Guiding Music Experiences

Benefits of Music Builds a sense of community Provides an opportunity to learn and use language concepts and vocabulary Provides a pleasant background for playing, eating, and sleeping

Benefits of Music, cont’d Calms angry feelings and releases energy and tension Helps build an understanding of musical concepts, including loud/soft, high/low, fast/ slow, up/down Helps build an appreciation of different cultural backgrounds

Music Center Should be in an open section of the classroom to allow freedom of movement Provide bean bag chairs and pillows so kids can sit and listen to music Display instruments on table or shelf – drums, kazoos, melody bells, maracas, rhythm sticks, guitars, tambourines, cymbals, and recorders

Music Center, cont’d Parents are a good source for instruments; can bring in multicultural ones Should contain pictures of singers, dancers, instruments Do you remember playing with musical instruments when you were in school? If so, what were your favorite instruments/ memories?

Teacher’s Role Need to encourage musical expression Enthusiasm is key; remember to smile and enjoy yourself and the kids will too When singing with or to kids, use a light, pleasant singing voice Avoid forcing children to participate Natural creativity will blossom Consider using it to make announcements, provide transitions, direct clean-up activities

Encouraging Discovery Teacher’s need to promote interest in instruments and their sounds Ask questions: How can you make a sound? Can you make a faster/slower/louder/softer sound? Have kids listen to each other play? Comment on their efforts – Ex. You are making some interesting sounds Helps build positive self-concept

Encouraging Non-participants Non-participating children generally need more time to take part in music activities Should be handled with patience Try standing next to them during movement activities With smile on your face, slowly take their hand and swing to rhythm

Selecting Songs Simplicity is key Best songs Tell a story Have repetitive, easy-to-learn phrases Have developmentally appropriate vocabulary Have a strongly defined and attractive mood or rhythm Have a range of no more than one octave Children won’t tire of a well-loved song

Creating Songs Best way to create a song is to use a known melody with new words Ex. Baa Baa Black Sheep, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Alphabet Song

Methods for Teaching Songs Phrase Method Whole Song Method Phrase/ Whole Combination Method **Using the chart below, read the section entitled Teaching Songs on pages 510-511 in Working With Young Children and write the main characteristics of each type of method.

Accompanying Music Piano: can be used to play melodies as well as accompanying singing Autoharp: simple, inexpensive, portable chording instrument Guitar: more difficult to learn Autoharp; very portable

Rhythm Instruments Generally first types of instruments introduced in class Benefits: Build listening skills Accompany the beat of a sound or recording Classify, discriminate, experiment with sounds Develop classification skills by learning the difference between quiet and loud, hard and soft, and etc.

Rhythm Instruments, cont’d Set rules before giving kids instruments to play What are rules/guidelines for playing with instruments?

Types of Rhythm Instruments Tom toms: can be constructed from empty oatmeal boxes Shakers: can be constructed from empty tissue and paper towel tubes Bongo drums: can produce varied tones by hitting rim, center, or elsewhere

Types of Rhythm Instruments Sandpaper sticks: periodically need to have surface covering replaced Coconut cymbals: sound like horse galloping when they are clapped together

Scheduling Music Should occur throughout the day; after a story, at the start of the day, after a snack, during transitions Should be scheduled as group activity for four- and five-year-olds Should occur at same time every day because kids thrive on consistent schedules

Group Music Useful for building feelings and pride Good way to introduce new songs and instruments Tends to stress conformity; kids are not free to express creativity

Listening Activities Good listening skills help kids build proper speech habits, attention spans Need to be taught to listen Fingerplays improve skills Ex. Clap Your Hands Clap your hands 1, 2, 3. Clap your hands just like me. Roll your hands 1, 2, 3. Roll your hands just like me.

Listening Activities Games that help listening: (See page 517 for description of games for possible lesson plan ideas) What’s That Sound Body Sounds Instrument Sounds Guess the Instruments

Singing Kids best musical instruments are their voice Mouthing can add to knowledge Chants or groups of words spoken with a lively beat Teaches cooperation and learning to speak in unison