Music at Home

Here are some suggestions of different ways to integrate music and singing into your every day lives at home. I hope you find these video’s useful…

Bedtime Stories with a beat – We love bedtime stories at home. I love any opportunity to include music in this special time together. Clare Fogue’s Kitchen Disco offers a great opportunity to add a bit of a beat to your reading style offering the children an opportunity to subconsciously learn about pulse and rhythm.
Leaves Everywhere – The jobs are never ending, so I love it when my little ones ‘help’ me. We often sing this little song when out on our Autumnal walks or when sweeping the leaves up from our path. Add a pause in to add suspense and play around with the pitch on the words high and low to further exaggerate the pitch.
Family Concerts – Giving your children the freedom to express themselves musically is so powerful. We sing together all the time at home, and very often my children want the stage to themselves. Giving them your time and attention can be incredibly powerful as they explore their voices – try not to interrupt, and when they’re done – praise, praise, praise.
Mimicking – At 10mths, she had never seen the film Frozen, but the music is often on in the background when we play – it is incredible how fast they learn and what they may be listening/focusing on. When supporting them with their singing development, sing regularly and use a wide range of songs and rhymes. Listen to your child’s vocalising and mimick them – turn taking. Use a lively voice when having conversations – lots of high/low (pitch), and different sounds (timbre). Repeat, repeat, repeat
Noisy toys – Ever received one of those gifts for your child from grown ups without children… I love music, and even I find some noises a bit too much. However, when your children are making music and exploring the sounds they can make, avoid responding to it as ‘noise’. Engage with their music making, challenge them to change the way they’re playing. Join in (if allowed) and remember to praise, praise, praise.
Vocalising – Babies make the most wonderful different types of sounds (timbre), exploring aspect of singing (e.g. high/low (pitch), patterns of sound (rhythm), and phrasing) and imitating melodic shape. Support vocalising at home by listening carefully to the sounds your baby is vocalising. Responding sensitively by turn-taking, making eye contact and allowing time for babies to vocalise and listen to your responses. Play with your own voice – and Sing, sing, sing