Making Instruments From Something:
Earlier in the week, we used plastic bags to make all kinds of interesting sounds. Now, lets look around and see what else we can find to make beautiful music with.
Take a look inside. What can you find to make music with? A metal bowl and a wooden spoon together make a bold sound. Drinking glasses filled with water and tapped with a pencil (or gently with a metal spoon) can make beautiful melodies. An egg carton with rubber bands stretched over it can make a lovely little string instrument. An empty oatmeal box is a great drum.
Keep looking around your home and see what else you can find. Don't forget to look outside, too. Metal trash can lids can smash together to make cymbals. To solid sticks can be tapped together to make claves.
Use your new instruments and play a new song together. Try tapping out the rhythm to a well known song (like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). Try tuning your water glasses to play the melody. You'll have your own 'found instrument' orchestra in no time!
Showing posts with label Music At Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music At Home. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Music Hunt: Day Four
Making Music Out Of Nothing:
You don't need an instrument in your hands to make music. Your body has all kinds of ways to make neat musical sounds.
You can sing, of course, and you can clap. You can stomp your feet, slap your thigh, thump your chest and tap your toes.
Spend some time today exploring the different sounds you can make with your body. (Nothing gross, please!)
Take a few minutes to listen to an a capella group, like my favorite, Rockapella. (If you listen to some of these samples, it sounds like there is a full drum kit behind them, but it's all done with their bodies!)
Have some fun. And don't forget to add these sounds into tomorrows activity!
You don't need an instrument in your hands to make music. Your body has all kinds of ways to make neat musical sounds.
You can sing, of course, and you can clap. You can stomp your feet, slap your thigh, thump your chest and tap your toes.
Spend some time today exploring the different sounds you can make with your body. (Nothing gross, please!)
Take a few minutes to listen to an a capella group, like my favorite, Rockapella. (If you listen to some of these samples, it sounds like there is a full drum kit behind them, but it's all done with their bodies!)
Have some fun. And don't forget to add these sounds into tomorrows activity!
Music Hunt: Day Three
Sometimes, our eyes get in the way of our ears. We hear something in a certain way because we can see what is making the sound. Try this activity to see if you can see with your ears!
Materials:
Anything you have at home that makes a noise. (To be fair to new players, start with things that are very distinctive. Older children can handle more of a challenge) You can assemble items in a bin the day before without your children seeing or you can pick things up as you play the game. I like to get everything together ahead of time, but it's really up to you.
Procedure:
Have one child turn around and close their eyes. You can use a blindfold to make it more interesting or to help younger children keep from peeking.
Choose a noisy item (a jar of rice, a jingle bell, car keys etc) and make some noise with it. Other children can take turns choosing and shaking each item.
Have your blindfolded child guess what makes that sound.
You can give hints (We eat it for dinner. It's white. etc) if the child is having trouble figuring it out. Some items, like a jar of rice and a jar of dry beans, sound very similar, so if a child gets stumped, give hints until they are successful. No one should walk away feeling defeated by the game.
You can repeat this activity at spontaneous moments. Want the children to guess what's for dinner? Shake the rice bin! On your way out the door? Have them close their eyes and jingle your keys as a signal to get ready to get in the car. Your days are filled with opportunities to practice listening. Take advantage of them.
Materials:
Anything you have at home that makes a noise. (To be fair to new players, start with things that are very distinctive. Older children can handle more of a challenge) You can assemble items in a bin the day before without your children seeing or you can pick things up as you play the game. I like to get everything together ahead of time, but it's really up to you.
Procedure:
Have one child turn around and close their eyes. You can use a blindfold to make it more interesting or to help younger children keep from peeking.
Choose a noisy item (a jar of rice, a jingle bell, car keys etc) and make some noise with it. Other children can take turns choosing and shaking each item.
Have your blindfolded child guess what makes that sound.
You can give hints (We eat it for dinner. It's white. etc) if the child is having trouble figuring it out. Some items, like a jar of rice and a jar of dry beans, sound very similar, so if a child gets stumped, give hints until they are successful. No one should walk away feeling defeated by the game.
You can repeat this activity at spontaneous moments. Want the children to guess what's for dinner? Shake the rice bin! On your way out the door? Have them close their eyes and jingle your keys as a signal to get ready to get in the car. Your days are filled with opportunities to practice listening. Take advantage of them.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Music Hunt: Day Two
With all of this "going green" talk lately, many stores have started changing the bags they use or offer inexpensive re-usable bags for you to purchase. Hopefully, however, you have a few plastic shopping bags lying around, just waiting to find some additional purpose. (See? We're not only learning about music today, we're helping the environment by reusing your plastic bags!)
**PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE DONE WITH ADULT SUPERVISION FOR ANY CHILD 3 AND UNDER**
So: You'll need one bag for ever child who will be participating and you'll need a little space. I recommend going outside if it isn't too windy, or maybe explain the activity to everyone and allow older children to spread out through the house while you work directly with the younger children.
First, give everyone their bag and explain that this will be their new musical instrument. Encourage everyone to experiment with ways to make noise with the bag. Don't give any hints at this point. You have my permission to demonstrate only ONE sound from the bag. Then sit back and watch the children figure the rest out on their own.
Once the children have exhausted all their own ideas, gather everyone together and ask that they repeat what you do. Take your own bag and crumple it quickly. (Children should do the same for this and each following example). Now crumple it slowly. Hold a piece of your bag in each hand and rub them together quickly. Then slowly. Hold the handles and swish it through the air, filling the bag with air.
Now start inventing short rhythms for the children to echo back to you. (Crumple, Crumple, Swish, Rub) etc. Do 5 or 6 of these and then choose another child to lead the activity. (Make sure you follow their example just like they followed yours. You might be surprised at the techniques they have invented)
The very last thing you should do is fill up your bag with air and close it tightly so that you have a bunch of air trapped securely inside (you might want to give it a twist or two!) Then, while holding the bag with one hand, smash your other hand into the bag balloon. This should make a nice, loud and impressive pop. Encourage your children to try to do the same.
Most importantly, have fun with this. Don't worry if your children can't copy your rhythms exactly. Don't worry if you have no rhythm worth copying! Exposure to the idea of creating music from nothing is what is important here.
Good luck! (P.S. I'd love to see pictures if you have time to take some of your children playing in their bag band. Also let me know if you will allow me to post these pictures on this blog. Thanks!)
**PLEASE NOTE: THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE DONE WITH ADULT SUPERVISION FOR ANY CHILD 3 AND UNDER**
So: You'll need one bag for ever child who will be participating and you'll need a little space. I recommend going outside if it isn't too windy, or maybe explain the activity to everyone and allow older children to spread out through the house while you work directly with the younger children.
First, give everyone their bag and explain that this will be their new musical instrument. Encourage everyone to experiment with ways to make noise with the bag. Don't give any hints at this point. You have my permission to demonstrate only ONE sound from the bag. Then sit back and watch the children figure the rest out on their own.
Once the children have exhausted all their own ideas, gather everyone together and ask that they repeat what you do. Take your own bag and crumple it quickly. (Children should do the same for this and each following example). Now crumple it slowly. Hold a piece of your bag in each hand and rub them together quickly. Then slowly. Hold the handles and swish it through the air, filling the bag with air.
Now start inventing short rhythms for the children to echo back to you. (Crumple, Crumple, Swish, Rub) etc. Do 5 or 6 of these and then choose another child to lead the activity. (Make sure you follow their example just like they followed yours. You might be surprised at the techniques they have invented)
The very last thing you should do is fill up your bag with air and close it tightly so that you have a bunch of air trapped securely inside (you might want to give it a twist or two!) Then, while holding the bag with one hand, smash your other hand into the bag balloon. This should make a nice, loud and impressive pop. Encourage your children to try to do the same.
Most importantly, have fun with this. Don't worry if your children can't copy your rhythms exactly. Don't worry if you have no rhythm worth copying! Exposure to the idea of creating music from nothing is what is important here.
Good luck! (P.S. I'd love to see pictures if you have time to take some of your children playing in their bag band. Also let me know if you will allow me to post these pictures on this blog. Thanks!)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Music Hunt: Day One
Just like any other muscle in your body, the ears need to be trained to really listen. Studying music in college, we were required to take a course every semester titled "Ear Training". As serious musicians, we worked out our ears for an hour a day, just listening and focusing, teaching our brains to interpret each vibration with greater accuracy.
Of course, I would not ask you to do that. Instead, I want you to take just one day, today, to focus on what you are hearing. Start inside as the day begins. Listen to the sounds of the water running in the bathroom as the children start their day. Listen to the bacon sizzle in the pan. Coffee pots make great gurgling sounds. Maybe Daddy is still snoring. And please don't forget the birds outside. Perhaps the most obvious form of natural music, there is often a rhythm to their calls. Sometimes you can even hear them calling your name!
Playing outside today? Focus on the sound of the wind in the trees, the cars going by, airplanes overhead, the neighbors dog. Bees buzzing around you can make a rhythmic hum as they flit closer and further away.
Make the effort today, everywhere you go, to listen. Ask your children what they hear. They may notice things that you might have missed. And most of all, enjoy your musical day!
Of course, I would not ask you to do that. Instead, I want you to take just one day, today, to focus on what you are hearing. Start inside as the day begins. Listen to the sounds of the water running in the bathroom as the children start their day. Listen to the bacon sizzle in the pan. Coffee pots make great gurgling sounds. Maybe Daddy is still snoring. And please don't forget the birds outside. Perhaps the most obvious form of natural music, there is often a rhythm to their calls. Sometimes you can even hear them calling your name!
Playing outside today? Focus on the sound of the wind in the trees, the cars going by, airplanes overhead, the neighbors dog. Bees buzzing around you can make a rhythmic hum as they flit closer and further away.
Make the effort today, everywhere you go, to listen. Ask your children what they hear. They may notice things that you might have missed. And most of all, enjoy your musical day!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Music At Home: Music Hunt Week
Guess what? In case you hadn't noticed already, and I suppose anyone who doesn't have music on their brain all the time might have missed it, music is everywhere. Really. Even if you put yourself in a quiet room, there is a kind of music present in your breathing, your heartbeat, your foot steps.
This week, we will be exploring many 'alternative' forms of music. Each day, look here for a new project or activity to do with your family. The only materials you will require this week are access to the outside world and the ability to allow your children to rifle through your closets and kitchen cupboards! Be prepared. This is going to be a noisy week. It's also going to be quite a lot of fun!
If you can manage it, I highly recommend you get your hands on some music by Philip Glass. It can be hard to listen to, but if ever there was a man who embraces alternative instruments, he's it! He has written a great deal of music for movies, television and stage plays. If you are in the mood to discuss a composer, he's the one to pick this week.
I hope you enjoy these lessons. Please come back and let me know how it went.
This week, we will be exploring many 'alternative' forms of music. Each day, look here for a new project or activity to do with your family. The only materials you will require this week are access to the outside world and the ability to allow your children to rifle through your closets and kitchen cupboards! Be prepared. This is going to be a noisy week. It's also going to be quite a lot of fun!
If you can manage it, I highly recommend you get your hands on some music by Philip Glass. It can be hard to listen to, but if ever there was a man who embraces alternative instruments, he's it! He has written a great deal of music for movies, television and stage plays. If you are in the mood to discuss a composer, he's the one to pick this week.
I hope you enjoy these lessons. Please come back and let me know how it went.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Music At Home: Daily Listening
We all understand the importance of reading to our children every day. The constant exposure to books provides far too many benefits to be listed here. By reading every day, you allow the children to forge a bond with books, a love of reading and the ability to understand the art of writing.
Similarly, daily exposure to quality music is important for children to learn to appreciate and understand what they are hearing.
So today, I charge you with creating a specific time every day to listen to music. You probably already have a time for reading, don't you? Bedtime, maybe? Or first thing in the morning? The great thing about listening to music is that it can be done while you are doing other things. For example, during lunch would be a great time. Or perhaps during your afternoon clean up time. You choose a time that works best for you and that lasts at least 10 minutes.
What should you play during your listening time? You should choose one or two selections and they should be from the same genre. And you should repeat that selection every day for one week or more, if you really enjoy it. Try to choose something a little outside your comfort zone. Your library can be an excellent source of music or you can usually find bargain recordings at your local music store.
Remember that you do not need to discuss the music with the children during the daily listening time. If there is information you would like to share with your children, you should find another time to do it. The children should be allowed to enjoy the selections and take away from it whatever they can on their own. Certainly, you may choose to use this weeks selection to help the children focus on a particular feature, such as tempo, dynamics and so forth, but make sure you do this at some other time.
Now go through the music you have at home, or borrow something from a friendly neighbor and get listening. Every day!
Similarly, daily exposure to quality music is important for children to learn to appreciate and understand what they are hearing.
So today, I charge you with creating a specific time every day to listen to music. You probably already have a time for reading, don't you? Bedtime, maybe? Or first thing in the morning? The great thing about listening to music is that it can be done while you are doing other things. For example, during lunch would be a great time. Or perhaps during your afternoon clean up time. You choose a time that works best for you and that lasts at least 10 minutes.
What should you play during your listening time? You should choose one or two selections and they should be from the same genre. And you should repeat that selection every day for one week or more, if you really enjoy it. Try to choose something a little outside your comfort zone. Your library can be an excellent source of music or you can usually find bargain recordings at your local music store.
Remember that you do not need to discuss the music with the children during the daily listening time. If there is information you would like to share with your children, you should find another time to do it. The children should be allowed to enjoy the selections and take away from it whatever they can on their own. Certainly, you may choose to use this weeks selection to help the children focus on a particular feature, such as tempo, dynamics and so forth, but make sure you do this at some other time.
Now go through the music you have at home, or borrow something from a friendly neighbor and get listening. Every day!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Music At Home: Extension
Have you been dancing to music this week with your kids? Here's an easy little craft you can do to make your slower selections more fun:
Ribbon Dancing
Materials:
Directions:
Once the glue is dry, your ribbon wand is ready for dancing with. Experiment with ways to wave it around, such as making circles over your head, or in front of you. Figure eights look beautiful. Try spinning with your wand held out in front of you as you wiggle it. This makes a beautiful wave shape. Enjoy expressing your selected music with your ribbon wand.
(Note: You can attach the ribbon to the dowel with a flat headed push pin if you want to, however it will not last as long. Also, you can have your children paint the dowel!)
Ribbon Dancing
Materials:
- Long dowel (1 per child)
- Ribbon (about 1" wide) (Length: See instructions) 1 per child
- Screw in eye hook (1 per child)
- 2" length of wire (1 per child)
- Small grommet (1 per child)
- Grommet Setter
- 1 tbs white glue mixed with 1 tbs water
Directions:
- First, measure each child and multiply their height by 1.5 This will be the length of your ribbon.
- Screw the screw eye into the dowel so it sticks out the end.
- Fold one end of the ribbon over about 1". Set a grommet in the end so that it keeps the ribbon folded over.
- Dip the other end of the ribbon into the glue mixture (to keep it from fraying)
- Use the wire to fasten the grommet end of the ribbon to the eye hook in the dowel.
Once the glue is dry, your ribbon wand is ready for dancing with. Experiment with ways to wave it around, such as making circles over your head, or in front of you. Figure eights look beautiful. Try spinning with your wand held out in front of you as you wiggle it. This makes a beautiful wave shape. Enjoy expressing your selected music with your ribbon wand.
(Note: You can attach the ribbon to the dowel with a flat headed push pin if you want to, however it will not last as long. Also, you can have your children paint the dowel!)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Music At Home: Welcome Back
After an unannounced break from Music At Home, I'm back! lol
This week, we are concentrating on movement with music. Think, for a moment, of your music collection and choose two or three songs of different styles, tempos and subjects. For example, you might choose a march, a ballad and a waltz. Anything you have will do. Mixing time periods would be a great thing, too. You can choose a classical piece, a Phillip Sousa march and a modern song.
Play each one for your children and ask them to just listen to each. Talk about what is different in each one (instruments, tempo, mood, style etc). Play the first one again and ask them to make up a dance that they think goes well with the piece. Older children might be able to make a play or story to go with it. Perhaps they can make up a dance for several people that tells a story without words! The idea is to get their little bodies moving and thinking with the music and making it their own.
Another day this week, do the same thing with the second song and then use the third song at the end of the week. Your children will learn to actively listen to each of these selections and make them their own. This is an incredible skill that will take some time to master, so feel free to repeat this activity with varying selections throughout the year. (Your local library is a great source for different styles of music!)
This week, we are concentrating on movement with music. Think, for a moment, of your music collection and choose two or three songs of different styles, tempos and subjects. For example, you might choose a march, a ballad and a waltz. Anything you have will do. Mixing time periods would be a great thing, too. You can choose a classical piece, a Phillip Sousa march and a modern song.
Play each one for your children and ask them to just listen to each. Talk about what is different in each one (instruments, tempo, mood, style etc). Play the first one again and ask them to make up a dance that they think goes well with the piece. Older children might be able to make a play or story to go with it. Perhaps they can make up a dance for several people that tells a story without words! The idea is to get their little bodies moving and thinking with the music and making it their own.
Another day this week, do the same thing with the second song and then use the third song at the end of the week. Your children will learn to actively listen to each of these selections and make them their own. This is an incredible skill that will take some time to master, so feel free to repeat this activity with varying selections throughout the year. (Your local library is a great source for different styles of music!)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Too Good To Pass Up
"A told B and
B told C '
I'll meet you at the
top of the coconut tree!'"
If you haven't read it yet, please make "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" the very next book you pick up from your library to read with your children. Full of great rhymes and a lively, bouncy rhythm, this book is a must.
All the little lowercase letters race up the coconut tree only to end up needing the help of their "momma's and poppas and uncles and aunts" the upper case letters. This book is a favorite in our house and it will be in yours too.
Aside from being incredibly fun, they rhythm of the book teaches children about beat. My three little girls actually dance to this book. I find, in fact, that it is very difficult to keep my own feet from tapping out the primal beat behind this book.
Read it. Have fun. Dance!
B told C '
I'll meet you at the
top of the coconut tree!'"
If you haven't read it yet, please make "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" the very next book you pick up from your library to read with your children. Full of great rhymes and a lively, bouncy rhythm, this book is a must.
All the little lowercase letters race up the coconut tree only to end up needing the help of their "momma's and poppas and uncles and aunts" the upper case letters. This book is a favorite in our house and it will be in yours too.
Aside from being incredibly fun, they rhythm of the book teaches children about beat. My three little girls actually dance to this book. I find, in fact, that it is very difficult to keep my own feet from tapping out the primal beat behind this book.
Read it. Have fun. Dance!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Music At Home: Prepare for Tomorrow
Are you ready for music tomorrow?
1. You need to choose a new song to start with your little ones. Remember to pepper in your song from last week, lest we forget what we learned. Follow the same method you used last week for your new song.
2. Gather enough pots and metal bowls for EVERY child in your home. A baby need only be able to see to enjoy a shiny stainless steel bowl. Make sure you also have enough wooden spoons for everyone. Don't have enough? That's okay. Gather some chop sticks or even some long cylindrical wooden blocks from the toy bin. Plastic can work, too.
3. Tomorrow, choose a time of day when you are at your most patient. You will need it! Just ten minutes. Set a timer so you don't short your children on this lovely experience. Let them choose a bowl and a 'banger' from the selection that you have gathered together and give them the freedom to experiment with all the different noises they can make. They will most likely start by beating the heck out of your poor bowls, but once they've gotten that out of their system, guide them to try 'stirring' or running their banger along the very edge of the bowl, or holding the banger from the center and striking the length of it across the bottom of the bowl or lightly ticking the very edge of the bowl to make it ring. There are lots of ways to make loud and soft sounds with this great instrument.
Exploration is the key, here and you need to make sure that you don't squash that by complaining about the noise. This is what the timer is for. You can't stop them until the timer goes off and they can't keep playing after it has rung. It's a handy rule that will keep everyone happy and sane.
Now, enjoy some fine, improvised music!
1. You need to choose a new song to start with your little ones. Remember to pepper in your song from last week, lest we forget what we learned. Follow the same method you used last week for your new song.
2. Gather enough pots and metal bowls for EVERY child in your home. A baby need only be able to see to enjoy a shiny stainless steel bowl. Make sure you also have enough wooden spoons for everyone. Don't have enough? That's okay. Gather some chop sticks or even some long cylindrical wooden blocks from the toy bin. Plastic can work, too.
3. Tomorrow, choose a time of day when you are at your most patient. You will need it! Just ten minutes. Set a timer so you don't short your children on this lovely experience. Let them choose a bowl and a 'banger' from the selection that you have gathered together and give them the freedom to experiment with all the different noises they can make. They will most likely start by beating the heck out of your poor bowls, but once they've gotten that out of their system, guide them to try 'stirring' or running their banger along the very edge of the bowl, or holding the banger from the center and striking the length of it across the bottom of the bowl or lightly ticking the very edge of the bowl to make it ring. There are lots of ways to make loud and soft sounds with this great instrument.
Exploration is the key, here and you need to make sure that you don't squash that by complaining about the noise. This is what the timer is for. You can't stop them until the timer goes off and they can't keep playing after it has rung. It's a handy rule that will keep everyone happy and sane.
Now, enjoy some fine, improvised music!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Music At Home: Book Recommendation
Take a look at my side bar today. You'll see I've copied my sister Jennie and put a little book widget over there. I will be using this to recommend books for you to check from your local library, each a great story relating to music.
This book, Mole Music, is such a sweet story about a little mole who does not find fulfillment in digging all day and going home to an empty home at night. He sees a musician perform on his television and he decides to give it a try. After mail ordering a violin and waiting impatiently for it to arrive, he finally has the chance to make a little music. His first note are terrible, but he practices and slowly gets better.
The illustrations show mole underground, but also afford you a view of the world above him, of which he has no idea. Every step of his transformation changes something about the world outside and his mastery of the violin holds an awesome power, of which he never knows. None of this is every spelled out in the story, but it is a beautiful secondary storyline told only in the illustrations.
So go get it from your library and share this story with your children!
This book, Mole Music, is such a sweet story about a little mole who does not find fulfillment in digging all day and going home to an empty home at night. He sees a musician perform on his television and he decides to give it a try. After mail ordering a violin and waiting impatiently for it to arrive, he finally has the chance to make a little music. His first note are terrible, but he practices and slowly gets better.
The illustrations show mole underground, but also afford you a view of the world above him, of which he has no idea. Every step of his transformation changes something about the world outside and his mastery of the violin holds an awesome power, of which he never knows. None of this is every spelled out in the story, but it is a beautiful secondary storyline told only in the illustrations.
So go get it from your library and share this story with your children!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Music At Home: Ending Week One
It's almost the end of the week. If you did as I asked you to on Monday, you've had three whole days of singing the same song with your children. They should, by now, be singing it with you.
Today, encourage your children to 'own' this song by starting a line of it and allowing them to finish it on their own. (For example, if you chose to sing Mary Had A Little Lamb this week, start singing it today by just singing "Mary" and looking expectantly at your little one. He will, most likely, finish the line for you.) Keep the song going to it's end by singing a word wherever your child pauses. Before you know it, he'll be singing the whole song by himself from start to finish. This process should take about a week, depending on your child's age and the number of times you've been singing this song during the week.
Now, dear parents, next week will be the hardest week, I think, for you. Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a few minutes of chaotic noise every day. Remember this is very good for your child's musical development and it really will be only a few minutes. Spend the next few days readying yourself for Monday!
Today, encourage your children to 'own' this song by starting a line of it and allowing them to finish it on their own. (For example, if you chose to sing Mary Had A Little Lamb this week, start singing it today by just singing "Mary" and looking expectantly at your little one. He will, most likely, finish the line for you.) Keep the song going to it's end by singing a word wherever your child pauses. Before you know it, he'll be singing the whole song by himself from start to finish. This process should take about a week, depending on your child's age and the number of times you've been singing this song during the week.
Now, dear parents, next week will be the hardest week, I think, for you. Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a few minutes of chaotic noise every day. Remember this is very good for your child's musical development and it really will be only a few minutes. Spend the next few days readying yourself for Monday!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Music At Home: An Unplanned Tip
Jennie's comment on my last Music At Home post reminded me of this one.
We have days here, and I'm sure you do too, where none of the children are really listening to my requests. I can ask them to pick up the same toy 7, 8, 9 times in a row with little to no response on those days.
But . . . If I sing my request . . . they jump right into it, nearly always returning my song with a melodious "Oooohh-kaaaaaaaeeeeee Mommmmmmmeeeeeeee"
This does several things.
First, it improves their focus and ability to follow directions.
Second, and more musically relevant, it give them the opportunity to make up their own, short song. Many young children (mine are all under three, for at least a few more weeks), can make up new words to songs they already know. But they rarely understand that they have power over the notes they sing, too. It's a great and musically freeing lesson to learn, especially at a young age.
Enjoy!
We have days here, and I'm sure you do too, where none of the children are really listening to my requests. I can ask them to pick up the same toy 7, 8, 9 times in a row with little to no response on those days.
But . . . If I sing my request . . . they jump right into it, nearly always returning my song with a melodious "Oooohh-kaaaaaaaeeeeee Mommmmmmmeeeeeeee"
This does several things.
First, it improves their focus and ability to follow directions.
Second, and more musically relevant, it give them the opportunity to make up their own, short song. Many young children (mine are all under three, for at least a few more weeks), can make up new words to songs they already know. But they rarely understand that they have power over the notes they sing, too. It's a great and musically freeing lesson to learn, especially at a young age.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Music At Home: Our First Week
Since it's Monday, it's a fine day to start something new, don't you think?
Today I want you to choose a song. Any song that has a simple melody (songs like "Mary Had A Little Lamb" which uses only 4 notes are a good first choice) and easy to remember lyrics. At my house, we are singing "The Green Grass Grew All Around". I chose this song because the melody is catchy but easy and we are working on the letter G here.
Once you choose a song, start singing it.
Yes, it's really that easy. Make sure you sing carefully and pay attention to your own pitch. Your children are learning how to find the right pitch from your example, so the better an example you give, the better ear for pitch they will have later.
Sing the song at varying points in your day. Sing it while you are cooking breakfast or folding laundry. Sing it while you give them a bath or drive to the grocery store. It usually only takes about a day of you singing before your children start joining in the fun. They will be eager to enjoy the song with you and you'll be amazed at how quickly even the youngest little singer will learn the song.
Don't like to sing or don't sing well? Grab any of the hundreds of children's music CD's that are out there. Your local library can help you there. Before you play it for your children, though, you need to listen to it and make sure that the artist singing is actually singing in tune. Do not use a collection sung by other children, unless it is a professional children's choir. You want to present only the finest example of musicianship to your child.
Play a song from this CD several times each day. Or you can choose to play the CD in it's entirety during some free play time. But it needs to be repeated through the whole week. You'll need to sing or at least hum along with the music so your child learns that it's not only okay to sing along, it's expected and natural.
I'd love to hear what song you pick to sing this week. I'll try to give you a great song for kids each week that you can use to develop your child's musical ear.
Good luck and happy singing!
Today I want you to choose a song. Any song that has a simple melody (songs like "Mary Had A Little Lamb" which uses only 4 notes are a good first choice) and easy to remember lyrics. At my house, we are singing "The Green Grass Grew All Around". I chose this song because the melody is catchy but easy and we are working on the letter G here.
Once you choose a song, start singing it.
Yes, it's really that easy. Make sure you sing carefully and pay attention to your own pitch. Your children are learning how to find the right pitch from your example, so the better an example you give, the better ear for pitch they will have later.
Sing the song at varying points in your day. Sing it while you are cooking breakfast or folding laundry. Sing it while you give them a bath or drive to the grocery store. It usually only takes about a day of you singing before your children start joining in the fun. They will be eager to enjoy the song with you and you'll be amazed at how quickly even the youngest little singer will learn the song.
Don't like to sing or don't sing well? Grab any of the hundreds of children's music CD's that are out there. Your local library can help you there. Before you play it for your children, though, you need to listen to it and make sure that the artist singing is actually singing in tune. Do not use a collection sung by other children, unless it is a professional children's choir. You want to present only the finest example of musicianship to your child.
Play a song from this CD several times each day. Or you can choose to play the CD in it's entirety during some free play time. But it needs to be repeated through the whole week. You'll need to sing or at least hum along with the music so your child learns that it's not only okay to sing along, it's expected and natural.
I'd love to hear what song you pick to sing this week. I'll try to give you a great song for kids each week that you can use to develop your child's musical ear.
Good luck and happy singing!
Music At Home
Of all of the subjects taught to children in public, private and even home schools (with the exception of a magnate school for arts, perhaps), music is the most overlooked. It seems frivolous, a luxury, to be set aside for days when there are less important things to study and learn.
Of course, to me, this is just an insane point of view. But then, I'm a music lover, through and through. For those of you who aren't quite as passionate about this as I am, consider this: Not only is music intrinsically valuable, active participation in music (playing or listening) increases our brains ability to think!
Because this is so important to me, and because I have a few sisters who read this blog and teach their children at home, I would like to start a new feature here about incorporating music into your daily home life. It doesn't have to be difficult and the benefits far outweigh the small changes you'll make.
Join me, won't you? Let enjoy some Music At Home.
Of course, to me, this is just an insane point of view. But then, I'm a music lover, through and through. For those of you who aren't quite as passionate about this as I am, consider this: Not only is music intrinsically valuable, active participation in music (playing or listening) increases our brains ability to think!
Because this is so important to me, and because I have a few sisters who read this blog and teach their children at home, I would like to start a new feature here about incorporating music into your daily home life. It doesn't have to be difficult and the benefits far outweigh the small changes you'll make.
Join me, won't you? Let enjoy some Music At Home.
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