How to Teach Children to Sing
Teaching children to use their voices to make beautiful music is a fun and enjoyable task. To do this, you'll need lively music, catchy lyrics and contagious enthusiasm.
Instructions
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Choose the music you want to teach children to sing. Make sure the lyrics, melody and rhythm aren't too complex for them to master, or they'll quickly get frustrated.
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Work with groups of children that have similar levels of experience, education and attention span.
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Begin by playing the song you want them to learn once while they listen.
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Play the song again and ask them to join in as they get familiar with the tune. The words will come later. Do this 2 or 3 times.
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Stop the music and say the words out loud in small bunches and ask the children to repeat each phrase after you. Clap as you say each word in rhythm.
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Have children stand and march in a circle saying the words in the appropriate rhythm and tempo.
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Sing the song with the accompaniment and see how the kids do. You may only make it through half of the song the first time, but after all the exercises with words, rhythm and clapping, they eventually will get all the way through.
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Tips & Warnings
Provide kids with rhythm instruments only after they've nearly learned the song. These are great fun, but they can be a distraction during the first few rehearsals. Instead, let the kids use their hands and feet for a while.
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Comments
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sarahlynnknows
Dec 03, 2008
Additional Tip 1: Children's folk songs are a great genre to start with because the tunes and rhythms are simple and natural. Additional Tip 2: Children learn when there is ample repetition from the teacher. Make sure that you are modeling a clear, pure sound and that you model it over and over again. It's not natural for children to repeat back words or tunes when they have only heard the song two or three times. -
sarahlynnknows
Dec 03, 2008
Additional Tip 1: Children's folk songs are a great genre to start with because the tunes and rhythms are simple and natural. Additional Tip 2: Children learn when there is ample repetition from the teacher. Make sure that you are modeling a clear, pure sound and that you model it over and over again. It's not natural for children to repeat back words or tunes when they have only heard the song two or three times.
