Fun & Learning at Home! MUSIC
MUSIC TIME - WITH MS. KERAH, JOSIAH, STEFEN & BABY SAGE
One of our volunteer music teachers, Ms. Kerah (Josiah and Stefen's mom) has shared a few sing-a-long videos with us! Enjoy!
MUSIC IDEAS FROM MS. BECKY
Did you know that Ms. Becky is a music therapist and music teacher? She worked for many years with senior citizens before becoming a preschool teacher. Check out her thoughts on experiencing music with children...
Your child can begin to understand rhythm by seeing or feeling you swaying or clapping or patting to the beat. Beats are regular patterns. When the music is done, you may want to repeat a pattern you heard by clapping for example and see if they can repeat it back to you.
You can talk about how music may make us feel different feelings, excited, happy, sad, calm etc.
Try painting or coloring to music. Maybe you get a pictures in your head of a story that you think the music is telling you. There are no right or wrong answers as these stories are different for every person.
How does the music make your body want to move? Having a box of dress up clothes and props such as scarves or instruments nearby can inspire your child to be imaginative.
In the videos of dances from around the world, notice what people are wearing. What things are they using to make the sounds besides their voices i.e. instruments made out of things they have such as sticks and gourds, or jingles on their dresses. What are the different ways singing voices can sound? How do they use their bodies to make rhythm such as stomping, clapping, and jumping? Notice that around the world, people of all ages dance and the amazing number of different ways that we can move our bodies!
Rousing Music
Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philips Sousa
In The Hall Of The Mountain King by Grieg
76 Trombones from The Music Man
Dances from around the world
Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky
Suite Greek Danceby Moiseyev Ballet
Relaxing, calming Classical music
Relaxing Classical MusicMoonlight Sonota by Beethoven
Ideas of things to do while listening to music with children: When watching an orchestra or band, point out the different instruments. What are they called? How do they make sounds i.e. by blowing into them or rubbing a bow across strings. Pretend that you are playing those instruments. Audio recordings can be found on Spotify for playing the music while the children are playing. Classical music is complex with many different sounds, melodies, and rhythms going on at once. We live in such a visual world now so just listening to music is a great way to strengthen our auditory skills. Often small children may stop moving and stare intently as they are processing what they are hearing. Hearing the same piece of music multiple times helps develop familiarity. There is usually something you notice that you didn't in a previous time of listening. Music without words (instrumental music) allows children to focus on the music itself, rather than trying to understand the words. Classical music also helps children to experience emotional regulation. The music has highs and lows, soft and loud parts, starts and stops, fast and slow. It may rouse us to want to move very fast but then helps us to slow down when the music changes. When the music is done, you may observe your child humming to themselves as they are processing what they just heard. Usually, there is a main melody or theme which is repeated throughout and that is the part that "sticks" with you. Enjoy!
Make Your Own Instruments!
