Secret Songs
|
| Presenting a song as a “Secret Song” entails performance
of a song in other than in whole form. For example, the rhythm of a song
might be tapped in the palm of one hand, or the melody line can silently
be drawn in the air. Students are ask to identify the title of the song
that was performed and to keep it a secret until the teacher asks them
to reveal their answer. |
| When a student guesses the name of the song, the teacher’s response
may be, “Could be!” Everyone sings the song that was named.
“To check your idea, listen as I tap the song once more and sing
the song in your mind. ”Right or wrong, this gives students the opportunity
to solve the puzzle on their own. |
| To reveal the identity of the song, the teacher can perform the song
(tap) and sing it aloud. “This is the song I sang in my mind, my
inner hearing, as I tapped.” |
| |
Why the “Secret Song” technique is use in education
|
| “Secret Song” activities can be an extremely engaging way
of introducing a song the students have previously studied. |
| Presenting a secret song gives students the opportunity to use their
inner hearing. |
| Finding the secret song is like solving a puzzle which can be a lot
of fun. |
| Properly used, the secret-song strategy can be an excellent tool for
song study and analysis |
Explanation of the term to your students
|
| “A secret song is kind of a puzzle for you to solve. I will sing
the song in my mind, my inner hearing, and present a visual or aural clue
to help you determine the song. The answer to the puzzle is to be kept
a secret until I ask you to reveal the answer.” |
| “Raise your hand if you think you know what song was in my hands
or if you heard a song in your head.” |
| “Let’s listen again, and if you think you know the song,
sing the song in your inner hearing and check to see it it fits what my
hands are singing. Be sure to check the song all the way through.” |
How Secret Songs are used in the Classroom
|
| The Secret Song technique can be used to introduce a lesson or portion
of a lesson |
- A few ways to present the song:
|
|
- Show the melody by moving a flat hand up and down with the interval
relationships
|
|
- Perform the rhythm on a nonpitched instrument
|
- Show the conventional notation of the song
|
- Act out the meaning of the words.
|
- Show a song dot score of the song
|
Bibliography |
1. Bennett P. D. & Bartholomew, D.R. (1997). SongWorks I: Singing
in the education of children. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
|
| |
| |