teaching 3-5 years old music?

Question

i'm a new music teacher and i am supposed to teach my kindergarten class of age 3+-5+ music for 30 minsl... where can i get resources or any of u have comments what i can do with them for 30 mins? i was a one on one organ teacher before so i really have no experience on group class... PLS HELP

Answer 1

I think with that age it's best to have them participate by mimicking some things that they can relate to. Concrete things like the sound a train makes using wood blocks with some kids rubbing the swoosh swoosh sound and the others doing the clap sound and a third group blowing the whistle.... ie.. swoosh swoosh clap, swoosh swoosh clap, toot toot..etc... Or mimic the sound of a Horse with blocks.. Doing this as u tell a story related to the things mimicked... U got to understand that at that age there not going to even come close to understanding the concept of rhythm and time, but they will naturally understand or at least fallow a beat that has a concrete relationship with something simple like said train or what ever... When we are in mamas belly all we hear, feel and live bye is the beat of mamas heart... So its pre programed into us all ready. Using the examples above allows the kids to vocalize it.... U picken up what I'm put'en down? Hope this helps, and props for taking on what will prove to be a very important aspect of the little ones life's...

Answer 2

Here's an example of one activity you could do with your group.

At the child-care centre where I worked they had a music-appreciation class there every week run by a music teacher who would attend for approx. 30 minutes as the attention span of the kids at this age is short as you know. The music teacher brought about 3 of each musical instruments that she had eg. triangles, mini drums, tamborines, recorders, cabassas and others to name a few. She would play music and all the kids would walk in a circle playing follow-the-leader banging/playing
to the beat of the music, and then she would stop the music and
name an instrument to be brought back to the centre of the circle and placed on the floor by each of those children that had them.
Then these kids would join back into the circle as the music started and would clap along until the music stopped again and another instrument would be named and the procedure repeated until all instruments were placed back into the circle and the reverse would happen where all kids would get there instruments back as they were called in succession. The kids loved this and were learning the names of each instrument and learning the beat of the music as well.

Answer 3

Teach them lots of songs...action songs are best. Try "Movement Songs that Children Love", Charlotte Diamond songs, finger rhymes. You can also introduce them to simple instruments and get them to find the beat, or read them stories and have them use instruments to play certain words (check out Robert Munsch books--fantastic for this)!

30 minutes does sound like a lot. My kids go to music for 20 min twice a week. Good luck!

Answer 4

Most Suzuki music teachers in Utah have found Michiko Yurko's "Music Mind Games" very helpful. Personally I like using puppets - have the puppet sing with the children. Also, working in Primary in church (Mormon) I like using posters with something going on to mark progress or how they are singing. For example, have the children sing well enough to get two cars moving on a road to win a race (you can have girls against boys - since boys are notoriously difficult to get interested in singing, although at the kindergarten age you should be okay). Laminate the posters so you can use them over again.

Answer 5

Drjean.org has a lot of great music CD's that are great to use with this age. Her lyrics are on the website too.
I use them every day with my preschool kids. They can dance to music with any type of a beat, use instruments-- just experimenting with them.
If you use an internet search, you can find music on practically any theme, set to common songs-- 'Mary had a little Lamb,' Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc.

Answer 6

mary had a little lamb
mary had a little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow

And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go

It followed her to school one day
School one day, school one day
It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school

And so the teacher turned it out,
Turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near

And waited patiently about,
Patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
Love Mary so? Love Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry

"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
Loves the lamb, you know, loves the lamb, you know
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply

Answer 7

I force music down my kids, and make her practice her instruments for about 10 hours a day if she doesnt do well she goes to bed without dinner

Answer 8

Try action song anything with movement will keep them interested.

Answer 9

Here's some links that may help:
http://www.kidsongs.com/shopkidsongs/specials.cfm?aff=26813&gclid=CLPBl922qogCFUELGAodi2aIcQ

and
http://www.allegro-music.com/childrens.asp

Answer 10

http://www.kindermusik.com/