I agree that it would be more effective, fun and developmentally appropriate to make the event a sing along. In fact, I suggest that instead of putting children on a stage facing and audience, encourage the families to get involved, sit with their children, and use the instruments along with them. Performances can be as stressful for the children and families as they seem to be for you. It will be a lot of fun if the teachers, children, and parents all participate. Bye-Bye stressful performances, hello engagement!
------------------------------
Fran Simon, M.Ed.
Engagement Strategies, LLC
Early Childhood Investigations Webinars
Early Childhood Investigations Consultants Directory
Washington, DC Metro
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2018 10:19 AM
From: Joanne Rutkowski
Subject: Sing a kings and non verbal children
I'm so pleased to hear you are engaging children in music making. Please don't stress over some children not singing. My research has shown that children will sing when they are ready. Learning to sing is much like learning a language. Children need to hear a lot of singing and have others sing to them before they will attempt to sing. Consider how long children hear language before they begin to speak! It's likely that some of the children in your class have not had those singing experiences. "Forcing" them to sing will actually impede the development of their singing voices. Consider other ways that children can be musically involved - the shakers you mention are one idea. Free movement is another - have the children "show" the music in their movements. One other thought - it is not appropriate to ask young children to perform, for a variety of reasons. A sing-a-long where they are sitting in a circle, or even with their parents would be much more appropriate. So . . . don't fret about those children not yet singing. I have taught music to young children for decades and have had children stare at me for months! Eventually they begin singing and become fully engaged. I hope these thoughts help.
------------------------------
Joanne Rutkowski
State College PA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-26-2018 12:31 PM
From: Tracy Anglim Klein
Subject: Sing a kings and non verbal children
my private school were I work does sing alongs three times a year. At times they are horrible because we have non verbal children, children who don't want to sing or children that were singing during rehearsal but get shy when there are strange adults. All of this is understandable! I need ideas! I am having the special guest do the freeze with bells, the shaker eggs to shake shakey. But it's unfair to the parents whose child won't sing! Any ideas!
------------------------------
Tracy Anglim Klein
Lead teacher
Kiddie Junction preschool
Levittown NY
------------------------------