music

SONGS & MUSICAL NOTES

From Lynne, St. Lucie, Florida, who is trained in Music Ed
Great Preschool Resources: My first recommendation is Ella Jenkins -- any of her recordings are great. Ella is still tops in my book -- she's a little kid musical magnet. Her CD's are available @ Amazon.com. Also good are Hap Palmer, Raffi, And Sharon, Lois and Bram. Check your library first, and while you're there, look for products by Kimbo.

From Juli Straub, preschool teacher in Walla Walla, Washington
Dancing Plates: Have children individually decorate plain white paper plates using paint, markers, crayons, and gluing on streamers and strings. After they are dry, let the children dance to music using their plates as an extension of their arms. It is wonderful to see the musical interpretation via movement. I suggest using classical music first like "Flight of the Bumblebee" and/or "Swan Lake." Also, move without music to discover slow, trot, fast, etc movements. It is also a great physical activity for when you can't go outdoors on rainy or snowy days. I keep these plates at school to re-use from time to time. The kids are always asking for the "Dancing Plates."

From Diane Flohr in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Dancing Streamers: I bought colored hair scrunchies/ponytail holders (12 for $1.00 at a dollar store) and matching colored 1/4" satin ribbon (50¢ a bolt at a the fabric store). Cut pieces of the ribbon into streamers and tie as many ot them as you want to the fabric ponytail holders. These slip comfortably over little wrists. I made enough for my entire class to wear one on each wrist. Play whatever music you like and "color dance" with them floating, swirling, and and twirling. My students love them. We then sit in a circle and name the colors of our ribbon bracelets.

From Stormie
*Parade: Show children pictures or a video of a parade. Then allow them to create their own parade for a holiday (like New Year's) or to turn an ordinary day into a special one. They can wrap crepe paper streamers around large motor toys (tricycle, toy car, etc). They can decorate special hats to wear or make shakers by putting beans in containers that have lids and decorating the outsides. They can have a parade for their dolls and stuffed animals. Set up a parade route around the building, playground, or gym. Let them practice before the "real" thing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Musical Chairs: This old favorite is appropriate for use during a unit on the sense of sight or hearing, or anytime really. Here's the version I like: Line up chairs, one less than the number of children in the group. Play music while the class marches around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone finds a chair to sit on. The child without a chair is then "out." Remove another chair from the group then repeat the game. Each time, someone will be without a chair. This is a game that teaches how to have good sportsmanship -- that it's ok to "lose" when playing games and losing doesn't mean the person is a loser. Still, because they are so young, make sure children understand that being "out" doesn't mean they're "bad."

Related tips:
From Char Kalagian who works at an NAEYC accredited center in Wisconsin:
When we play musical chairs I always have a small piece of candy, a sticker, or a stamp to give the children when they become "out." It stops any tears or hurt feelings. Sometimes you can see the children trying to get out just to get a treat!
From Anneke Schuddeboom, Ste. Anne-de Bellevue, Quebec:
Instead of taking the chairs away, have the children who are "out" sit on them. That way they are still actively participating in the game!
From Bev Schumacher, Kentucky/Ohio:
We play with hulahoops, eliminating them rather than children, who then have to share spaces left within the hoops. By the time you get to 2-3 hoops, they are giggling and socialization goals are achieved :) If you wish, you can use bike tires instead of hoops.
From Nancy Shirer:
When we play musical chairs, I keep a box of assorted instruments near by. When one of the children becomes "out," that child picks an instrument to play along with the music.
From Teresa Gibson, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada:
I would like to share another idea for Musical Chairs. While teaching children "out" is okay, it is also important to have games that aren't exclusive. For example, turn Musical Chairs into a co-operative game. Chairs are still taken away, but the chidlren remain. It's great fun to have 20 kids all try and touch (they dont' have to all sit) the last remaining chair. As an added touch, instead of walking around the chairs, have them do various motions (pretend you are a snake, pretend you are a dog, hop up and down, etc).
From Tina Haydel, Preschool Speech Pathologist:
Hi Stormie, I use a variation of the musical chairs theme for speech sound stimulation and language development. On the seat of each chair, I place a picture of my target (shapes, letters, etc) face down. The children march around and everyone has a chair (none are ever removed). They then present me with their card and say what it is. I give them a small sticker or hand stamp for trying/getting it right. This involves everyone and is a fun way to practice. Since some children (I have 3 year olds) seem to need to go to the same chair, I change the pictures with every round.
From Heather Kler, Auburn Career Center, Concord, Ohio:
When my preschool class plays Musical Chairs, we separate the children into two groups, each with one chair less than person. When the music stops, the two children without chairs simply switch groups. No hard feelings at all! :)
From Beth Osborne, Mt. Park First Baptist Church Preschool, Loganville, Georgia:
When I play Musical chairs with my 4yr old class, the person who is "out" has to sit on someone's lap. At the very end they are all trying to sit on "one" person's lap. The children love this and laugh the whole time playing it. They seem to be more interested in sitting on a friend's lap than sitting in a chair!
From Betty:
When we play musical chairs, we use carpet samples. Children "stop" on the upturned samples. A turned-over carpet sample means you are out. This way, they skip and dance around before ending up on a carpet.
From Dianne, South Bend, Indiana:
When we play musical chairs, we use the traditional method, but the child who does not have a chair gets to select which chair is removed for the next round. This keeps feelings from getting hurt.
From Aimee, West Haven, Connecticut:
Hi Stormie! I thought I'd send you my idea to help children who get “out” during musical games (like Musical Chairs) not to feel “left out.” The child who is left without a chair to sit in or shape to stand on helps me with the music. I stand at my desk and start or stop the music when s/he whispers “go” or “stop” to me. (I have had kids wait to sit down on purpose because they want to be my music helper!)
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From Anna Hill
Mcmillan Sing and Learn is now Newbridge Programs @ 1-800-729-1463. To order a catalog, call 1-800-867-0307. The Sing and Learn albums are now CDs and are 12.95 each.

HOMEMADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:

From Kelli Stockford, Oregon
1. Bell Dowel: Drill a hole through a 6-10" dowel (I use rhythm sticks). Put floral wire through the hole with "jingling bells" added to it and bend any excess wire around the dowel. These are great for hitting together and keeping a beat while singing.
2. Shakers: Fill yogurt cups with popcorn kernels, beans, rice, macaroni, sugar, or salt. Then hot glue the lids to the containers. Glue construction paper to the outside and decorate. Each ingredient makes a different sound when shaken.
Extension from Stormie: You can also wrap the containers with a colorful contact paper.

From Kristen Kelly, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1. Tambourine: I have found that a cool whip container lid makes a great tambourine with jingle bells sewn on. It doesn't take too long to sew on 5-6 bells.
2. Jingle Bells: I've made jingle bell bracelets with hair scrunchies.
3. Maracas: A good idea for maracas is to fill plastic ketchup or salad dressing bottles with rice, popcorn, etc. This makes an authentic sound, and the narrow mouth makes a great handle for little hands. Both my children love to dance and play their instruments to music.

From Lisa, Olathe, Kansas
Egg Shakers: Buy those plastic eggs that you can find in the store around Easter time and fill them with rice, beans, macaroni, sugar, etc. and then glue them shut. You might wish to cover the middle section with a strip of colorful contact paper to reinforce the closure and to add a little decoration. These "shakers" provide an easy, child-size grip for the hands of little kiddos.
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