Let me know what’s on your mind
Hi Everyone,
My name is Maria Alley. I teach music to young children and I find that exciting and very rewarding. I’m very passionate about what I do and I wanted us to have a space where we could share experiences, ask questions, make suggestions, etc. Let me know what’s on your mind. I hope to read you soon.
Maria.
Tags: Experiences, Music, Music Find, Young Children
Bodily functions
Why is it that the kids who are not yet potty trained are the first to sit on your lap?
I got the impression, from teaching over the years, that the youngest kids who are not yet potty trained are little musical beings who are tuned in to what makes them happy, music, dance, drawing, etc. They are happy in the now with no thought of bodily functions until we propose our own understanding on them, well, of course they need to be taught not to relieve themselves wherever they are, but the main idea that whatever they are doing comes first must be tempered. While thinking about this, I discovered website www.tinkletoonz.com that has a musical potty which has a sensor in it which plays the tune “It’s a Small World After All”. When any moisture enters the potty, the song plays.
Great for any daycare.
Apparently it has had much success with children who have certain challenges such as autism due to its immediate gratification!
Maria.
Tags: Bodily Functions, Daycare, Immediate Gratification, Musical Potty
Happy Birthday!
As we had quite a few February birthdays, the kids were keen to talk about them. They were sooooooo excited about their birthdays. They told us at the drop of a hat when their birthday, their brother’s birthday, or Kayla down the street’s birthday was. They are learning about time all the while they are saying, “My birthday was yesterday,” and “My birthday’s next week,” sometimes having no relation to when the child’s birthday really is. Bliss! Living in a world where time is of no consequence. Speaking of time, this old favourite seems to have endured throughout the years.
Happy Birthday to You.
Disregarding the lawsuits, it has fallen into the realm of “Tradition” and I love to hear and sing it. However, I think there is room for new content on that front. I am proposing to write a Happy Birthday Song just for fun. I’ll try not to make it a blues, rock, country or, in fact, any genre related version. I feel confident you will give me your honest opinion on this new “work of art.” Anyone else’s version of a Birthday Song, with their permission, will be posted on my blog.
Happy Writing!
Dance Sing and Listen
The Dance Sing and Listen Series by Bruce Haack and Esther Nelson is great for kids ages 2-6. There are games, stories and music which will keep children engaged for its duration. There is an excerpt from this CD which you and your child may click on to hear: Rondo Capriccioso. The performer speaks of elves, fairies and gnomes dancing over the keyboard on a moonlit night, sure to stir the imagination and creativity of children. The Rondo Capriccioso is an andante and presto, (Slow and fast), but we will only hear the presto as it is more suitable and entertaining for kids.
Maria
Tags: Bruce Haack, Esther Nelson, Felix Mendelssohn, Moonlit Night, Music, Rondo Capriccioso
Preschool Composition
It’s always fun to start making up songs with the kids, telling them that they are now composers. We have, by this point, usually introduced one or more of the greats, so they just need to be reminded as to what composition is. They usually relate to the concept of making up your own song. Quite a few children are timid about it at first. They could be shy about improvising a song on the spot in front of their friends; yes, it starts that early, or not be able to think up anything promptly. That’s why I start with the kids who like to ham it up at any opportunity. These guys will be the first to sing, dance or tell a long tale of whatever they are thinking about at the moment. The other children, after seeing this, will at least attempt to compose a song, and whatever material they come up with is greeted with cheers.
That’s why when they came running into the music room yesterday with their stuffed groundhog who they had named Muckmuck, I decided to forego part of the prepared lesson and ask them to make up a song about their stuffed friend. When I realized they were having trouble composing a tune, I gave them a 2 note call and response theme which allowed them to concentrate on the lyrics alone, very easy to remember and the whole class repeated the singer’s line. They decided that Muckmuck was in the Olympics and therefore their song included many of the Olympic sports: speed skating, curling, bobsleigh, luge, figure skating and, of course, ice hockey. They were clearly keen on their groundhog being an Olympic Athlete.
Catch you next time!
Maria
Tags: Call And Response, Composers, Composition, Groundhog, Lyrics, Music Room
Underwater play
A few weeks ago, at Armbrae Academy where I teach a music class, the children were doing an underwater theme with their teachers. They wanted to sing two Beatles songs, Octopus’s Garden and Yellow Submarine and had fun singing and clapping along as I played. Great music always stands the test of time, regardless of one’s demographics. Here is an MP3 of Octopus’s Garden for you and your kids to enjoy. Another good song for underwater play is Baby Beluga where the children can pretend to be the beluga whales and the diving dolphins.
Audio files: Octopus’s Garden & Baby Beluga
Enjoy!
Maria
Tags: Baby Beluga, Beatles Songs, Beluga Whales, Diving Dolphins, Dolphins, Music Class, Octopus's Garden, Underwater Theme
