Hall Of The Mountain King Movements

Submitted by Kathy Knapp, Sarasota, Florida

Idea posted October 28, 2005

I enjoy using this lesson during the fall with my fourth graders. I tell them the story of Peer Gynt and the "Hall Of The Mountain King." Then I tell them about Edward Grieg, and how he wrote the music to go with the story. We listen to the music, discuss the tempo and dynamic changes, and discuss the pizzicato played by the violins. Then comes the fun part. I write the rhythm pattern on the board or on an overhead, and we go over it. Then we add body percussion to each line (see below). We do the body percussion with the song. Of course it gets to be really exciting as they have to go faster and faster and louder and louder. It's lots of fun and educational, and it gets them really moving, too!

"Hall Of The Mountain King"

ti ti ti ti ti ti ta - stomp

ti ti ta, ti ti ta - pat on thighs

ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti - clap

ti ti ti ti ta - snap