Overview of the learning sequence contained in the My Mini Music Books.
Books 1 to 6 are summarized in the following table. See below for an overview of Book 7.
Book 4 is available in “Recorder” and “Non-recorder” formats.
Book 5 is available in “Recorder/Keyboard” and “Keyboard only” formats.
Please note that the concepts listed in regard to Books 4 and 5 in the following table are common to both the recorder and non-recorder versions of each book.
Book 1 | Book 2 | Book 3 | Book 4 | Book 5 | Book 6 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duration | Beat and no beat
Fast and slow “Ta” “Te-te” |
“Za” (rest) “Too” (ta-a)(plus rhythms learned in book 1) |
2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures
“Three” (dotted minim) “Four” (semibreve) “Tika-tika” (plus rhythms learned in books 1 & 2) |
“Te-tika”
“Tika-te” (plus rhythms learned in books 1-3) |
6/8 time “tetete”, “ta-te”, “tam”, “zam”, “tika-tika-tika” in 6/8(plus rhythms learned in books 1-4) |
“Syncopa”
“Tam-te” (all in simple time) (plus rhythms learned in books 1-5.) |
Pitch | Phrase contour
High and low Solfa: So and mi |
Solfa: la (plus solfa learned in book 1)
Introduction to staff notation |
Solfa: do pentatonic (do, re, mi, so, la)
Treble clef letter names: E, G, A, B, C, D Intervals: Steps (2nds), Leaps (3rds) |
Solfa: High do (in addition to do, re, mi, so, la)
Letter names: low D, E, G, A, B, C, D |
Solfa: low la, low so (to make extended do pentatonic)
Letter names: low C, F, F#, Bb (plus letter names learned in book 4). |
Solfa: la pentatonic; fa & ti to make Major scale
Letter names: low C, low D, E, F, F#, G, A, Bb, B, C, D Bass clef: Simple bass lines |
Dynamics & Expression | Soft and loud | Dynamics: p and f | Smooth and detached
Dynamics: pp, ff, crescendo and decrescendo |
Staccato, legato, accent | ||
Structure | Same and different phrases | Question and Answer phrases
Canons/Rounds |
Binary and Ternary
Repeat signs |
Rondo
Ostinatos |
||
Texture | Thick and thin | Rhythmic and melodic canons | Partner songs | 3 part rhythmic and melodic canons | 4 part melodic canons | |
Timbre | Classroom percussion | Widely contrasting melody instruments | Percussion instruments
String instruments |
Woodwind instruments | Keyboard instruments
Brass instruments |
Voice types
Orchestral instruments from various historial contexts Folksongs from various cultural contexts |
Art Music | The Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens |
Surprise Symphony by Haydn
Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Mozart Russian Dance and Dance of the Reed Flutes from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev Little Train of the Caipira by Villa-Lobos |
Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg
Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas |
Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin
The Planets by Holst Fireworks Music by Handel Radetzky March by Strauss Olympic Fanfare and Theme by Williams The Moldau by Smetana Troika by Prokofiev |
Toccata & Fugue in D minor by Bach
Minuet in G by Bach Rondo alla Turca by Mozart Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky Mother Goose Suite by Ravel The Entertainer by Joplin |
Toccata from Orpheus by Monteverdi
Rondeau from Abdelazer by Purcell Horn Concerto No. 4 (3rd movement) by Mozart Symphony No. 5 (1st movement) by Beethoven Hungarian Dances No. 5 & 18 by Brahms Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner Viennese Musical Clock by Kodaly The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Britten |
BOOK 7
Book 7 is structured in a different way from books 1 to 6. Book 7 does not introduce any new rhythm or pitch elements, but rather leads students through a wide ranging overview of popular music of the 20th century. Each music style is represented with a specially chosen song and questions to focus students’ listening. The styles of music covered in Book 7 are:
Ragtime, Dixieland Jazz, Chicago Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1960’s Rock, Soul, Motown, Funk, Surf Music, Reggae, Disco, 1970’s Pop, Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, 1980’s Pop, Glam Metal, Grunge, Country Music, 1990’s Pop, Rap & Hiphop, 2000’s Rock, Alternative Rock, and 2000’s Pop.
Each song is available on Youtube. The links to these songs can be found in the Teacher Lesson and Assessment Planner.