Sing and Learn
Have you ever watched a group of young children on the playground excitedly sing Ring Around the Rosey? Or observed a preschooler
who has just mastered her ABCs, proudly singing them over and over? Maybe you’ve noticed your own child singing along
with the radio. It’s evident – all children love to sing!
The voice is every child’s natural instrument and, therefore, an important part of learning and development. And many
proponents of music education have long agreed that children can, and should, learn to sing.
Joyful participation in singing with family, friends and classmates, and through activities like Kindermusik, results in
comprehending the beauty and expressiveness of the human voice. Children develop the ability to use their voice well in singing,
chanting, reciting and reading aloud. It also encourages a lifelong love of music.
Singing is part of every Kindermusik class – whether it’s babies responding to music in Kindermusik Village® class or the preschooler
learning simple songs in the upcoming Kindermusik Imagine That!™ Singing, integrated with movement, instrument play,
literature, and pretend play, is a cornerstone of the Kindermusik experience.
The Young Singer
A newborn’s first singing experiences are really ones of rapt listening. The vocal chords are limited by lack of muscular
development, but the ears already can differentiate one sound from another. At about one month, babies begin to enter the world of
vocalization and take the first steps in learning to make sound (differentiated from the reflexive sounds of crying). The nurturing of a
baby’s developing ability to produce sound, combined with keeping his hearing world full of a wide range of musical sounds, gives
the foundation that assures the development of speaking, conversation and singing ability.
As a child approaches the toddler years, he will present many varying levels of vocal experience, development and confidence.
Most children between 1 1/2 to 3 years of age are in the stage of vocal development that some music specialists refer to as
“approximation of singing.” First they will attempt to “imitate” a word, phrase, rhythm pattern or vocal inflection. A child may begin
to make these imitative sounds out of context, singing or humming to himself while playing alone, using bits and pieces from the
sounds they have heard in their environment.
Many parents worry because their child isn’t “singing in Kindermusik class,” but at home, he sings in the bathtub or playroom.
Recognize the importance of this “musical play” – it is by “playing” that children master the muscular feel of producing a singing
sound and come to realize that they can produce the kinds of sounds which are different from speech.
Once a child turns 3, his expressive language explodes. A 3- or 4-year-olds’s ability to be expressive in language extends to
exploration of his many voices, singing songs in a limited range and emerging pitch accuracy. Singing helps with memory and recall,
with physical development, creativity and socialization.
Learning to Sing
When learning to sing, children are most successful when singing songs that have a limited range, common rhythmic and
melodic patterns, simple words and plenty of repetition. They always sing best those songs with which they are familiar.
One goal of Kindermusik is to provide joyful singing activities that guide children in developing a “light head voice,” singing
with greater pitch accuracy and learning a repertoire of songs. Activities in the new Kindermusik Imagine That! curriculum provide
opportunities for 3- and 4-year-old children to explore their many voices and to use a “singing voice.”
A Personal Note on singing....
I wanted to remind you all of one of the earlier blogs all about singing.
I always like to tell the story of my experience with Kindermusik Educator / Owner Carolyn Lucento.
Long before we were thinking about Kindermusik we were singing every day together with our children.
When I first met Carolyn she was having these wonderful evenings with folks coming with their children and instruments to sing and dance at her home in Albion California.
Every Friday we would move the furniture in a beautiful old wooden floor parlor. The Windows opened up to a view of bits and pieces of the Pacific North Coast Of Mendocino County California.
I was terrified to sing out loud with professional musicians.. So I would sing very quietly..
After a few gatherings she looked down at me sitting with my baby on the floor singing ..
She smiled and with her rich loving Memphis Accent she beamed down..
Mana .. your turn to lead a song.
Me ? Me ?
I can't sing...?
She looked at me and laughed so hard she almost dropped her autoharp and told me this,,
It still makes me cry....
What ??? What do you mean you can not sing.
You have a voice don;t you
You have lungs
You have a heart right?
Yes
Then you can sing...
Sing.. It is good for your heart honey..
Sing Sister Sing..
So I did and you know what I have never stopped.
I think that singing in pitch and with a steady beat is something that you just eventually get...
Like birds and whales and dolphins .
It is a goal of Kindermusik to teach the wonderful magical experience that leads us back home to our hearts. The Gift of song.
All over the world folks start their day singing .. and end their day singing.. some sing all day..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y80Kul8Wvuw
Our cultures progress has helped us in many ways but in other ways our industrial revolution has taken us further away from normal everyday experiences , like singing and sharing a good book together.
Cooking a meal together.
I have told you in these blogs that Kindermuisk is community.
This really IS your Village ...
I am delighted to share this rediscovery with all of you...
Every day all day long...
See you at The Muse
Tra La la
Miss Mana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y80Kul8Wvuw
You have a delightfully sweet and beautiful voice, Mana!
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