Music Together May 12
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We did a lot of vocal play last class! A great example of vocal play is the dog sounds we do with the Sad Little Puppy song in class. Making animal sounds and sliding your voice from low to high without singing one specific pitch is a great way to help your children develop their singing voices.
The National Association for Music Education gives music teachers guidelines and ideas for how to use vocal play. The ideas listed below are not only great for teachers but also wonderful things you can do at home with the songs in your Music Together songs collection.
http://www.menc.org/v/general_music/early-childhood-singing-activities-part-1/
Our dance was Ten Little Indians from the album Polka Parade.
You can click the link below to buy the MP3.
Here is a different version of Ten Little Indians you can enjoy at home. It's not the polka dance we did in class but its a fun jazz version of the song.
The National Association for Music Education gives music teachers guidelines and ideas for how to use vocal play. The ideas listed below are not only great for teachers but also wonderful things you can do at home with the songs in your Music Together songs collection.
http://www.menc.org/v/general_music/early-childhood-singing-activities-part-1/
Young children thrive in a playful, relaxed, joyful environment with music activities designed to elicit exploration, cooperation, and success, says MENC member Wendy L. Sims. “Singing is the most intimate way for children to make music and to express themselves through music.”
Here are her suggestions for developing singing skill.
Encourage chanting, rhythmic speaking, vocal exploration, and improvisation. Some children make up songs spontaneously, while others need models and planned opportunities.
- Play question-and-answer games
- Converse in song
- Use poems, chants, and finger plays with strong rhythmic feeling
Allow children to develop their ability to sing at their own speed—it takes time, experience, and maturation. Never label children as poor singers or tell them not to sing with a group.
Pitch singing activities in the appropriate pitch range for young children—generally middle C or D up five notes to G or A.
Offer opportunities for children to match pitch, although accuracy is not to be expected from all.
- Use echo games using short pitch patterns and songs requiring short repetitive reponses
- Descending patterns may be the easiest.
Vocal Awareness and Exploration
Use vocal play to help children find their singing voices.
- Gliding their voices from high to low like a siren.
- Hooting like an owl.
- Following a wavy chalk line as it rises, falls, or stays the same.
Help children develop confidence in singing alone or with a group.
- Invite but never force them to participate.
- Those who don’t initially participate often join in next time or sing the song at a different time and place.
- Singing games, keeping eyes closed, or providing the voice of a puppet help timid singers participate.
Our play along song was Strummin' Song sung by Annette Funicello. The song was written by the Sherman Brothers and I highly recommend their music. They did soundtracks for Disney movies like Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and other fantastic movies!
Our dance was Ten Little Indians from the album Polka Parade.
You can click the link below to buy the MP3.
Here is a different version of Ten Little Indians you can enjoy at home. It's not the polka dance we did in class but its a fun jazz version of the song.
