The “Dinosaur Show” was very stimulating for the Junior Preschool and Preschool children. The story of was so dramatic and involved the children in the traditional pantomime way – they were asked to shout out and warn the actor when the monster was coming to steal the eggs! Music and sound effects supported the story very well and the visual impact of the costumes amazed the audience. We sang a song about a “Dinosaur Egg” that week to extend the children's experience and memory of the show. This was very popular as was the dinosaur egg that appeared in the Treasure Bag. You may have heard about this at home. The Dinosaur Song is now available for you to sing at home. (recording and lyrics under songs on this website!) I use my hands to make an egg shape while singing the song.
The following week I decided to revisit a song from last year “Cows in the Kitchen”. I was interested to see what memory recall would occur. I have found that although the children didn't recall the name or melody of the song without clues, once we started talking about farm animals being in parts of the house – a few children identified that there might be a cow in the Treasure Bag.
You will also find the lyrics and melody of this song under Songs on the website.
Don't forget the website also has a place for your feedback – if you are enjoying the updates and songs please let me know.
The children's interest in the violin continues – some children making a point of playing the violin during each session. I have supported interest in the violin and orchestra through two new books “Zin Zin the Violin” and “Irving the Frog and his violin”. Children enjoy stories so much and are really interested in stories about musicians and instruments. We will have two violins in the studio this week so that the children can enjoy playing a duet with a friend.!
This week our studio sessions have been focussed on several new experiences. The “Invitation to sing” table introduced a tea set and the accompanying book “I'm a little Teapot” by Iza Trapani. In this story the familiar song is added to with extra verses, taking the teapot on all sorts of adventures. Children are enjoying finding additional dramatic resources that support songs and story telling. The table content will be changed every few weeks and feature songs that are already familiar to the children.
Another provocation for curiosity and experimentation has been our focus instrument – the violin! An important part of the studio approach involves encouraging children to explore a range of instruments – those that they can play and also those that they are played in orchestra's, ensembles and bands. Real instruments are provided so that children can touch, play and listen to the sounds made by these instruments. Everyone has demonstrated a vibrant engagement with the violin – feeling it's weight, working out how to hold the instrument and using the bow to play the strings. We are listening to a range of violin music over the next few weeks and hoping to organise a musician to visit and play the violin for the children at the end of Term 1.
The children's interest in binoculars sparked the song of the week “I can see”. You might find your children asking about binoculars – I brought in my binoculars that are small but have real lenses – it was very exciting to hear the children's surprise as they experienced how binoculars can make everything look big! “You look different Liz!” was a popular response!.
This week the children have been inspired to take to the drums. The bongos, shaman drums and new chinese drum the Ganguu. This drum can be hung around the neck to enable the children to march about with it – using beaters on each end. A recording from the Griot African Drum Ensemble - “Yankadi” stimulated active use of the drum corner from infants through to preschool children.
In addition to building an awareness and experience of beat and rhythm the children have found that playing drums together is very relaxing and enjoyable. Your child may have come home singing about trucks! “I like trucks” was a song introduced last year in response to a number of children that talked about trucks, diggers, cranes etc.
You will find a new recording of the song and lyrics under songs on this website. Our work on rhythm continues with the use of tapping sticks to a variety of recordings – this week we enjoyed tapping to “Yellow Submarine”, “You sing a song” and “The More we are Together”. “Old Macdonald Had a Farm” remains a popular favourite with all the children – a great one for you to sing in the car encouraging the children to vary the animals and the sounds.
Have a happy and relaxed long weekend!
Liz
It has been a wonderful week in our Soundscape Studio. We continue to welcome new children who are experiencing their first studio sessions. It is so exciting to see their big eyes as they take in the big room furnished with so many instruments and opportunities to explore sound.
It is so important that we encourage young children to enjoy making sounds – we often respond quickly to their sound making in an effort to stop what can sometimes be a loud annoying sound (for example beating a saucepan with a spoon). We can support their musical future by enabling a time and place for playing instruments and making sound without too much intervention from adults. This is what happens on a daily basis in our studio.
This week our Ukelele's have been well used by some aspiring rock stars! These children also enjoy playing the larger guitars. The Glockenspiels have also been popular as the children master the art of separating their left and right hand actions. The Chinese Dragon puppets continue to thrill and we are enjoying hearing “Beaming with Cheer” each time they dance – this has become a familiar piece. We have worked in pairs this week to play drums at the start of our sessions – this experience builds social inclusion and confidence in addition to an understanding of playing instruments in ensemble. If you have a favourite song that you enjoy with your child please let me know and I can add them to our sessions.
Happy Autumn! From Liz
We have just completed our first week of studio sessions. It has been wonderful to see all the children and to reacquaint them with the much loved studio environment. The children have revisited a number of their favourite experiences from last year including singing “Santa Koala”, focussing on a particular instrument or pouring over the old song book and asking for particular songs.
Our song of the week was “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree” - a well known and popular song from last year. The addition of our “Invitation to sing” table containing two little kookaburra finger puppets sitting in a gum tree enriched the song lyrics. I was pleased to see some of our more adventurous explorers sitting with a friend and creating a story for the Kookaburra song.
I like to teach longer songs for the Preschool children throughout the year. The first one is “Se sei felice tu lo sai”. This is the Italian version of “If your happy and you know it”. The bonus is that the children are very familiar with the tune. A copy of the Italian words have been included on the songs list – the pronunciation is very phonetic with an Italian swing. A poster of the Preschool song is kept in the room so that the children can sing it throughout the week. Children need to sing a new song many times for it to become known.
A number of children were new to the studio this week. Their responses vary according to the individual – sometimes they will spend time watching the other children, picking up on what to do and how to behave, others will launch into an enthusiastic exploration of everything! After a few weeks the children settle down and give themselves time to enjoy the studio in a relaxed way.
It would be interesting for you to ask your child about their sessions – what instruments they like to play? What was in the Treasure Bag? What was the song this week? Which puppets danced at the end?
For the next few weeks the children will listen to a piece of traditional Chinese music - “Beaming with Cheer” while they enjoy the dancing of two little chinese dragon puppets. This piece is often played during Chinese New Year celebrations and is bright and happy. Playing instrumental pieces at the end of each session builds the children's listening skills and broadens their musical ear!
Thank you for your interest in the Soundscape program – have a good week!
Regards,
Liz
The break over January has enabled a time for reflection and evaluation of the Soundscape Program. The response from both children and parents/carers last year was very positive. It was great to meet with parents/carers and extended family members during the open studio sessions conducted for the Junior Preschool and Preschool children in December 2010. These sessions reinforced the program approach of inviting children to explore, experiment and enjoy playing and singing without the pressure of performance.
The children proudly conducted their visitors on a tour of the studio - sharing with them their developing playing skills and ongoing engagement with the wide range of instruments available. I hope to conduct open studio sessions for the younger children in the mid year. Another early task will be to send out parent/carer surveys - last year our survey responses provided valuable insights into the children's musical experiences at home and also enabled you to provide ideas for experiences, songs and instruments that have enriched the program.
I will be meeting with centre teacher's the week prior to our studio sessions commencing to put together our class groupings. Generally about 8-10 children attend a set time for their sessions. The groupings are established early in the year and it is our aim to keep the group participants constant so that the children develop relationships that are the basis of their collaborative learning and session enjoyment. For this reason we do not adjust the groups to add children that may have missed a session. I am looking forward to the second year of Soundscape Studio at Gungahlin Children's Centre!
Regards,
Liz