L1 ML

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This activity offers learners an opportunity to listen to an orchestral work entitled, Waiting, by composer Adele O’Dwyer. Exposure to the instrumental sounds of the chamber orchestra opens a wide palette of instrumental timbres and playing styles which can be explored in more depth in future.

TEACHER GUIDE

COVER IMAGE

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Listen and Enjoy (audio)

This activity uses a performance of Waiting by a small chamber orchestra of wind and stringed instruments accompanied by visuals as the inspiration for the creation of something new. Each learner will make a music journal entry page by creating a personal response to the music. This can take the form of a drawing, a story, a poem, a collage, or any other form of creative response that can be recorded on paper. In future activities, learners will explore other ways to response creatively that require different recording mechanisms. For now, this is a simple start, one that all learners can engage in without technical complications.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE 1

LEARNING EXPERIENCE 2

Create a Music Journal Entry

An introduction and game to begin learning the sounds of the major scale using body scale actions!

CORE: Introduction to the Body Scale

This Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards Introduction learning experience is a simple and fun introduction to the Musical Alphabet that includes an easy, but important, practice game and follow-up worksheet!

WORKSHEET

CORE: Musical Alphabet Going Forwards Introduction

This Musical Alphabet: Going Forwards Quiz learning experience is a fun way to assess learnings achieved thus far in relation to mastering the musical alphabet going forwards. The video is designed as a fast-paced activity, however, using the pause button on you computer will allow for a variable pacing.

CORE: Musical Alphabet Going Forwards Quiz!

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/student/courses/31182/watch?lesson_id=566914" style="background-color: rgb(106, 252, 194); color: black; padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Member? Get Started!</a><h3 id="6067753e-957f-4443-bf31-425d2482727f" data-toc-id="6067753e-957f-4443-bf31-425d2482727f" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Description</h3>This unit begins with Listening and Enjoying. Children are introduced to Adele O’Dwyer’s orchestral work, “Waiting.” They sit quietly, notice the cover image, and talk about what “waiting” feels like. Guided active listening helps them notice the varied sounds of a small chamber orchestra—winds and strings—opening ears to tone color and expressive playing. The focus is simple: enjoy the performance and share what in the music sounds like waiting.Next comes Creating a Music Journal Entry. After a second listening with visuals, each child makes a page for their music journal. Responses can be drawings, short stories, poems, or collages—any paper-based expression that captures how the music made them feel or what they imagined. Learners then present their pages, explaining their ideas and inspirations. The journal grows over time, becoming a treasured record of learning and creativity.Educational benefits include nurturing focused attention, emotional literacy, vocabulary for sound, confidence in sharing, fine-motor practice, and the joy of connecting music to personal experience.<h3 id="e8de61b8-dc0a-45f7-9e1a-716f7769a28f" data-toc-id="e8de61b8-dc0a-45f7-9e1a-716f7769a28f" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Learning Outcomes</h3><ul><li>Listen quietly and attentively to an orchestral performance.</li><li>Notice and describe a variety of instrumental sounds and basic tone colours.</li><li>Express personal thoughts and feelings about music using age-appropriate language.</li><li>Create an original journal response (drawing, words, or collage) inspired by the music.</li><li>Share and reflect on creative work, building confidence, communication, and empathy.</li></ul><h3 id="d20d1cc3-8178-466e-970a-60584f12416b" data-toc-id="d20d1cc3-8178-466e-970a-60584f12416b" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.2;">Notes and Tips</h3>- Pre-requisites: None for Listening; the Journal activity follows after completing the Listening activity.- Framing the theme: Discuss the title “Waiting” and the cover image to spark feelings and ideas.- Instrumentation note: The piece features a small chamber orchestra (winds and strings); future lessons will explore instruments in more detail.- Listening posture: Invite learners to sit quietly; closing eyes can help form mental images.- Re-listening: If time allows, play the video a second time before creating.- Creating the journal: Use the provided page or plain paper; allow ample, unhurried time.- Sharing and reflection: Encourage brief presentations—what was created and what inspired it.- Journaling habit: Add pages to each learner’s Music Journal to build a yearlong record of growth.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/student/courses/31182/watch?lesson_id=566914" style="background-color: rgb(106, 252, 194); color: black; padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Member? Get Started!</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.emsona.com/paywall" style="background-color: black; color: rgb(106, 252, 194); padding: 15px 30px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; border-radius: 6px;">Not a Member? Join Today!</a>

A gentle two-part module inviting young learners to listen to Adele O’Dwyer’s “Waiting” and create a personal journal response—building attentive listening, emotional expression, imagination, and early confidence with orchestral sound.

L1: Waiting (A)

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L1: Waiting (A)

Adele O'Dwyer