Are you looking for an elementary music class song that teaches Sol/Mi and Ta/Ti-Ti? Look no further! Starlight is a perfect song to work on both of these concepts. In this article, I will share some of the ways I use this song within the Kodaly Method.
Why I Like This Song
I love using this song in elementary music class because it contains four different patterns. Each phrase has a unique rhythm, so it gives students a chance to sing different combinations of rhythm and melody. The slow, gentile melody is also a nice contrast to our more typical upbeat songs. I love to turn off the lights and use this song as a way to calm down the 1st-grade students’ energetic bodies.
Kodaly Method Music Literacy
Steady Beat
In early elementary, you can use this song to practice a steady beat. For Kinesthetic learning, have students move to a steady beat by acting like they are grabbing a star and putting it in their baskets.
- beat 1 – grab a star
- beat 2 – put in your basket
- beat 3 – grab a star
- beat 4 – put in your basket
Word Rhythm
Before we teach ta/ti-ti, we want to ensure that students can tell the difference between beat and word rhythm. The definition I use for word rhythm when speaking with young students is: word rhythm is the way the words go.
Quarter note and Paired-Eighth Notes- Ta/Ti-Ti
After several weeks of being in the preparation stage, you will show the melody using actual music notation. I love using this song when doing rhythm dictation.
Popsicle Stick Dictation Steps
- The teacher claps the rhythm, and students listen.
- Students tap the rhythm on their lap to show they heard the correct rhythm.
- repeat steps 1 and 2.
- Students write the rhythm using popsicle sticks.
I love using popsicle sticks for rhythm dictation in music class. Students love to use their hands and manipulate the sticks. I think students don’t feel the pressure to the right and are more comfortable trying things out with manipulatives like this. They can quickly move around their answer or “erase” it quickly if they get it wrong.
Sol/mi
Starlight is great for teaching sol/mi because the entire song is sol mi, and all of the phrases are different. When I’m preparing sol/mi, I like to show the stars on a 3-line staff. Have students sing the song and point to the “highs” and “lows.” Take turns having students come up to the board to point to the image, see if they can follow the melody as the class is singing.
Bingo Chip Melodies
I have some staff paper that I got from my former elementary music teacher when she retired (thanks, Mrs. S!). The lines are the perfect size to fit bingo chips on them. I laminated mine, and they have lasted me for 15 years! Have students make the melody using the bingo chips. I find that when you first do something like this, it is helpful to model the correct way and work together as a class. I project my paper/bingo chips using my Elmo so the students can follow along.
Tips for writing melodies with young students
- music is written from left to right, just like writing sentences!
- Start your music note over on the left side of your page so you have room to add more notes
- don’t let your music notes “kiss” because there is no kissing in school!
- Don’t make snowmen with your bingo chips. Use a finger space between each note and add them to the right.
Visit my store!
For complete lesson plans that fit sequentially within the Kodaly Method, please check out my Kodaly Cookbook resources. Each unit contains:
- 10 lesson plans – print and teach
- visuals to complement the lesson
- songs and games that teach music literacy
