Overview:
Singing is one of the most natural vehicles for self-expression and communication in young students. Research indicates that is linked to neurological development in children and has benefits towards educational success later in life. In addition to building confidence, singing is also fun, helps students to become more calm and focused, and increases students’ sense of pitch.
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- Identify the strategies for teaching a song to young students,
- Describe the strategies and the rationale for each,
- Define the use of and rationale underlying solfège as a tool in teaching a song,
- Identify and demonstrate best practices for using a song accompaniment,
- Demonstrate the processes used to teach songs,
- Identify the elements used to evaluate and select age-appropriate song literature,
- Identify ways in which technology can assist in teaching a song to students, and
- Evaluate and analyze a song being taught based on standards identified in the text.
How is Singing Taught?
An important and significant portion of elementary music education includes the teaching of singing. Students learn about music by making music. Singing provides the opportunity for students to engage in musical activities and to participate in a personally fulfilling form of self-expression.
Teaching students to sing a song can take a variety of approaches but each process has the following common elements. These include:
- The preparation of students with a vocal warm-up
- Modeling the song for the students in the appropriate vocal range
- Providing a starting pitch
- Begin by taking a preparatory stance, taking a breath, and giving a visual cue with appropriate gestures
- Break the song into chunks
- Listen while the students sing
