EASE: Unit 3

“Composing and Reading Music with Cards,” as demonstrated in Dynamics: Gaining Skills/Expert Students, is like writing and reading.
• We write and read from left to right, in a predictable manner.
• We compose and read music from left to right, in a predictable manner.

or,

or,

The leader (composer) chooses how which cards to post.

Make sure to post them up high, so they are not blocked by the leader’s body.

If using the generic green LOUD and quiet cards, choose a sound (such as clapping or a vocal sound).

(This step is unnecessary if using a body percussion or instrument card.)

As the leader points to each card in sequence, from left to right, students make the sounds on the cards.

• Slow, steady, predictable. Point to each card in a slow, steady, predictable manner. We’re not trying to trick anyone!

Repeat steps 1-3 with a new leader (for example, a student).

• Option 1 – Continuous Sound (Easier): Students keep repeating the indicated sound (for example, clapping) until the next card is pointed to.
• Option 2 – One Sound Per Card (More Challenging): Students make one sound per card, i.e., four cards = four sounds.

This is very similar to Dynamics: Gaining Skills, except that you can now include LOUD and quiet versions of different types of

• body percussion sounds (for example, clap and stomp) or
• instruments (for example, shakers and drums)

or,

If using Dynamics Instrument Cards, it is recommended that students master the “Instrument Cards” activity first.