Solar Eclipse Rhythm Play-Along
In the States, the buzz around the solar eclipse has hit the school scene big time! At my school, the eclipse is set to show up just as classes end. So, all students are getting their hands on some super stylish eclipse glasses. Teachers from all sorts of subjects are weaving eclipse excitement into their lessons this week. As for music class, the grapevine has been buzzing with stellar ideas from music education forums. I'm jumping into the mix with a Solar Eclipse Rhythm Play-Along to the classic tune, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," by the legendary duo Jim Steinman and Bonnie Tyler. If you're up for a musical adventure in your classroom and are allowed to play this song, here's a rhythm-packed play-along to jam out to during the eclipse!
Rhythm Concepts
The rhythm and music concepts being used in the song are:
Eighth, half, and quarter notes
Quarter rests
Rolls
Accents
4/4 and 6/4 meters
And you can use instruments that you hear (or substitute) that are prominent in the song like sleigh bells or a vibraslap
Manipulatives
The play-along includes teaching manipulatives. These include facts about Bonnie Tyler, the eclipse, and the rhythm patterns found in the song. You can download a copy of the Manipulatives here.
Who is Bonnie Tyler?
Some facts about her include:
Her name is Gaynor Hopkins.
She was born in Wales.
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” was written by Jim Steinman and is one of her biggest hits.
She re-recorded it with Kareen Antonn.
Their bilingual duet, titled "Si demain... (Turn Around)", topped the French charts.
She has received three Grammy Award nominations and three Brit Award nominations (twice for British Female Solo Artist), along with various other honors for her work.
In 2022, she was honored with an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her contributions to music.
Learn more about Bonnie Tyler by clicking here! (https://kids.kiddle.co/Bonnie_Tyler)
What is a Solar Eclipse?
Some facts about the solar eclipse include:
The Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.
If the Sun’s light is completely blocked, the Moon appears as a black circle. What looks like a ring of fire appears around the circle.
This ring is the corona or the gases that surround the Sun.
Earth and the Moon keep moving.
After a few minutes, the sky begins to lighten again.
Rhythm Play-Along
Enjoy the rhythm play-along to celebrate the solar eclipse!