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Men From Mars

Lesson Book page 25

let's get started

1. Perhaps your kitchen dishes are organized in certain piles, or the shoes are lined up in your closet. In music we organize notes into measures.
2. (Lead the student through the text at the top of the page, teaching measure and bar line.)
3. Let's add up the beats in each measure of the piece.
4. Now let's circle all the repeated notes for the Martians.
5. Where do the notes step down? Step up?
6. Put both hands over the C five-finger scale. You're ready to go!

Kids love outer space sounds!

explore and create

• Can You Add Up to Four?

  (Write note combinations that add to four. Help the student count them.)

• Can You Write up to Four?

  Let's see how many different rhythms we can write that will add up to four.

• Martian Conversation

  Suppose "three green men" had a conversation in outer space. I'll play three notes anywhere on the keyboard. Your "three green men" can answer anywhere, too. (Keep the pedal down for an "outer space" sound.) (See video)

• Would You Like to Go to Mars?

  Would you like to go to Mars? Check out mars.jpl.nasa.gov/kids. Pack your spaceship and then blast off. How about some moon cookies?

First the experience—then the definition.

partner pages

Technique & Artistry

pp. 12-13 Basketball Dribble

• Stand and pretend to bounce a basketball. Notice the large up and down motion of your wrist.
• Now pretend to bounce the basketball quickly. What happens to the motion of the wrist? (Coach the student to realize that it becomes smaller.)
• Play Basketball Dribble bracing finger 3 with the thumb. Bounce your ball up and down the keyboard.

Theory

p. 14 The Measure, Bar Line Boogie

• Lead the student through the activities.
• Teacher harmonizes The Park Ranger's Melody with I and V7 chords as student plays.

Performance

p. 25 Banana Split

• Circle the repeated notes.
• Which two measures are like Basketball Dribble?
• Rhythm Ideas: Student taps the rhythm while you play the duet. Student taps LH while you tap RH. Then reverse.
• Student plays. Keep hand round like a scoop of ice cream.

pedagogy pointers

Playing a C five-finger scale is combined with repeating many of the notes. The way the notes step up or deown is also more subtle than in previous pieces. Thus, reinforcement of several learned concepts is fused in a new context.

Measures and bar lines are introduced. Since the student has been playing many pieces combining quarter and half notes in repeated rhythm patterns, it is not difficult to explain how rhythms and rhythm patterns are organized. Once again, experiencing a concept precedes defining it.

accompaniments on disk

• CD Tracks 22-23
• MIDI File 11

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see it in action

Teaching Video 24

These aliens walk carefully, often repeating before they continue up or down. Checking to see where the notes repeat prepares Patrick to play the piece. Imagining tiny Martians under his palms reminds him to play with a rounded hand position. Because his hands are in place before he begins, he can keep his eyes on the music.

Finding outer space notes for "three green men" creates a musical Martian language. Patrick's "men" really shoot high and low. Maybe they're on their way to the moon!

Ask Yourself

• When is the only time that Patrick looks down at his hands?
• Could you think of other ways to create outer space music?

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