When I first became a Kindermusik teacher many years ago, I asked myself where to begin with introducing littles to basic music principles such as pitch, dynamics, tempo, rhythm and solfege. Once I was ready to write my first lesson plan, I became a bit nervous. Because I had started off with teaching parent participation classes, I asked myself, as a parent, how I would like music to be introduced to my kids, then I started to relax as the answer became very obvious to me!
KEEPING IT FUN, CREATIVE, AND PLAYFUL!
My biggest, and actually, only real goal for the earliest learners in music class is to introduce them to very basic concepts through games and through songs and musical stories that they like.
If you want to make a lasting impression on these littles, you better make it fun as their attention span is very short!
Lorrie Holmes
What has worked for me, time and again, is to get into character and to stay there – from the moment you greet your first little musical guest, until the last notes of your Goodbye song. High energy is also required and so is a warm smile which is more reassuring and inviting than any words you can offer. No child is going to want to participate or return to music class if they are being taught a strict lesson plan at this age! With all this being said, I would highly recommend to only take this on if you plan to have fun with this yourself, which will translate to the kids. Don’t worry if you are singing with perfect pitch, add feeling to it, and a bit of humour, and the kids will love it, and love you!
Children know what they like, so flexibility is very important. The good news though is that they can stay engaged in music class if the teacher piques their interest. A good teacher will offer them an assortment of activities that are hidden in some sort of intriguing container – it can be as simple as a colourful large gift bag from the dollar store or you can get super creative with a box, a trunk, or even an old suitcase – and allow them to participate when they are ready.
Let them warm up to it and find their own rhythm and voice – it will come, if the invitation is fun. Here’s what a preschool music class looks like for me. Of course, you don’t need to use each of these activities in each lesson depending on the time you have and also, on the interests of the children. Some ways, I might spend more time on certain activities if I have a lot of interest and repeat them with different children taking their turns assisting me, and even leading with my assistance, once they build up their confidence!
HERE ARE 14 IDEAS FOR YOU TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PRESCHOOL MUSIC CLASS!
1. Welcome Song On Ukulele
Young kids love the happy sound of the ukulele so this sets the tone right away for the children to feel that this is going to be a fun and safe class which is super important – especially for all those shy ones. It’s such a versatile instrument and you can introduce kids to tempo and dynamics using this fun pitch instrument. Of course, it’s also very easy to bring right into the middle of the circle where they children will most likely be seated at preschool music class and I would also strongly use this instrument at Circle Time! If any of you preschool teachers would like some lessons, I have you covered!
2. Name Games
Kids love to hear their names being called out by their teacher and their classmates too! It makes them feel important and it’s a great confidence and ice breaker. Kids use puppets, percussion instruments, bubbles and body percussion while playing name games in my music classes. I choose a different activity every third week to keep it fresh.
3. Using Puppets
Kids will look forward to a visit from a really fun puppet each class. I opt for something funny as opposed to sweet so that everyone will be engaged. I have a crocodile named Lucy and she nibbles everyone’s foot or hand while they clap along to “Never Smile At A Crocodile”. You can also incorporate Music Storytelling into your class using all sorts of different types of puppets – even better if the children make their own puppets with you during art class!
4. Using An Ice Breaker Song
I ask all the kids to show me their teeth and sometimes their funny faces. I tell them how we are all going to sing this next song while practicing our smiles. While we sing “You Are My Sunshine” the kids pass around my Little Miss Sunshine stuffie. They can even stand and act out the lyrics to the song if they wish or just twirl around the dance floor: this activity should be open ended to allow the children to relax and feel the fun they are about to have!
5. Use A Dynamics Song
Here I introduce concepts such as singing high and low, fast and slow, smooth and bumpy. Kids can wiggle their fingers high-low, fast-slow, bumpy and smooth rides, etc. They can pretend to be animals with paws or claws, etc. It’s a great way to integrate dramatic play and get them into character. Here are the lyrics to a song that I made up for my kiddos and they loved it!
6. Playing Scales On A Pitch Instrument
Teachers use the xylophone, keyboard, piano, etc., for this activity. I have the kids sing scales and challenge them to move up or down the scale. This is always super fun. With each new group of children, I introduce Solfege to them with a fun Elevator song where I go up and down the octaves. As the children become comfortable with this exercise, I bring them up to have a try at it and even offer hand-over-hand if needed.
7. Add An Action Song
I make up a lot of my own goofy songs, which the kids can add to. When teachers are demonstrating this, it’s important they use lots of energy. Freeze song are always very popular and also, follow the leader, even if you’re must moving in a circle to keep the children contained to one area of the classroom or studio.
8. The Music-Have Ensemble Song!
This part of early music classes allows kids to play percussion instruments. They’re prompted and need to listen to when they come in and when they need to put instruments down. It’s very loud and a total gong show quite often, but they love it and are being introduced to the concept of how to play multiple instruments together. The perfect song that I would recommend for getting started on this activity is, Old MacDonald Had A Band, and I introduce each instrument to the children and I play it once and then hand out a number of each instruments to the children until we have a balanced assortment and they listen for their prompts to participate and practice setting setting their instruments down in front of them when it is not their turn to play. Then all together at the end, which is my favourite part!
9. Encourage Participation!
Sometimes we all sit in a circle and I sing from a book or felt story. Other times, I will have a microphone in front of me as I sing along to a backtrack and other children can use microphones or just sing or dance around while others still might have puppets and act out the words to the lyric in the puppet theatre. The objective with this activity for to get the kiddos to make their own sounds – from the words of the song to the sounds in the story!
Having the kids create a beat to this Chopsticks Song is a really fun way to involve all the kids and teachers too!
10. Time For Bubbles!
I ALWAYS have a bubbles song. Whether it be about bubbles, Ariel under the sea, etc. Kids LOVE bubbles, and this helps keep them engaged in their music classes.
11. The Ribbon Dance!
I always have a ribbon dance song as well. This might be a back track to a popular song or I might play the piano. It’s a great activity to ask the children to move when the music starts and stop when it does. You can also practice dynamics as the children move their music to the tempo of the music and also to the tone of the music – softly, or bouncy! You can then start to offer them the vocabulary of dynamics to associate these words with your actions such as, “Let’s move our ribbons very fast or Allegro! Now, let’s move slowly or Lento.”
12. Name That Tune!
I love to play various instruments and have kids try to figure out the tunes. I give them hints as well. I start with nursery rhymes and then move up to longer, traditional and popular tunes that they all love.
13. Musical Storytelling!
We usually end our classes with a musical story where kids act out something like “We’re Going On A Bear Hunt”. Many music classes change the theme with the season. Check out my story about using this popular song in many different themes including Going On A Dino Hunt here!
14. Good Bye Song
Good-bye songs include the children’s names and can end with them coming over for a stamp, high five, or sticker when their name is called. Kids love to end these classes by hearing all their new friends call out each of their names.
I have included a really cute version of this song below – you can also find many others by Googling, See You Later Alligator – to see what fits you best as the leader of this Good Bye Song!
While your children are learning musical concepts in music class, they can also be having lots of fun. I keep it quite light and remember that if I’m having fun, the kids will have fun. It’s taken me a few years to find my personal comfort zone, which is teaching super creative, parent participation classes. Today I’m comfortable working with parents and I get excited when I am able to pass on fun things they can share with their kids.
For those kiddos who are a little bit older, don’t miss our recent story to learn more about how to inspire kids to learn creative skills in our recent story, What Is Creative Play?
LEARN TO BE A MUSICAL PRESCHOOL TEACHER WITH ME!
Would you like to be mentored by an early learning music teacher to gain confidence in leading your own music classes! I offer small group and private lessons for those who are wanting to learn the basics on the ukulele, to learning to feel more confident with being musical in the classroom and at Circle Time. Email me for more details at lyricalwriters@gmail.com. Currently, I offer all my classes (based on the interests of my workshoppers) on Zoom on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Hope to learn about your musical goals soon!
Lorrie Holmes
5 MUSIC TEACHER’S TRAINING RESOURCES!
If you are wanting to study an Early Learning Music Program or Workshop, here are 5 of my top recommendations.
- KINDERMUSIK
- MUSIC FOR KIDDOS
- MUSIC TOGETHER
- ORFF
- TEACHING WITH ORFF
1. KINDERMUSIK
Become an accredited Kindermusik teacher. This is a great Teacher’s Training Program (which I’ve personally been through!) to learn how to teach music and movement to young children and the best thing is you can start with babies in parent participation classes to get your feet wet, and work your way up through the preschool years to children up to 7 years old. The skills you will learn in this program, along with the resources provided for lesson planning, and the mentorship/practicum program you will go through before teaching your own classes will have you well prepared to get started and find the classes and ages you are most passionate about teaching!
2. MUSIC FOR KIDDOS
Music For Kiddos is another great resource. Created by Music Therapist, Stephanie Leavell, this site offers a wealth of songs and workshops to learn about and also a podcast and information about upcoming conference – definitely worth checking out!
3. MUSIC TOGETHER
Music Together is a beautiful program that is taught by accomplished musicians who not only use their talents and well planned early learning music curriculum with the children, they have also developed a program that equips the parents to get involved in reinforcing this learning and love for music at home! Check out our feature story about this program here!
4. IOSFS (INTERNATIONAL ORFF-SCHULWERK FORUM SALZBURG)
Of course, I would always recommend learning about Orff Music Training Programs as well which is a the ultimate music program for teaching music & movement to young children all the way up to adults! Learn about their three levels of teacher’s training here and workshops as well for those who are looking for some professional development training in music!
5. TEACHING WITH ORFF
If you are not ready to take your First, Second or Third Teachers Training certification levels of Orff, you can check out this amazing range of Orff workshops at Teaching With Orff to learn skills within your area(s) of interest. I have taken a few of these courses and have been very happy with them!
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