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Sounding Out

A toolkit for music practitioners
working with deaf students

MAIN ACTIVITY

With this activity you will introduce the instruments step-by-step, starting by using sign language, and then through a musical game involving movement. This will help the children to internalise the rhythm of a song in a natural and fun way.


Finally you will introduce instrumental production.

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LYRICS:

​

Katie has no friends, no friends, no friends
Katie has no friends, now she has one!
ONE


Katie has one friend, one friend, one friend
Katie has one friend, now she has two!
ONE, TWO


Katie has two friends, two friends, two friends
Katie has two friends, now she has three!
ONE, TWO, THREE
Etc.


Katie has many friends, many friends, many friends
Katie has many friends, now she can play!

Visual cues, multimodal and intermodal musical game:

• Sign language
• Singing
• Body percussion
• Music game
• Instruments

Based on a music game by The singing classroom

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Students performing “Katie has one friend” at their assembly at the end of the Sounding Out project.

Step 1. Voice – Gestures

STEP

DESCRIPTION

MUSIC

1a

The teacher signs the lyrics of the song with the students. They can create their own gestures or signs to describe the words. The teacher needs to be sure that everyone understands the lyrics.

First the teacher says and signs the lyrics without the rhythm of the song.

WHAT WE OBSERVED

Singing alters the natural lip pattern of speech, which makes it quite difficult for some deaf children to follow the lyrics of songs. We suggest using sign language (Sign Supported English) to aid understanding.

IMPORTANT

Always remember to display the lyrics of the song for the children to follow.

1b

The teacher adds the rhythm of the song to the lyrics, but doesn't sing the melody yet.*


Once they have understood both the meaning and rhythm of the song, introduce the melody.

Rhythm

​

Melody

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WHAT WE OBSERVED

During this game the children might need to be helped to inhibit their impulse, developing self-control and turn-taking, which is an important skill in the childrens development in order to effectively participate in social communications.

IMPORTANT

*Introduce the rhythm, then the melody so the children don’t have to process too much information at once.
Break down the melody into small parts and use gesture to indicate the pitch.

Step 2. Play the Game All Together

STEP

DESCRIPTION

MUSIC

2a

The children are standing in a circle.


One of the students is outside the circle playing the role of Katie (you can change the name in the song according to the
person playing the role).


When the song says ‘now she has one!’ the person that plays Katie needs to choose one friend by touching their shoulder.


The chosen person will follow Katie during the rest of the game and will touch another
person at the end of the second section, when the song says ‘now she has two!’.


Every student will do the same once it is their turn, until everyone has been chosen.


Eventually they will all dance together:
Katie has many friends, now she can play!

Singing.
Movement.
Clapping.


Add a clap for each number of friends, according to the lyrics.


Katie has no friends, no friends, no friends
Katie has no friends, now she has one!
ONE (clap)


Katie has one friend, one friend, one friend
Katie has one friend, now she has two!
ONE, TWO (2 claps)
Etc.

WHAT WE OBSERVED

During this game some children may need support managing their patience and desire to be ‘chosen’, developing self-control and turn-taking.

IMPORTANT

Always move your whole body to keep the pulse for the children. Ask them to hold hands and keep the pulse by swinging them forwards and backwards throughout the song.


Sing slowly the first two or three times to make sure that everyone can properly follow the lyrics. Some of the students might be drawn to the visual aspects of the game (especially the movement around the circle) and this can cause distraction.

Step 3. Add the Instruments

STEP

DESCRIPTION

MUSIC

3a

All the children are sitting in a line holding a small percussive instrument, except for “Katie” who is standing.


When the song says ‘now she has one!’ the person next to Katie stands up and starts playing.

Everybody sings the song.


Each student plays their own instrument with Katie
when it is their turn to stand up.


Example:
‘Now she has one
ONE’
- one hit on the drum


‘Now she has two
ONE - TWO’
- two hits on the drum

WHAT WE OBSERVED

During this activity the teacher might need to indicate to each student when they need to stand up.


You can also play this game sitting in a circle.

IMPORTANT

Most of the children rely on visual cues to play in time or to recognise when it’s their moment to stand. That is why it is important for the teacher to always keep the pulse with their body throughout the song and use big gestures when conducting.

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Tel: 020 8964 2700

hello@creativefuturesuk.com

Creative Futures (UK) Limited

Office 9A, The Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue,

London W10 4JL

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