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

Call and Response songs

I find that call and response songs are a great way to teach children about the music, dance and drumming of countries like Africa. It is like the 3 Rs: rhythm, recitation and repetition.  They love all of the aspects of the call and response style and I find them singing it long after we have completed the activity as I believe it speaks to our most primitive self.  Through call and response, you can increase children’s vocabulary by linking together the small words they know, making bigger ones. This connecting of familiar linguistic patterns to make new ones is a great tool in vocabulary growth. Some examples of big words are: population, mediterranean, information.

Let’s look at the word “population”. All kids know the word pop, you, lay and maybe shun.  Our call and response could be done this way.

Call – Pop

Response – Pop

Call – You

Response – You

Call – Pop You

Response – Pop You

Call – Lay

Response – Lay

Call – Shun

Response – Shun

Call – Lay Shun

Response – Lay Shun

Call – Population

Response – Population

Lots of words can be broken down this way for fun learning for the children.

You’ll find, on my website, a video of a West African call and response song I did with the daycare kids. It is called Toom-bah-ee-lero and features the Djembe drum with children doing their own creative dance and others playing drums.

Until next time!

Let the music move you.

Tags: Call And Response, Children Playing Drums, Daycare Kids, Djembe Drum, Linguistic Patterns, Recitation, Repetition, Rhythm, Vocabulary Growth