Musical Parenting Newsletter February 2010
Canterbury Musical Parenting Association Inc.
Newsletter February 2010
NEXT MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday 17th February in the Trinity Room at the Christchurch School of Music on Barbados St.
7.30-7.45pm Library time -Kathy & Sarah will help you with your hire needs.
7.45- 9.00pm This month’s meeting is all about Musical Parenting and what it really means. What do we do, how do we do it, what is musical play? Check out the attached article by Jody Keehan and Julie Wylie’s corner. We look forward to seeing you.
Julie Wylie’s Corner
Now that everyone is back into taking music classes it is timely to check whether we are all including vital musical parenting teaching strategies in our classes.
DO YOU INCLUDE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC IN EVERY SESSION SO THAT PARENTS AND CHILDREN CAN INCLUDE THIS INTO THEIR OWN MUSICAL PLAY?
Melody include pitch games such as singing on one note, two notes, using echo songs for tuneful singing, singing questions, singing scale songs, pitch games in relation to the body. E.G. Feet X 4, Knees, X 4, Tummy, X 4, shoulders, X 4, Head to ascending five notes of the major scale.
Rhythm lots of patting, stamping, moving to the beat, slow, fast, patterning, use of nursery rhymes for pattern, repetition, clapping rhythms, echo games, use of rhyming stories. Remember slow beat activities calm children. Too much fast music can put children into a state of high arousal. We need to think of calm, arousing and back to calm for healthy brain activity and learning.
Texture One child plays solo , two play together in duet, then whole group, so the texture thickens.
Timbre The sound quality that makes one sound easily identified from another. Play listening games with instruments hidden behind a screen, can the children identify woodblock, triangle etc.
Is the sound metal, wooden, skin?
Form: refers to the structure of the piece, e.g. nursery rhymes have a clear beginning, middle and end. Musical form help children to anticipate and follow sequences within the song
Harmony occurs when two or more notes are sounded together and combine in a special way. Sing rounds such as “Row, row, row, your boat”. Give three children a chime bar each using C.E.G. Get them to play together. They have played a chord. Now another three play three different notes. D.F.A they have played a minor chord. Listen to “Skittery Mouse” on “Teddy Bears Tango”: that uses the minor scale and outlines the minor chord.
Dynamics Loudness or softness of sound. Play crescendo, diminuendo games gradually getting louder, softer.
DO YOU FOLLOW THE CHILD AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN?
Creativity flourishes when babies and young children are given opportunities to be the leader. If a child sings a sound, creates a gesture, build it into the song or activity. This builds nurturing, self- esteem, and a strong sense of community within the group.
DO YOU INCLUDE THE PARENTS AS ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THE MUSICAL PLAY? Include partner games such as “Ring- a ring- a Rosy” for parent and child, play peek-a-boo games, clapping games, bouncing and rowing games. We need to spend time making sure parent and child are moving, playing in synchrony with each other.
DO YOU CREATE SONGS/DANCES WITH THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS?
Make up new verses for well known songs, play simple rhyming games, leave off ends of phrases of songs for children to fill in the gaps. “Humpty Dumpty sat on the mat, Humpty Dumpty was wearing a hat, clapping and stamping and singing a song, Humpty was happy all the day long”.
Julie Wylie 2010
BEHAVIOUR IS COMMUNICATION There is always a reason for what a child is doing. If the child goes away from the group to a corner to observe, the music or the group dynamics are probably too overwhelming for the child at that moment. Give room for the child to rejoin when she is ready.
Musical Play is about listening to, watching and following the child/children whenever possible and building their own offerings into a musical experience. e.g. the babies are pulling up and standing at the bass drum. They need time to explore, to tap, bang, bounce in time and to watch and listen to each other. They are learning to be proud performers, being a part of a music group, knowing that they are supported within a loving music environment with proud parents watching, singing and playing as the babies lead the musical game.
Feelings of anticipation, wonder and joy are evoked through the creative process of music making. Learning to love music and sharing in its wonders, can begin with the baby in the womb.
HAVE FUN AS YOU SING AND SAY, MOVE AND PLAY WITH THE FAMILIES YOU WORK WITH.
Dates to Note
A Taste of Orff
Saturday 27th February 10am to 3.30pm. Music Education Canterbury and Orff Aotearoa NZ present a fun, practical workshop to introduce you to the fundamentals of Orff Schulwerk. Check out the flier and registration form.
Enrol by Monday 22 February.
PSIS Children’s Day
Sunday 7th March, 11am to 4pm at the Groynes, Johns Road, Christchurch.
Free activities for all ages of children. CMPA are proud to have been invited to be part of the under 5’s area and will be running interactive sessions on the stage and in the crowd. Come on down and join the fun!
Orff Levels Training 2010
Monday 12 to Saturday 17 April ONZA and MENZA are hosting Level 1 and 2 training courses in Orff Schulwerk at the College of Education. Facilitators are Christoph Maubach, Susie Davies-Splitter and Sarah Brooke.
For more info contact Celia Stewart celia@xtra.co.nz phone 027-529 9000.
A good childhood: the science and the spirit of good parenting in the 21st century.
A six-part series on early childhood and parenting drawing on the insights of psychology, philosophy, medicine, education, religion and the law. Presenters include the Children’s Commissioner, the Principal Youth Court Judge, Julie Wylie and the children’s advocate Judy Bailey.
This course will be held at St Margaret’s College Chapel.
6 Mondays: February 22nd to March 29th 7.00pm - 8.30pm.
Fee $60.00 Limited places
Go to http://www.theologyhouse.ac.nz/
“Tiny Tapping Toes” Under 5’s Series at the Christchurch Music Centre
Mondays once a month at 10.00am: $4 per child - carers/parents free
To book contact Trish Rainey 3775000 or e-mail concerts@musiccentre.org.nz
1st March Liz Weir Storytelling
12th April Jody Keehan Music and Movement
3rd May Tessa Rose (Colin the Kiwi)
CMPA and MEC Workshop with Soili Perkio
A truly inspirational music educator, Julie is thrilled that Soili will be here to present a oneday workshop on Saturday 1st May from 10am till 4pm. More details to be confirmed.
and in the pipeline ….
There will be a mini Canterbury Music Education music conference on Saturday June 26th with a lot of choices for Musical Parenting members.
Orff Levels Training 2010 - brochure
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