Description
by Roger Sams and BethAnn Hepburn.
Edited by Jill Trinka
“Purposeful Pathways: Possibilities for Elementary Music Classrooms” is an extensive collection of curricular materials for learning music by making music. Based on the philosophies of Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, and eurhythmics, this collection of developmentally sequenced learning activities offers elementary general music educators diverse choices for how to present folk song from diverse cultures and original material, including lessons in singing, literacy, movement, improvisation, composition, and instrumental ensemble. Each lesson is a collection of learning pathways, to be selected by the teacher, that unfold over time offering possibilities for differentiated instruction and flexibility in diverse classroom settings. This flexible design makes this resource helpful to all teachers, first year to seasoned educators!
Printable manipulatives for composition activities are available as a free digital download with the purchase of the book.
Electronic visuals (in SMART Notebook, Promethean ActivInspire, and PowerPoint formats) are available as an additional purchase in CD-ROM and digital download formats.
Rhythm content:
quarter note
2 eighth notes
quarter rest
half note
half rest
dotted half note
4 sixteenth notes
whole note
whole rest
dotted quarter note
single eighth note
3 eighth notes
quarter note followed by eighth note
dotted quarter rest
2 eighth notes and eighth rest
Melody content:
so, la, do re mi fa so la do’ (extended do Hexatonic)
la ti do re mi so la (la Hexatonic)
Lessons
Jeremiah, Blow the Fire
Dinah
Fishing Song
Sandy McNab
Captain Tickle and His Nickel
Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater
Rhythm Rounds
The Pelican Chorus
Birds of a Feather
Phoebe in Her Petticoat
Up-Hill
I’ve Been to Harlem
Old Brass Wagon
Shake Those ‘Simmons Down
What Makes a Wildcat Wild?
Chicken on a Fencepost
Sing All the Day
Scotland’s Burning
Deep and Wide
Our Old Sow
John Kanaka
Chatter with the Angels
The Kilkenny Cats
Come to the Fair
Alabama Gal
Never Sleep Late Anymore
Hill an’ Gully Rider
Lil’ Liza Jane
I Got a Letter this Morning
Yangtze River Chantey
Shanghai Chicken
My Good Old Man
La Pentachord Round
Birch Tree
Can You Plant Your Cabbage So?
Seagull, Seagull
Big Bunch of Roses
Cockles and Mussels
Boots of Shining Leather
Purposeful Pathways is endorsed by leading experts in all three pedagogical approaches utilized. Here’s what the experts are saying:
Purposeful Pathways Book 3 builds on the skills provided in the first two books; expanding vocal range, increasing rhythmic complexities, and providing students with more musical choices. As with the first two books, this collection of teaching materials continues the tradition of integrating singing, the playing of instruments, and creative and purposeful movement in ways that provide multiple ways of knowing. Musical independence is a recurring theme throughout this volume. Students become more adept at canon, part-singing, conducting, notating, and composing. Movement lessons, such as flocking, integrate both Dalcroze and Laban concepts and encourage purposeful musical choices in representing the music. This series is essential for music educators keen to integrate active music learning approaches into the general music classroom.
-R. J. David Frego, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Music and Dance
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Founding President, American Eurhythmics Society
In Purposeful Pathways Book 3 the materials are well sequenced and provide multiple opportunities for meaningful musical engagement through creating, performing, responding to, and connecting with artistic musical material. Music educators will find a variety of songs, instrumental pieces, creative movement experiences, technology resources, and suggestions for implementation that will empower them to develop their own active learning environments in which students learn through singing, moving, composing, creating, and performing on instruments.
-Brent Gault, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Past President, Organization of American Kodály Educators
The choices of appealing traditional and composed songs serve the purposes of the lessons, presenting new rhythmic and melodic concepts, through more complex movement, vocal, and instrumental skills. Purposeful Pathways Book 3 helps the teacher to plan from choices of well-outlined lesson processes. The optional disc of electronic visuals accompanies the lessons, eliminating many hours teachers could spend on constructing charts of icons and patterns for each lessons. Teachers will learn how to model patterns of thinking and presenting that help them make valuable observations and connections with their students. Above all, teachers will enjoy using this book and the materials students will want to perform, again and again.
-Arvida Steen, MMEd., Retired Master Orff Schulwerk Teacher and Teacher Educator
Author of Exploring Orff
Past President, American Orff-Schulwerk Association
Sarah Williams –
I have been using Purposeful Pathways since I started teaching elementary general music 4 years ago. I actually attended a conference where Roger Sams was a presenter and he did a lesson from book one. I bought it there at the conference and have been using it ever since. It was my first proper introduction to the Orff Schuelwerk process of teaching. I went on to take Level I with Beth Ann Hepburn as well.
I enjoy book 3 because of the activities that are available for older students who may be using more complex musical concepts. I also like the fact there is a index that includes the concepts taught in each lesson. With the way each lesson is organized, you can choose what aspects of the lesson you would like to use and what you may want to leave out. Each lesson includes movement, singing, literacy, and so much more! I highly recommend it!
Meghan –
The variety in this book is what makes it so valuable to me. I appreciate having so many different ways to approach a song. Many activities in this book require more skill and knowledge, but it’s also clear that the foundation for the necessary skills has been laid through activities in the earlier books. There’s a lot of flexibility that allows you to challenge your students to the degree that’s best for them.
Betsy Mast –
This book is a wonderful resource. My students love engaging with the flip charts on the cd-rom and playing the fun games. Their rhythmic and melodic vocabularies continue to increase and are able to compose some incredible pieces using the rhythmic blocks included in the material.
Leslie –
The students love composing with the “building blocks” in this book! I am so enthusiastic about using the Purposeful Pathways materials, that I took the time to make laminated cardstock copies of all the hands-on manipulatives. I love that I have a book full of fresh ideas for old favorites. The activities in this book line up well with the state music education standards for rhythm, melody, harmony, form, instrument playing, and improvisation (for multiple grades). The authors of the book did the think-work for me to come up with the many “pathways” of learning for each song.
Alli –
My 5th graders really loved tackling some more challenging material with Book 3! I love how one piece can be used in so many different ways and keep the students engaged in the material. The variety in this one is amazing!
Christina Reardon –
I love the Purposeful Pathways series! As a K-8 music educator, I’m always looking for quality songs I can come back to year after year with my students. I think book three is my favorite- the lessons are so engaging and we’ve been able to take the material and really dive into great musical experiences with my upper elementary and even occasionally my middle school students. Their favorites this year were Cockles and Muscles and Birch Tree.
Katie Hernandez –
My favorite part of these books is that one lesson has so many ideas that you can use them for multiple days! I love how easy to follow the lessons are and how much information is covered in each lesson. My kids love them so much!
Jason –
I’ve only gotten to use a few of the lessons in book 3 so far, but I’m looking forward to using more of them very soon with my upper elementary students. My students sometimes don’t have the deeper music theory knowledge for some activities, so I love the flexibility the book provides by giving you options to accomplish a different objective using the same song. So far, my students’ favorites from this book are Lil Liza Jane and Hill and Gully Rider.