9. Spiders!
Nest of vipers creeping
Spider clusters creeping
Spider clusters creeping
Fascinations
Although spiders don’t have ears or eardrums they can still ‘hear’ you talking, singing or clapping from several metres away. Spiders use the tiny, sensitive hairs on their legs to detect noises through airborne vibrations known as sound waves. Current research indicates that spiders are interpreting these vibrations into neural activity - indeed the male jumping spider’s courtship routine involves the arachnid equivalent of a song and a dance (although unimpressed females sometimes eat their suitors). The question is, are you confident enough to sing to a spider?
Although spiders don’t have ears or eardrums they can still ‘hear’ you talking, singing or clapping from several metres away. Spiders use the tiny, sensitive hairs on their legs to detect noises through airborne vibrations known as sound waves. Current research indicates that spiders are interpreting these vibrations into neural activity - indeed the male jumping spider’s courtship routine involves the arachnid equivalent of a song and a dance (although unimpressed females sometimes eat their suitors). The question is, are you confident enough to sing to a spider?
Musicking
Modern composers favour chord clusters, typically of three notes or more, to blur the sound and make their music more intriguing. Messiaen, a French composer, said he perceived colours when he heard certain chords. Can you imagine a spider advancing towards you? How would you set that to music? Listen out for our sequence of spider clusters from bars 9-16 and spot the syncopated rhythms in bars 10 and 14 to suggest unexpected darting spider movements. Explore tapping and clapping tarantella rhythms from the song to improve coordination. Research informs us that tarantulas have a preference for right-handedness so please clap left-handed*. Why so? To avoid the unwanted attention of any passing tarantulas.
* Left-handed Clapping: right-handed clappers must clap left-handed - and vice versa for left-handers. This is where your dominant hand stays still, cupped with palm facing up, and your generally less coordinated hand does all the work: an instant way to develop better manual coordination and something you get to practise regularly.
Modern composers favour chord clusters, typically of three notes or more, to blur the sound and make their music more intriguing. Messiaen, a French composer, said he perceived colours when he heard certain chords. Can you imagine a spider advancing towards you? How would you set that to music? Listen out for our sequence of spider clusters from bars 9-16 and spot the syncopated rhythms in bars 10 and 14 to suggest unexpected darting spider movements. Explore tapping and clapping tarantella rhythms from the song to improve coordination. Research informs us that tarantulas have a preference for right-handedness so please clap left-handed*. Why so? To avoid the unwanted attention of any passing tarantulas.
* Left-handed Clapping: right-handed clappers must clap left-handed - and vice versa for left-handers. This is where your dominant hand stays still, cupped with palm facing up, and your generally less coordinated hand does all the work: an instant way to develop better manual coordination and something you get to practise regularly.
Learning moves
What is it about spiders that we don’t like? Is it the way they move and scuttle about? Which words (like scuttle) can you think of to describe spiders? When you have learned the song and are feeling confident, devise a dance using the following moves to help you spin a web, starting in a circle:
Spiders live in clusters Lean in to form small group clusters
And they really don’t like dusters Use hands to push away imaginary dusters
As they spin their silky web all day Spin in a circle arms held high
Spiders have such hairy legs Stroke legs proudly
They like to hide beneath your bed Duck down as if trying to squeeze under a bed
Then creep out as you go to sleep Creep out and step forward on the stresses
If you close your eyes they’ll go away Stand back-to-back with partner/elbows interlocked
If you close your eyes to God and pray Wheel around the space from side to side
SPIDERS! Stop abruptly looking as if you’ve spotted a spider!
What is it about spiders that we don’t like? Is it the way they move and scuttle about? Which words (like scuttle) can you think of to describe spiders? When you have learned the song and are feeling confident, devise a dance using the following moves to help you spin a web, starting in a circle:
Spiders live in clusters Lean in to form small group clusters
And they really don’t like dusters Use hands to push away imaginary dusters
As they spin their silky web all day Spin in a circle arms held high
Spiders have such hairy legs Stroke legs proudly
They like to hide beneath your bed Duck down as if trying to squeeze under a bed
Then creep out as you go to sleep Creep out and step forward on the stresses
If you close your eyes they’ll go away Stand back-to-back with partner/elbows interlocked
If you close your eyes to God and pray Wheel around the space from side to side
SPIDERS! Stop abruptly looking as if you’ve spotted a spider!