Songs with Half Notes / Minims

song index

Songs with Half Notes

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Lesson idea

1. In the 2nd grade Rhythm unit, we review the rhythm we learned in 1st grade ( , , ). Then, I introduce the . Whenever I say the note, I say it with two long tones (ha-alf, no-ote) and move my clasped hands out from my body out to the air to demonstrate the length of the notes.

One of the first sings we sing to demonstrate the length of s is Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?). I sing it first, and students raise their hands when they hear the long words (“John” and “dong”). Then I draw the beats of the song on the board like this:

2. Then I point to the beats while the students clap the rhythm of the song (each line repeats). Ask students to find which beats are the long sounds. “Tie” the beats together.