Hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph Hoffman. Today we're learning a new song called
Frog in the Middle, hence the friends I brought today. So let's meet these three friends I brought.
We've got Mommy Frog. We've got Baby Frog. Cute, huh? And we've got Grandpa Frog.
Hey, Grandpa. So, today the song we're learning is Frog in the Middle. I'm gonna ask Grandpa frog to help me out with this song.
[Singing] Frog in the middle, frog in the sea; frog in the middle, can't catch me.
Now, will you try singing that song along with me while I play the frog?
Here we go! [Singing] Frog in the middle, frog in the sea; frog in the middle, can't catch me.
Great job. Thanks, Grandpa Frog. Croak! This time, what I'd like you to do is go on a little hunt with me
for the three lowest notes of this song. This song is made up of three notes.
A high one called so, a middle on called mi, and a low one called do. I'll sing the song
one more time for you, this time without words, and I want you to listen for those three low
notes that sound like this. And when you hear them I want you to touch your knees or touch
your feet. It's up to you - you choose. Ok, you ready? Here we go. Listen for the low
note that sound like this. [singing] Ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba. Ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba.
Did you hear the low notes? If you touched three times at the end of the song,
"can't catch me" those were the three low notes. We call that do do do. Good listening.
Now this time let's sing the whole thing again. We're going to touch our shoulders when you
hear the high notes, and this song happens to start on so up here, and then you'll go
to your middle or your waist and then we'll touch knees or feet for the low notes at the end.
Ready? Can you sing Frog in the Middle with me and help me find those high, middle,
or low notes? Ready, go! [Singing] Frog in the middle, frog in the sea; frog in the middle, can't catch me.
Good job. Now the next thing I'd like to do is try singing it in our special
musical language called Solfege. Remember this one we call so, this one me, and the
low one do. And this time let's use our hand signs. Remember, we have so, me, and do.
We'll make fists for do. Ready, here we go. Try it with me. [Singing] So so so me me, so so so me;
so so so me me, do do do. Great job. Now we're ready to try and figure out how to play this
song on the piano. This song is made up of skipping notes. So, remember that when we
did Hot Cross Buns, we started out with three notes stepping down, and when we did
Five Woodpeckers one note at a time we're stepping higher and higher and then we end up stepping down.
Now, in Frog in the Middle we're going to skip notes. So we're only going to need
so and me and do, and we're never going to use re or fa. So, these two fingers your finger
here and here won't actually get used in this song. That's ok. They'll get a turn on another song.
So let's practice moving our fingers for Frog in the Middle. Alright, for Frog
in the Middle let's use our left and this time. For Hot Cross Buns and Five Woodpeckers
we started with our right hand, so let's give that left hand a turn. Alright? Now, in the
left hand your pinky is do. That will be the lowest note. And then it will go up from there:
do, re, me, fa, so. Remember in Frog in the Middle we're skipping notes. We have so, me,
and do. So, will you hold up your left hand with me and let's practice finding those Solfege
notes. So - wiggle your thumb; me - wiggle your middle finger, do - wiggle your pinky.
Good. Now, let's try the notes from Frog in the Middle. I'll sing first and move my fingers,
and then you copy what I do when it's your turn. My turn: So so so me me. Your turn.
Good, now my turn. So so so me; your turn. My turn: so so so me me. Your turn. Do do do.
Your turn. Good job; now let's try it with words. And this time, let's do it together
at the same time. We're going to sing the words of the song, and use so, me, and do
fingers but we'll sing the real words. Frog in the Middle; ready, go: [Singing] Frog in the middle,
frog in the sea; frog in the middle, can't catch me. Good. Now, here's a little hint:
whenever the words of the song say "middle" it's your middle finger. How about that? So,
if you can't remember when to switch to your middle finger, just thing about the words:
Frog in the, and then on mid-dle it's you're middle finger. Alright, let's come to the
piano keys and try it on the piano. In this area of the piano, can you point on your screen
to a note that is called C? If you're pointing right here, you're correct. Now, for Frog
in the Middle, since we're using our left hand, we're going to need to put our lowest
finger, which is your pinky in the left hand, on C. Remember, if we were using your right
hand, your thumb would go on C but now, since your left hand is built opposite, we'll need
to put that pinky on C and then every other finger on an adjacent white key. Ok, I'll play
a pattern and then you take a turn. Try and copy what I do and sing while we play. We're
gonna start with so. So so so me me. Now your turn. Good, my turn again. So so so me. Your turn.
Good, my turn now. So so so me me, do do do. Your turn. Good. This time let's try
it with lyrics. My turn: Frog in the middle. Your turn. Now, remember: try to sing while
you play. The singing helps develop your musical ear. My turn again. Frog in the sea. Your turn.
Good. My turn: Frog in the middle, can't catch me. Your turn. Good. Now, press pause
and practice on your own for a few minutes. Sing the words while you play. Then, when
you're ready to try playing along with me, you can press play again.
Alright, now we're ready to try Frog in the Middle together. Or if you prefer you can just listen, but
if you feel ready you can try playing along with me. With your left hand in position,
we're going to start with your thumb on G. One, two, ready, go. [Singing] Frog in the middle, frog
in the sea; frog in the middle, can't catch me. Great job! Now, at home, on your own,
I'd like you to practice Frog in the Middle every day. Today we learned it in the left
hand, but I also would like you to try playing it in the right hand. Why don't you try doing
it five times every day. For extra challenge, you can try singing the Solfege while you
play or, for a really extra challenge, try singing the letter names as you play.
For the sheet music to this song, you can download it from our website as part of the Complete
Materials for Unit 1. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you next time.
Ahem. We will now play for you Frog in the Middle uh, with, um, well frogs.
Thank you very much! Everyone take a bow.