THE SIOUX LULLABY

Lesson 5

Teaching Artist: Ruaridh Pattison

SUMMARY

This is the fifth lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore a type of music performed by the Sioux Nation, a group of Native American tribes and First Nations peoples from the Great Plains. Students will then perform “The Sioux Lullaby” as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family.

  • Students will be able to summarize important information about the music of the Sioux people.

  • Students will be able to set up, hold, and make a sound on the recorder.

  • Students will be able to play the notes “B,” “A,” “G,” “Low E,” and “Low D” on the recorder.

  • Students will be able to perform “The Sioux Lullaby.”

OBJECTIVE

MATERIALS

EXPLORE

  1. Introduce students to a type of music performed by the indigenous Sioux peoples, and explain that it is a type of ancient music that is played by the people who are native to North America. Explore The History of the Sioux People by asking students to read and explore the information, pausing occasionally to ask questions: Where do the Sioux people live? What do you recall about their lives and culture? 

  2. Introduce students to music by the Sioux by playing these recordings:

  3. Ask students: What kind of musical instrument did you hear playing the Counting Song? Does this instrument sound like a recorder?

  4. The instrument heard in the “Counting Song” is a Native American flute, traditionally called a siyotanka by the Sioux peoples. (Note: There are other types of flutes used by native cultures that can be explored as well.) Display an image of a Native American Flute. Ask: What similarities do you see between the Native American flute and the recorder?

LEARN

  1. Instruct students to set up their recorders. If a student is using an adaptive tool or instrument, please follow the instructions accompanied with the product.

  2. Remind students of the three recorder positions: Resting Position, Ready Position, and Playing Position. 

  3. Remind students that when playing the recorder, they should blow gently into the instrument! Using the palms of their hands, have students blow cool air over the palm of their hand and imagine cooling down a cup of hot chocolate without spilling it. Then, with recorders in Playing Position, have students play a “B” with a beautiful, soft sound.

  4. Have students sit in a circle, facing each other, and then demonstrate the fingers for a “B” in resting position. Then, start a game of Pass the Note: play a “B” and pass it to a student in the circle. That student then passes it to their neighbor and continues passing the sound throughout the class. Encourage the kids to communicate without talking and to only have one student playing the “B” at a time but to keep the “B” continuous. 

    • Repeat with “A,” starting at a different point in the circle.

    • Repeat with “G,” starting at a different point in the circle. 

    • Repeat with “E,” starting at a different point in the circle.

  5. Use the above game to check that each student is holding their recorder with proper technique, with their left hand on top, and right thumb supporting the bottom of the recorder in the correct position. Instruct students that today they will learn another new note that uses fingers from both hands!

  6. Ask students to demonstrate the fingers for the notes “B,” “A”, “G,” and “E.” If necessary, replay the videos How to Play the Note “B,” How to Play the Note “A,” How to Play the Note “G,” and How to Play the Note “Low E,” pausing when appropriate to make sure each student has their correct fingers sealing the topmost holes of the recorder’s body, and their right thumb supporting the bottom half in the correct position. Remind students of the “Cheerio” test: press the correct fingers into the holes of the recorder, then inspect the fingertips to see whether “Cheerios” have developed on the pads of the fingers. 

  7. Optional: Review the previously learned songs by viewing Learn The Funky Bag! and Learn Shorter’s Strut. They can then perform with the backing tracks using the following links: 

  8. Tell the students they are now ready to learn the next note on the recorder: the note “Low D.” Play the video How to Play the Note “Low D,” and pause to make sure each student has their left thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, sealing the topmost holes of the recorder’s body, and their right thumb supporting the bottom half in the correct position, with right index, middle, and ring fingers sealing holes 4, 5, and 6 on the recorder. 

  9. Tell the students they are now ready to learn their next song on the recorder: “The Sioux Lullaby.” Play the video Learn The Sioux Lullaby. Pause as necessary to ensure each student is building confidence playing the recorder, and their new song. Repeat any of the above steps as necessary to reinforce understanding and develop routine skills for future lessons. 

PERFORM+SHARE

  1. Once students have participated in the entirety of the Learn The Sioux Lullaby video, and are comfortable with each of the above steps, tell them they are ready to perform their next song on the recorder. Prepare students to be in “playing position” with correct technique, then play the backing track video Songs to Play: The Sioux Lullaby.

  2. Record a video or audio version of your  students’ performance, then upload it to the S'Cool Sounds Padlet.