This activity will support Elfins to consider how it is possible to hear the voices of individuals in a large group and bring the group together in a joint project that is quite structured.
What to do
Ask Elfins if they know what an orchestra is? Can they think of any orchestral instruments?
Divide the group into three, four or five (depending on the size of the group and their musical
experience!). Each group needs to choose a different instrument and sing the sound of their
instrument in unison.
Get each group to choose a song (something fun and easy, like a nursery rhyme, or an ad
jingle, or a TV programme theme tune) and to practice singing it as a group in the style of the
instrument.
Ask the whole group to start singing at once. How many of the songs could they identify? Is
there a better way of singing as a group?
Introduce the idea of a conductor in an orchestra. What does the conductor do? With a leader
as conductor, get each group to sing their song independently.
Teach the group a short round, (Wouldn’t it be a Wondrous Thing, I like the Flowers, Campfire’s
Burning) or remind them of one they already know.
Once they know the round well, divide them into, first two groups and ultimately five if they
can manage it.
Lastly get them to sing the round in the style of the different instruments.
Once they have mastered this, remind them of their first attempt to sing in unison. ask them:
- What changed?
- Was it possible to hear different instruments at first?
- Trying to hear all the Elfins in a Woodcraft group can be a bit like conducting an orchestra. Why is this?
- Does the group feel that all their voices can be heard by all the group?
- Can they think of effective ways of making their voices heard? (Listening to each other, backing each other up, saying things together )
- What would happen if a new instrument was introduced, or if someone new came to the orchestra?
- How would they know what to do?
- Are there ways that your group helps new people to feel welcome and understand what’s going on?
- Can their voices and ideas be heard by other people in Woodcraft Folk, people beyond their group? If so, how? If not, are there ways in which the group would like to change this?
- Why would it be good to share thoughts and ideas with other groups in the Folk?