Music for Children
Music activities and curriculum development
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Entry for September 2, 2006

PRE SCHOOL CHILDREN - READING MUSIC


 


The steps to PREPARING pre school children to read music.


As a general rule, I do not advocate having children read western music notation at such at early age. However, there are music activities and games that can help prepare them.


The progression to “reading” should be:



  1. Having the children create icons and symbols to represent their impressions of listening music.

  2. Having children create their own notation symbols to represent beat.

  3. Having children create their own symbols to represent rhythmic patterns.

  4. Children learn how to read simple western notation through transference (i.e. transferring their notation to western music notation)

 


Experiencing  music at such an early age should be done through play. When they are in kinder, then I think it’s more appropriate as a general rule to introduce reading music.


 


With that disclaimer, if you still wish to have your children learn to read music, here’s are the steps I would suggest



  1. Ground them in fixed rhythmic patterns


  • Through call and response, have children clap a simple rhythmic pattern. I would suggest having them clap and say “apple pear” (two eighths followed by a quarter).

  • When they are ready, have them play that pattern using a percussion instrument, such as a drum or shaker.


  1. Develop a notation system that they will understand.


  • Make a drawing of an apple and a pear.

  • Help the children connect what they see in the drawing to what they play on the percussion instrument.

  • Ask them to play the pattern.

  • Create a drawing of that pattern twice on the same sheet and have them play it.


  1. Transference


  • Create a drawing of that pattern again, but this time draw the eighths and quarter underneath the apple and the pear.

  • Explain to them that this is how some people read music

  • When they are ready,  show them a drawing of that rhythmic pattern using ONLY eighths and quarters.

  • Have them play it.


  1. Creating their own rhythmic patterns


  • Depending upon their age and ability, they could create their own patterns to play with your help. I would suggest using cutouts of the symbols and having them put the notes in a row. Keep it simple.

In general, most music educators introduce music to children in this order:



  1. Beat

  2. Rhythm

  3. Melody

  4. Harmony

 


Lastly, I have a recording of a call and response song called “The Apple and the Pear”.


If you wish to purchase it the song, please visit our website. We will then email you the mp3 file as well as cutouts you can use for this activity.


2006-09-02 17:48:14 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Entry for August 26, 2006
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MUSIC ACTIVITY FOR 7 - 9 YEAR OLDS




A question from a music teacher




I'm looking for creative movement songs but for older children 7-9 yrs. old. I have many third grade students that think some of my songs are for babies because of the underlying musicality.




MY REPLY




Please visit our website for a formatted version of the text below.




This activity can be used for children grade K—5th. However, more teacher direction is needed for K—1st grade. The ideal grades are 3—5.  The goal is for them to 1) tap the RHYTHM STICKS  four times on the beat, 2) pass the sticks with the right hand while taking from the left.






Setting up the activity




Have the students sit in a circle. Prior to passing out the instruments, instruct the children how to both play and respect the instruments (i.e. model it).Demo for them the activity (1) Tap the sticks four times on the beat, and then 2) pass the sticks with the right hand while taking from the left.

Doing the activity




SPECIAL NOTE FOR K—2ND GRADE TEACHERS: If you are working with K—2nd, I would suggest not passing out all the instruments at one time. Instead, you do it first, then pass to your right. The second time, 1) you and the student on your right do it together, then 2) BOTH of you pass to the right. Continue this until all the students have sticks.




The students have basically four beats to play the instrument and four beats to pass. When they are tapping, count the beats out loud. When you are passing, say, Pass the Instruments if you please, in rhythm. It will take you four beats to say that phrase in rhythm. See below. If you do the activity with recorded instrumental music, make sure the music is in meter of four. Also do not sing the first measure, just say the word in rhythm.


































2006-08-26 19:38:19 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Entry for July 30, 2006

MUSIC ACTIVITY QUESTION




 




Re: Music activities for pre school




 




We received an email request for activiy ideas for pre school. Here is our response:




Below are some suggestions.  If you would like us to email our activity booklet for pre school, please let us know. The cost is $8.00 and it contains 8 tried and proven activities.




                                                                     




SOME SUGGESTIONS




Call and response




STEP ONE




Teach them a call and response song, such as a good morning song. Have them sing it back to you.




 




STEP TWO




Have them clap it back to you, if it involves a clapping/rhythmic pattern.




 




STEP THREE.




Have them play it back to you using simple percussion instruments. If you don't have percussion instruments, I would suggest animal shakers, egg shakers, or age appropriate drums.  Here is a page link to our website if you wish to purchase them through us.Instruments for Pre- school.




 




MOVEMENT AND STORY TELLING




Using instrumental music, create a story that involves movement. Use music that has a slow or fast tempo/speed. Depending upon the age, you may wish to have them reflect on the speed of the music. You will first need to model it and let them know the music is slow, for example. In subsequent sessions, ask them, “Is the music slow or fast?” One idea for story and setting could be Under the Water. Ask them, “ what kind of fish would they like to be /(big or small, what color, and so on)?”


 


 




2006-07-31 02:34:41 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Entry for July 30, 2006

MUSIC ACTIVITY QUESTION FROM A CAMP DIRECTOR




RE: Activity ideas when working with mentally and physically disabled children.




"I am the Music Director at a camp for mentally and physically disabled kids, and I'm looking for various activities that can be adaptive and fun for groups of kids. I have plenty of instruments to work with, but some ideas would be greatly appreciated. "




SUGGESTIONS




First, I commend you on your work.




Without knowing and working with them personally, it's difficult to respond to this question. However, here are some GENERAL suggestions.




 




SINGING AND MOVEMENT




While taking into consideration the abilities of each child, incorporate movement when singing. Ideally the movement could be associated with the lyrics of the song, such as a good morning song (building their motor skills perhaps). The movement could be as simple as hands in the air, tapping their feet, head swaying and so on. I’m assuming that you have care providers in the class with you. Try to get them involved if possible.  Use them as your assistants when possible. Also, it is ok to have some children play instruments (those children who are not able to stand and walk)  while others  are moving in a circle for example.




 CALL AND RESPONSE




There are call and response/echo songs that work very well, particularly for those that have limited speech ability. For example, within the body of the song there might be a short clapping/rhythmic pattern they can echo back to you. When they echo it back to you, have them:




1.    Sing it back to you.




2.    Clap it back to you.




3.    Use simple percussion instruments to respond.




REPETITION




Repetition is also very important. Don’t feel that you have to create a new activity every time you see them.  Structure and repetition are key.  For example, have an opening and closing activity/song that you do with them every time.




I hope this helps.  You may also wish to purchase the music activity cd we have. I wrote the songs and most have a call and response section.




IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO ADD TO THIS,  please do.  




2006-07-31 02:05:12 GMTComments: 0 |Permanent Link
Entry for July 29, 2006

Hello everyone and anyone.




We are currently working on developing music curriculum for a client in California, Music in Schools Today.  The goal - work with a school in San Francisco to make it an arts magnet in the area of music.




Our first task is to develop a unit summary for grade two and three. It needs be comprehensive and sequential. In addition, this project has a large research component.  The arts integration component will be language arts. 




2006-07-29 16:28:17 GMTComments: 1 |Permanent Link
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