Legato and Staccato

Legato and staccato are opposite styles of articulation that can be experienced many ways to help children learn these concepts. Legato is smooth and connected and Staccato is detached and bumpy. Listening, moving & vocalizing smooth and bumpy activities will help them internalize & learn about legato and staccato.

Here's an activity to practice legato and staccato (smooth/bumpy)
Get a hula hoop!

Find ways to move slowly with your hoop and pretend you are floating down a gently flowing river:

a.. Stand inside hoop & hold it while walking slowly & gently tipping the hoop from side to side.
b.. Sit inside hoop & hold it gently tipping the hoop from side to side
c.. Sing-we're floating down the river...

Jumping: exploration jumping with the hoops

a.. Place the hoop on the floor and jump in and out of it.
b.. Hold hoop while jumping.
c.. Sing-two in the middle and you can't jump...

Here's the Song!

Floating Down the River
We're floating down the river. We're floating down below,
We're floating down the river, to the O-hi-O
Two in the middle and you can't jump Josie.
Two in the middle and you can't jump Josie
Two in the middle and you can't jump Josie, Oh my Susan Brown

Like this article?  Leave a Comment or Tweet!

Legato and Staccato:

Legato and Staccato are opposite styles of articulation which can be experienced in various ways: movement, listening, and vocal play. Combining these senses heightens a child's awareness of this important element of music.

Legato and Staccato

Legato and staccato are opposite styles of articulation that can be experienced through a variety of modes, heightening children's awareness of this element of music. While legato is smooth and connected staccato is detached. Important ways to experience these concepts include using legato and staccato movements, hearing legato and staccato articulation, and singing and playing vocally with legato and staccato articulation.