Rhythm Card #2: This is the ching accompaniment (four quarter note stems with x-shaped note heads on beats 2 and 4).
Ching (Thai cymbals) or finger cymbals
Optional: construction paper and glue to create a krathong.
Before You Begin
About the Song: Dr. Kathy Sorensen collected this song when she interviewed immigrants from Thailand. She asked them what song from their culture they thought should be shared with American children to represent Thailand. "Loy Krathong" was the favorite.
Instructions
Loy Krathong is a festival in Thailand. The song "Loy Krathong" is sung at night during the celebration in mid-November to float any bad luck away so that good things can enter their lives.
Locate Thailand on a world map.
Loy means "float" and krathong means "little rafts." On this evening, people go to the rivers and waterways to float the little rafts. In addition to krathongs, people also float their bad luck away by using sky lanterns that are flown in the air. This festival is sometimes called the Thai Festival of Lights for this reason.
Echo-speak, then echo-sing the pronunciation: Loy Krathong: Loy as in "boy" starting with an "l." Krathong is krah tong (the "h" means that the t is aspirated).
Echo-speak, then echo-sing the pronunciation: Ram wong wan Loy Krathong = rahm wong wahn loy krah tong
As you listen to the music, read the Student Page (PDF) article about the festival.
Sing the song together with correct pronunciation.
Hold up Rhythm Card #1. This dotted rhythm represents the words Loy, Loy Krathong: half note, dotted quarter note, eighth note, dotted half note, rest.
Speak the rhythm using rhythm syllables.
Next, invite volunteers to create body percussion for this rhythm.
Thai instrument: Ching are a pair of small-cupped Thai cymbals that make a beautiful ringing sound when their sides are struck together. Often, in accompanying songs, a percussive muffled sound is also made by placing the cups together. Most Thai folk songs can be accompanied by alternating the ringing and the percussive sounds. If you do not have ching, you may substitute finger cymbals.
Hold up Rhythm Card #2. Play the ching accompaniment: four quarter note stems with x-shaped note heads on beats 2 and 4. (Finger cymbals may be used, if needed.)
On beats 1 and 3, hit the sides together to make a ringing sound.
On beats 2 and 4, place the cups together to make a muffled sound.
Perform the entire song of "Loy Krathong" together, using body percussion from Rhythm Card #1 and ching accompaniment from Rhythm Card #2. Repeat the song to allow other students to play the ching accompaniment.
Optional: Invite volunteers to draw a picture of a krathong, decorated to show their personalities. Then, imagine each krathong floating their cares away.
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