Moving in Open Space

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Season 1 | Episode 50

Show Notes

Moving in free space

 
 

When we move in music, we actually need practice not bumping into each other! Physical awareness of our surroundings is one of those things that seems obvious, but it’s actually a learned skill.

Especially if we’re in a small space.

Non-Locomotor Movement

  • What do you observe about stationary movement?

  • Practice non-locomotor movement, as well as turning your fingers into people and moving with your fingers

Practicing Before the Movement

Model Open Space

  • Find examples of open space in the classroom

  • Find examples of closed space in the classroom

  • Why is it important to move in open space in music class?

    • We keep everyone safe

  • What should happen if you’re planning on moving to an empty spot and you see someone else moving there too?

Practice Open Space

  • Practice moving with the teacher and another student

    • The rest of the class uses a steering wheel to pretend they’re moving around the room while staying in their spots

  • Practice with larger groups and then the whole class

  • The teacher is the narrator

Reinforce Open Space

  • The teacher is the narrator

    • “I saw someone change directions because there was someone else moving to their same spot!”

    • “I saw someone walking with walking feet and looking up with their eyes”

    • “I can see a lot of movers on one side of the room and a few students in open space on the other side”

  • Training is ongoing

  • Recall the first time someone told you how to play recorder

Locomotor Movement: Open Space

A lot of this has to do with limiting the timeframe for moving around the room.

Walk and Stop

  • Performed by Ella Jenkins

  • Sing non-locomotor

  • Half the class watches, half the class moves. Switch jobs

  • Vary the length of the movement time (“walk and you walk and you walk and you walk and you walk….), as well as the tempo

  • Alter movement in open space, and “velcroing” feet to the floor

    • Shake / run / slide / roll

Highway Number One

  • Move in place (non-locomotor) and pretend to drive

  • Practice driving and stopping

Hey Betty Martin

  • Sing and freeze

Down to the Baker’s Shop

  • Sourced from Holy Names database

  • Sing non-locomotor

  • Move on the movement words, stand still on the non-movement words

Bubblegum Bubblegum

  • Play the game (seated, non-locomotor)

  • Put your body in a bubble

  • Play game while walking around the room (the teacher goes around seating chart or points to students as they walk)

    • When you’re out, keep a steady beat on an unpitched percussion instrument

Rhythm Movement Echoes: Zapatitos Blancos

  • Speak and play game

  • The teacher claps combinations of long and short sounds. Students tiptoe and step around the room as an echo

  • The teacher claps combinations of long and short sounds. Students improvise their own response with tiptoes and steps