How to Teach First Graders to Sing Rounds

When singing rounds, there is a real risk that the singers will get lost. But there is also the prospect of the satisfaction that ensues from success. Rounds give children their first taste of harmony. Here is an easy approach to teaching first graders (and older children too) how to sing rounds. When your class can sing rounds accurately then you can include them as very impressive performance pieces in their next musical production.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Choose a round to teach. There are many simple ones: "Row Row Row Your Boat," "Frere Jacques," "Hey Ho Nobody at Home," "Hot Cross Buns." Before you even begin to introduce the melody, rhythm and rounds, make sure that the students know the words. First graders can read most of the words in these songs. This is great practice and adds that literacy in music component that connects the dots between subject areas. Involve the students in a discussion about the meaning behind the words. Even if it is a nonsensical song, let the students suggest meaning and perhaps draw illustrations for the song to demonstrate their comprehension.

2. Introduce the rhythm. First use quarter notes, half notes, dotted half notes, whole notes and rests written above the syllables on the lyrics which the students can now read fluently. Indicate the time signature too. This helps to familiarize even very young students with the way music works. Count the beats. Then clap the beats. Then clap the beats while reading the lyrics.

3. Teach the melody. Many students may already recognize the melody. You can use an instrument to reinforce the melody and the rhythms as long as you are not dividing the class into parts for the song.

4. Practice singing in unison without an instrumental accompaniment. Arrange the singers so that they are standing in rows of five each. A typical public school class can have as many as six rows of five. Stand in front of the singers. Train them to begin singing when you turn to face them and point to signal the first beat. As soon as they have sung the first line of the song, turn your back to them until it is time for the song to start over. Make sure they continue singing while your back is turned.

5. Practice singing in two parts. Ask half of the students to move and stand opposite the first group at the other end of the room. Use the same tactics to help the children to know when to start singing. They should watch for you to be facing them and to point to signal the first beat each time the song starts over. Ask the groups to make sure that they are singing loudly enough for the other group to hear them clearly.

6. Practice singing in multiple parts. Continue to subdivide the class into smaller groups until you have three or four parts. Each part should be standing facing the center where you are from a different place in the room approximately equidistant from each other. You move to face each group in turn and signal the first beat. This is a fail-proof approach to teaching first graders to sing rounds well and with enthusiasm.

Tips & Warnings

• If your students need additional support learning to sing a round, ask the groups to sit down on the floor when they are not singing and to stand up when they are singing.
• Vary the order that the different groups sing the round each time so that the students gain flexibility and learn to follow the director.