Mrs. Lovenduski's - Elementary Music Classroom: Grade 4 - Cumberland Gap - Sourwood Mountain - Alexander's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

Grade 4 will be learning about Tah Fa Teh. We will be singing Cumberland Gap and Sourwood Mountain (songs that they sang for their fourth grade concert and third grade concert, respectfully). The two songs go together great as a Partner Song and also showcase TahFeTeh rhythms. If singing as a partner song, we start with the Refrain of Cumberland Gap, sing a verse, and end with the refrain of Cumberland Gap. This aligns with the entire version of Sourwood Mountain.

We will add Alexander's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day from Artie Almeida's Mallet Madness book with modified rhythms.

Cumberland Gap

Lyrics:

Refrain:

Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap.

Everything I own is packed upon my back.

Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Gap.

Walking to Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap!

Verse 1: Cumberland Gap is a mighty fine place,

three kinds of water to wash your face. (Repeat)

Verse 2: Cumberland Gap with its cliffs and rocks

Home of the panther, bear and fox. (Repeat)

Verse 3: Daniel Boone at Pinnacle Rock.

Had a coonskin hat and old flintlock. (Repeat)

Cumberland Gap Game -

Students sit in a circle. Hands are places palms up on their knees. Their right hand is on top of their neighbor's left hand.
Teacher demonstrates how to gently use the right hand to cross over and tap the left hand of the person next to them.
Students practice passing the clap around the circle gently to the beat. Students may need to start with count in numbers if necessary or saying the names of the person who should have the beat.
Sing the song. Whomever is tapped on the word "gap" after "walking to Kentucky" is out and "takes a walk" out of the circle. The teacher may decide to give instruments to students who are out and they may keep the beat.

Sourwood Mountain