Scarf Movement for “Danse Macabre”

Scarf movement for “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint Saens. A scarf activity for young children ages 4-8. 

This piece of music is a tone poem for orchestra. That means it’s a musical composition that tells a story through music.  The piece was composed in 1874 by Camille Saint Saens. The poem represents a danse of the dead.

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Zig, zig, zig, Death in a cadence
Striking with his heel a tomb,
Death at midnight plays a dance-tune,
Zig, zig, zag, on his violin.

The winter wind blows, and the night is dark;
Moans are heard in the linden-trees.
Through the gloom white skeletons pass,
Running and leaping in their shrouds.

Zig, zig, zig, each one is frisking;
The bones of the dancers are heard to clatter –
But Ssht! of a sudden they quit the round,
They push forward, they fly; the cock has crowed!

SCARF MOVEMENT FOR “DANSE MACABRE”

The scarf movements are based on each of the characters and sections of music in the piece.

CLOCK

DEATH

SKELETONS

GHOSTS

XYLOPHONES

PUMPKINS

WIND

WITCHES

ROOSTER

The scarf movement cards with actions help tell the story.  Here are the scarf movements.

• CLOCK-BOUNCE ON THE NUMBERS OF THE CLOCK
• DEATH-SIDE TO SIDE  FOLLOWING THE MELODY MOVEMENT
• SKELETONS-CRISS-CROSS
• GHOSTS-SWIRL (CHANGE DIRECTIONS EVERY 4 BEATS)
• PUMPKINS- FLICK OUT
• XYLOPHONES- WIGGLE TO THE SOUNDS OF THE BONES
• WIND-SWAY OVER HEAD
• WITCHES-WIGGLE HIGH TO LOW
• ROOSTER- FLICK UP HIGH

“DANSE MACABRE” STORY ORDER

• DEATH
• SKELETONS
• GHOSTS
• DEATH
• SKELETON
• GHOST
• DEATH
• GHOST
• PUMPKINS
• DEATH AND GHOSTS
• WIND
• SKELETONS AND GHOSTS
• WITCHES
• SKELETONS AND WITCHES
• DEATH PLAYS FOR GHOSTS/SKELETONS/WITCHES
• ROOSTER QUIET DAY BREAK

ACTIVITY DIRECTIONS

Show the movement cards to the children and have them practice the moves.

Then have them move with the music.

When there is more than one action, either have them choose their action, switch between actions, or divide the class into groups and have each group play one of the actions.

Next work on DYNAMICS.

Have the children practice the actions showing pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, forte and fortissimo.

Leave latitude for students to move as the music inspires them.  These are just suggestions.

TEACHING TIPS

I chose a variety of movements so that the children are moving up and down, across and in a circle.

Moving different directions helps them with coordination, as well as fosters motor muscle development and helps make other connections to things like reading, writing and creativity.

Be sure to watch the video to get all of the activity teaching tips.

RESOURCES THAT WORK WITH THIS ACTIVITY

SHOP HERE ON THE SING PLAY CREATE WEBSITE

SHOP AT THE TPT STORE

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