Ruth Crawford Seeger: Inspiring Young Musicians With Her Remarkable Life!

Ruth Crawford Seeger, composer and folk music specialist, had an amazing career and influence in the world of classical and folk music. Her music was different and exciting because she mixed old and new sounds together. People of all ages still love listening to her music today.

1901: Born on July 3 in Ohio

1919-1921: Attended the American Conservatory of Music in Boston

1932: Married Charles Seeger



1953: Died in Maryland

Ruth and Charles had four children: Mike (folk musician), Peggy (folk singer), Barbara, and Penny. Ruth also had three stepsons Charles, John, and Pete (folk singer/activist.)

Early Music Period (1922-1929)

1920s: Ruth began studying piano performance but switched to composition.

Little Waltz 1922

Try some movement to this piece in ternary form.

ABA
Skip around room.Stop and mirror w/a partner
or the teacher.
Skip around room.
Ribbon wands make big looping circles.Create a different pattern on your own.Ribbon wands make big looping circles.
Step/skip around the room.Float around the room.Step/skip around the room.

Music for Small Orchestra 1926

Listen to the last 2 minutes (video is cued to this spot) for the exciting tempo!

Middle Music Period (1930-1941)

1930: Ruth Crawford was the first woman to win the Guggenheim Music Fellowship

String Quartet 1931

This string quartet was her most famous and influential work. Here’s the beginning of movement 4. Can you imagine it as the music for a movie? What would be happening on the screen?

Rissolty Rossolty 1939

1930s: Began writing down and arranging American folk music and working with Alan and John Lomax. Here’s an arrangement of the folk song Rissolty Rossolty.

Risseldy Rosseldy on TPT

This classic tongue-twisting folk song now has a sparkling Orff arrangement for your students in grades 3-6.

Also included is a listening lesson with coloring sheet for Ruth Crawford Seeger’s instrumental piece, Rissolty Rossolty!

Late Music Period (1942-1953)

Suite for Wind Quintet 1952

This two-movement piece is another of her classical modernist works. Pick an animal for each instrument and describe what they are doing in the first 2 minutes of the piece. Bassoon, clarinet, oboe, horn, flute.

Bounce High Bounce Low With NEW Rhyme And Orff Arrangement

Find engaging ways for your students to play BARRED INSTRUMENTS with a NEW easy-to-teach rhyme melody and Orff arrangement, that goes with the CLASSIC song Bounce High Bounce Low.

This song is perfect for you to prepare, present, or practice “la” with its so, la, so, mi pattern as well as for you to teach quarter and paired eighth notes.

Bounce High Bounce Low song with Orff arrangement and new rhyme melody.

The new rhyme extends the learning into a beautiful ternary ABA form and is part of this practically no-prep, multi-lesson resource.

The resource includes:

  • A presentation in both PPT and Google Slides versions
  • A VIDEO of the song arrangement in both presentation formats
  • A PDF copy of the sheet music

Not enough barred instruments? On the bordun, use Boomwhackers or ukuleles. On the melody, use melody bells or Boomwhackers.

❤️❤️❤️ The ukulele part can be played using a C6 chord-ALL OPEN STRINGS! Check it out!

PS. There’s a wonderful call & response creative activity that incorporates rhyming, geography, and music terms! WHAT? Yep, SO fun!

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Vivaldi’s Spring With Orff Arrangement, Movement, And More

Are you looking for the classics taught with ACTIVE music-making?

This resource with lots of movement teaches students to play and sing (new Spring lyrics) the main theme to Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto with Orff barred instrument ostinati, AND a recreation of the thunderstorm using instruments.

What I love about this resource!

  • PLAYING this famous theme, not just LISTENING to it
  • The “B section” thunderstorm is SO fun
  • Learning with speech and movement
  • Differentiated with the use of colors, images, and stepwise learning
  • An ARTS Integration activity-draw a picture!
  • Teacher helpers with
    • higher-order questions
      • “I Can” statements
        • pre-filled checklist that can go into your evaluation folder

Rattlin’ Bog Song And Orff Arrangement For St. Patrick’s Day

You can now sing, do the motions, and PLAY this Irish favorite, The Rattlin’ Bog, with a lively Orff barred instrument arrangement (and optional ukulele part) for St. Patrick’s Day, all during March, or whenever you want that cumulative song, breathless laughter FUN!

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Parachute Songs, Games, and Activities In the Music Classroom

Successful parachute songs, games, and activities teach musical and movement concepts, let students explore through creativity and improvisation, and provide a physical activity for fitness, a brain break, and a social-emotional learning (SEL) outlet.

On This Page…

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Give Thanks | Echo Song for Orff, Movement, Ukulele, Scarves

Pull out this versatile echo song for primary students that’s about appreciation, thanksgiving, and thankfulness in November or for other celebrations throughout the year. A simple Orff arrangement, one-chord C ukulele part, scarf activities, and movement will make this a great concert piece or SEL activity in the classroom.

Give Thanks is available as a single resource or part of this Thanksgiving Bundle!

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The Mitten

Many of us are familiar with the Jan Brett book, but this 
Ukrainian folk tale has a very interesting history! Here are songs, lesson plans, and resources for the beautiful story.
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Valentine Themed Music Resources

Find fun and engaging Valentine’s Day songs, games, dances, and activities to make a week of LOVE in the music room. Some “love” songs can be used any time of the year!

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Super (RONDO) Bowl

Google Slide Presentation ⬇️

Click to Begin or Enter Full Screen & Begin

At the bottom of the slide, click on the 3 dots to find the ENTER FULL-SCREEN link. I’ve never tried embedding a Google slide, so please let me know if you have any problems with it. Comment below or send an email to oodlesofmusic21@gmail.com

Who Has Seen the Wind? Song & Lesson Rhythmic REMIX

The classic song, “Who Has Seen the Wind?” has been REMIXED and is ready for winter, spring, summer, and fall windy weather!

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