What should early (preschool) music education consist of?

[fillyjonk]

i don't want the dc not to develop an appreciation of music but am hugely underwelmed by mcdonalized monkey muzak. Also, tbh, because I have 2 kids close in age but in different groups, I can't really go, it won't work, have tried.

are there any guidelines anyone has, any suggested songs, etc?

I don't want to hothouse, but music IS important to me and we seem to be letting it slide a bit.

i know that is vague, i am not sure how to ask for what i'm after really.

twentypence I would like to get a copy if you have one left over

will wait for filly etc to have first dibs

(might it be easier to try to get one from this country, though?)

20p are you in Abroad? Am thinking postage

The book IS on amazon so those of us who don't get it from you can get it from there.

(I don't mind doing this if its easier-let franny have the copy- I have to get an order over £15 anyway)

My 2 copies are second hand, as I bought them orginally from teachers who had completed their course, in the interests of recycling.

I am coming over to UK in 3 weeks and so could post from "not abroad". It's good it's on Amazon though - and feel free to get that one as I'm sure it will be quicker. Her CDs are good as well, if you don't mind the kiwi accent .

Okay. Lesson 2.

Take your 5 note scale and use the following parts of the body for each note

C (we call it number 1) feet
D knees
E tummy
F shoulders
G head

With a one month old you would massage the body part whilst singing the name of it. Repeat each 4 times (feet, feet, feet, feet, knees etc)

With older children you stand up and sing:

On C "stamp your feet for number one"
on D "pat your knees for number two"

etc.
You can go an octave by
A build a house
B twinkle stars
C jump up.

Then you go through the numbers singly once backwards.

With a 4 year old you could use the body scale to play a piece so

Feet Feet, head, head, house house, head. Would be twinkle twinkle little star.

With mixed ages you start with the simplest version and keep going with that whilst the older ones go on through the others. The baby gets heaps of repetition this way.

I hope that made sense to someone!

oh that is really good, thats really what i wanted, thanks. Am printing it off

i'd much much rather get it from you, am being Polite. I don't like using Amazon, and there is actually a 6 week wait and a sourcing fee...so if no one else is in the queue...[hopeful]

With my children I've kept the emphasis very much on enjoying music. Things I've done with mine;

Lots of singing - action songs, marching songs (particularly good for getting a sense of the beat - give them a drum to bang as they march), counting songs like 5 little ducks went swimming one day, songs that need instruments like 'I am the music man'.

I also let them play on the piano whenever they want to, exploring the sounds - sometimes I say things like 'can you play a very high note?' or 'can you play REALLY quietly'.

They also have music on a lot. They both really like listening to Peter and the Wolf, and can identify the instruments, sing the tunes for each character. Dd has made a poster with the story in pictures which she cut out and stuck on in order, plus pictures of all the instruments used.

I honestly don't think music NEEDS to be too structured - it's all about exploring sounds and learning to love it. Ds1 started formal violin lessons at the beginning of Yr1, and is doing really well.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

20p if you have one spare after sorting Filly out, and nannynick doesn't want it, I would love your second copy pls

(Filly she has TWO)

20p, just to check I have the right idea, should it be something like this (Flash required. Warning not great quality recording, and I'm not a great singer!)

Franny, you go ahead. Expect my boss may have that book anyway, if he doesn't I can get it at some later point.

Oh thank you Nick, I didn't want to barge in but would love to have a copy, I appreciate that

20p I love that idea to teach the notes going up and down too, and your version of it sounds just right to me nick

oh she has TWO

i can't help it, i'm british, i NEED to queue

oooh then

Right filly and F&Z get the books I have. I'll post some more ideas tomorrow.

That's it Nannynick. Jump up for Number 8 may need to be a little slower though so that you can get 4 jumps in!

Thanks 20p how can we pay you?

Today's suggestion for rhythm:

Use Frere Jacque (or I hear thunder if you want an english version - or both if you are fancy)

The first time tap out the beat on the floor or your thighs (much more likely to get a good result than clapping) one hand at a time (left, right etc)

The next time do the rhythm, which will catch most people out on the second line.

You can then do it and only tap the quavers (pitter patter) or the crotchets (I hear thunder). Or you can miss out the words and just tap the rhythm.

Again the activity can get as complicated as it needs to, and the littlies will still be co-ordinating themselves to hit the floor in time.

We go to 20p's music classes - they're great! (gratuitous plug for her there)

Have a look at the Music Together website. It should have some info about early music development in preschool children. We go to a Music Together class which is wonderful, but I think just reading about their research (done at Princeton) gives you enough of an idea to know what you could do at home.

Whenever I look at the Music Together website I just sit slack mouthed at the price!

I know, Music Together is soooo expensive but, for us, definitely worth every penny. However, if you read their info & research, you can pick up hints about how children develop musically and use that information at home.

Did you both get your books okay?

I went to a workshop last week with Lucinda Geogeghan. i can reccomend her books called singing games and rhymes for tiny tots, also the same for pre school and middle years. Although singing based they introduce musical concepts in a fun way with lots of movement and action songs.

I think that in the very early years singing is a good base to start with and also unaccompanies singing, CD backing tracks have their place but when you sing unaccompanied it gives you and the child to listen and encourages better pitch etc.