Music Hunt: Day Two

With all of this "going green" talk lately, many stores have started changing the bags they use or offer inexpensive re-usable bags for you to purchase. Hopefully, however, you have a few plastic shopping bags lying around, just waiting to find some additional purpose. (See? We're not only learning about music today, we're helping the environment by reusing your plastic bags!)

**PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE DONE WITH ADULT SUPERVISION FOR ANY CHILD 3 AND UNDER**

So: You'll need one bag for ever child who will be participating and you'll need a little space. I recommend going outside if it isn't too windy, or maybe explain the activity to everyone and allow older children to spread out through the house while you work directly with the younger children.

First, give everyone their bag and explain that this will be their new musical instrument. Encourage everyone to experiment with ways to make noise with the bag. Don't give any hints at this point. You have my permission to demonstrate only ONE sound from the bag. Then sit back and watch the children figure the rest out on their own.

Once the children have exhausted all their own ideas, gather everyone together and ask that they repeat what you do. Take your own bag and crumple it quickly. (Children should do the same for this and each following example). Now crumple it slowly. Hold a piece of your bag in each hand and rub them together quickly. Then slowly. Hold the handles and swish it through the air, filling the bag with air.

Now start inventing short rhythms for the children to echo back to you. (Crumple, Crumple, Swish, Rub) etc. Do 5 or 6 of these and then choose another child to lead the activity. (Make sure you follow their example just like they followed yours. You might be surprised at the techniques they have invented)

The very last thing you should do is fill up your bag with air and close it tightly so that you have a bunch of air trapped securely inside (you might want to give it a twist or two!) Then, while holding the bag with one hand, smash your other hand into the bag balloon. This should make a nice, loud and impressive pop. Encourage your children to try to do the same.

Most importantly, have fun with this. Don't worry if your children can't copy your rhythms exactly. Don't worry if you have no rhythm worth copying! Exposure to the idea of creating music from nothing is what is important here.

Good luck! (P.S. I'd love to see pictures if you have time to take some of your children playing in their bag band. Also let me know if you will allow me to post these pictures on this blog. Thanks!)