Singing to learn

**Kelley_the_Gardener** · 10-22-2002, 01:53 PM

Greetings!

I was thinking this morning about how much my kids love music, and what a great learning tool music is. I thought we could share some favorite music and what we do with it in the classroom. Here are two of my favorites, to start with:

"The Banana Slug String Band"

Great, fun science-based songs. My personal favorites are "Dirt Made My Lunch, "I'm a Tree," and "The Water Cycle Boogie." One CD comes with both English and Spanish; since we are supposed to begin teaching a second language in 2nd grade (IB PYP requirement), we have been singing some favorites in both languages. You can also get the music; it is simple enough that even I, the musically challenged, can play most of them on my guitar.

From Schoolhouse Rock, "Multiplication Rock." When we approach multiplication, we first learn what it is; counting groups of things. We learn to count "by" 3s, 4s, etc. to do multiplication. We sing the songs daily. It gives us a good foundation when we are ready to memorize times tables; and, it is highly entertaining to watch kids singing under their breath as they figure out what 6 X 8 is before they have memorized it. Our collective favorite? "Three is a Magic Number."

**klh_VanBC** · 10-22-2002, 03:21 PM

I am trying to learn the guitar now for this very reason! In Canada we have to teach the kids French and music is a great way to do this!

**Olav** · 10-22-2002, 11:08 PM

Hi,kelley !
Music is my life - and singing with kids is just great ! In the first grade the kids learn English,French,German plus some other songs from other countries. OK - so the pronounciation is so and so..... but they love singing. As long as I can accompany them on the guitar.
Playing the guitar is not the perfect way to help them - if you only know three or four chords.
A long time ago I realized that if I did spend too much time trying to find the right chords - the kids lost their interrest. And - since most songs are written either too high or too low for the kids to sing I had to transpne the song -instantly - all the time.
The result was - I began tuning my guitar in open E or D . (meaning that one finger across the strings always did make a chord. and By lowering the third string I got this chord in minor.)It's perfect for rock and blues !
The guitar I use at school is ina way tuned just like a fivestring banjo.

I guess what I am trying to say is this : Unless you are very good - or unless it does not matter to you what it really sounds like - a guitar is not the best instrument to use in a classroom.
Personally - I prefer my banjo - but since my insurance does not cover any damage to this - I try to keep my "mastertone" at home.
And - I have just found a cassette - Kate and Anna Mccarrigle ! Great music - they are Canadians - i think.
Peace
Olav

**Kelley_the_Gardener** · 10-23-2002, 02:02 AM

I love music too, Olav!
I don't know if I'll ever be even an "almost adequate" guitar player. I've had plenty of lessons, lots of practice; it doesn't get any better. I only know a few songs, and can play those because I've played them so many times my hands know what to do. Still, my oldest son stands over me and says, "Mom, who taught you how to count?" He plays several instruments, including the guitar, all but one self-taught. He writes his own music and performs publicly an evening or so a month, for his own pleasure. His brother stands by and encourages me; "Mom...count with your foot. You can do it." My students never seem to care; they just keep singing and let me work to keep up with them. Of course, I do only the ultra-simple with them. The rest we listen to on my cd player. They are very forgiving and love to see me in the position of working hard to achieve something that I haven't mastered yet. We just began going to our school's music teacher once a week to learn the recorder; I'm doing pretty well so far. I can keep up with my kids. They have been so excited that they take their recorders to lunch and recess to practice.

Music is a great way to learn another language! Besides my one English/Spanish cd, I have one Spanish speaking parent who comes in every once in a while with something fun. Last time, she taught them to sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" in Spanish; then modified it to the "very big spider" in honor of our classroom pet; a tarantula.

**Olav** · 10-23-2002, 06:09 AM

good to hear that you are trying and that you dare to play!
I think thats the trick - not telling the class "wait - i have to find the chord first" all the time. That would eventually kill off musical inerrest.
btw.: Could you get me the lyrics in spanish - to Itsy Bitsy spider....????
In return I could get you the lyrics in Norwegian !
Olav

**Kelley_the_Gardener** · 10-24-2002, 01:36 AM

Here are the lyrics, without the extra marks on the /n/s & /o/s:

La Arana Pequenita:

La arana pequenita
Subio, Subio, Subio
Cayo la lluvia y se la llevo
Salio el sol y todo lo seco
Y la arana pequenita subio, subio, subio.

And the modification for our tarantula:

L Arana Grandotota

I'd love to have it in Norwegian!

**Olav** · 10-26-2002, 09:25 PM

Hi Kelley - Here goes:
The melody is teh same so it should be "easy " to sing the Norwegian words here !!(hm)

LILLE PETTER EDDERKOPP
KLATRET PÅ MIN HATT
SÅ BEGYNTE DET Å REGNE - OG PETTER NED HAN DATT!
SÅ KOM SOLEN OG SKINTE PÅ MIN HATT
DA BLE DET LIV I PETTERKOPP SOM KLATRET PÅ MIN HATT.

ok :
All the L's are pronunced like Jim Careys L in LOOOOSER!!!
Å is of course not written in The USA - (some people write aa ) but it sounds like O (in BORN)
BEGYNTE (began) is easy - just drop EG = bynte (remember E is like in bEd same goes here:
Å REGNE - (to rain) - REGNE - SOUNDS LIKE to RAIN + E with an RP english R.

Cool rhyme !!!!
Peace
Olav

**Kelley_the_Gardener** · 10-26-2002, 09:46 PM

Wow! This one will take some work! Thanks, Olav.

**Kelley_the_Gardener** · 11-05-2002, 01:05 PM

Since this is a music topic, I thought I'd share that we are getting ready for a big winter holiday musical production; about 9 classes of us together will be performing "Once on a Housetop," (name of composer is at work), full of really fun songs in a musical play about many ways to celebrate the season. While we are working with the actors, and those who have solo singing and dancing parts on stage, the chorus is enthusiastically belting out song after song. Their joy in the music is evident; it shines from their faces as they sing. Some have incredibly beautiful voices, naturally, with no voice training. Others belt them out totally off-key, but with still with energy and enthusiasm. I don't know how to teach them to sing on key (?); if I did, I would have taught myself! Any suggestions?