campbell's soup commercial: s-m-d, f-r-t, s-s-s-s-s-f-m-r-d. You can turn it into a great choral warm-up. Unfortunately the patterns don't contain the root of the V7 chord, but maybe you're just looking to deal with the I chord?

Eloise Porter on February 15, 2010 1:10pm

Hi Candice--

Do you have a music series you are using? These songs come from Making Music (Silver Burdett) and Share the Music (Macmillan). Many pentatonic songs include descending triads So-Mi-Do.

Rocky Mountain-both descending and ascending: L-S-M-D and D-M-S-L (MM-2 and STM-3)

Mama Paquita--SSS-M-D and descending major scale (STM 3)

Bonavist Harbour--D-M-S and S-M-D (MM3, STM-4)

Now Let me Fly S-M-D in refrain (MM3, STM-3)

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

You're a Grand Old Flag (starts with S-M-D)

Star Spangled Banner

Eloise Porter

vocie101(a)gmail.com

Katherine Bank on February 15, 2010 2:41pm

I usually use a non-religious version of "I see the moon" s-m-d-s-m-d-s-s-s, s-m-d-s-m-s-d-d-d I just take out the second part (God sees the moon) and say the first line twice "I see the moon and the moon sees me" twice. I use this with me second graders, but the song is appropriate for third as well.

-Katie

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