Adding tonal textures to the following rhyme heightens the acuity of the student's senses. Once there was an Apple Tree. Two little Apples smiled at me. I shook that Tree as hard as I could. Hmmm, they were good.
All gestures are to demonstrate miniature movements.
The third time you say the Apple Tree chant, tell the children to pretend that they are giants and they have a giant apple tree with giant apples on it and that giants have very low voices. The gestures are to demonstrate huge movements with huge-sounding voices. This is an excellent time to tell them that just because something has a high sound does not necessarily mean it is a loud sound and low doesn't mean soft, either. They relate the changes in tempo, feeling and mood in music, and instruments used in the interlude to action and activity. I continue to play the music, time after time, as they brainstorm then write down their sequence of actions for their pantomime.