Perform a song from a popular Disney Broadway musical.
Sing a song with tempo changes.
Materials
Tempo flashcards
Instructions
Beauty and the Beast was Disney's first musical adaptation of one of its animated film musicals. All eight songs from the movie were used in the musical, and the songwriters composed six new songs for the Broadway production. The Broadway show opened in April of 1994 and ran for 13 years, closing in 2007.
Discuss the story of the song: Belle, a prisoner in the Beast's castle, refuses to come to dinner with him, but instead joins the enchanted household objects in the kitchen. The objects wish her to be a guest, rather than a prisoner. How many of you have seen the movie?
As you listen to the Disney song "Be Our Guest" from the musical Beauty and the Beast, keep the steady beat by patting your lap.
Every time the phrase Be our guest is sung, change your steady beat motion.
Sing "Be My Guest." Did the tempo change in the song? (yes, several times) Why? (to increase excitement and drama) Play a tempo game, then answer questions about the song.
Game: Choose a leader to hold up tempo cards: "fast," "medium" and "slow." As the card is held up, the class keeps the steady beat at that tempo. Gradually, change to new tempo cards: "Allegro," "Moderato" and "Adagio." Try additional words, such as accelerando (getting faster) or ritardando (slowing down).
How does "Be Our Guest" start? (medium tempo or moderato)
What happens to the background music at Be our guest! Be our guest. Our command is your request? (faster or accelerando)
What happens to the music at While the candlelight's still glowing? (slows down or ritardando)
What happens to the music at Enough, I'm done? (faster or accelerando)
What happens to the music at Tonight, you'll prop your feet up? (fast or allegro)
Practice singing the entire song, being careful to sing clearly despite tempo changes.
Divide the class in half to sing the harmony on the last phrase: Be our guest.
Perform this song to welcome visitors to your school, such as for Grandparents' Day, a school board meeting, or a concert.
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