Week of March 3rd, 2014

PRESTO AND LARGO

The kids loved learning about Presto and Largo today! 

What do these terms mean? Well, they refer to music tempo! 

Presto means a very fast paced tempo in music, and largo means the exact opposite--very slow pace. Check out this super cute music video to get a better idea of what that sounds like! How did we learn about these terms today? 

Well, for starters, we practiced saying them! New words can be tricky and need to be repeated quite a bit in the beginning. I held up posters using a rabbit symbol or icon for presto, and a turtle for largo, and encouraged the children to practice saying the new terms. Young infants bounced to the two tempos and also looked at the pictures!

 After we were introduced to the words and their meanings, we stood up and sang a presto and largo song that got our feet moving quickly and our bodies swaying slowly. We also practiced moving at these tempos with a drum. After we had a little practice "feeling" the tempo, we sat down to listen to the tempos using different pieces of classical music (check out the Youtube videos below to listen for yourself and review with your child) and played a fun coloring game. 

 I gave the children double sided coloring pages (check the cubby of your 2 & up child) and the children colored the side of the paper that corresponded to the music (if it was presto, they colored the rabbit, if it was largo; the turtle). 

We continued on through about five pieces of classical music, until everyone really had the feel for it! 

 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

 1) What is largo and presto? (Slow and fast!) 

2) Which kind of music is your favorite? 

3) What do you think of when you hear largo style music? What about presto?