“Bailar Rapido” is from an amazing CD with the Best. Title. Ever. – “Salsa for Kittens and Puppies,” by Baby Loves Salsa. The CD comes with a storybook about a plucky band of animal musicians who celebrate their friend’s birthday by making music all over New York City! The CD and story are just filled […]
Author Archives: Abby Connors
In my music enrichment classes for young children, I often read stories to which I add repeated, sung phrases or “sound effects” children can join in on. I find this adds: 1. Engagement as children focus in on the story and listen for the auditory cues for “their part,” […]
Violins made by the Italian masters Stradivari and Guarneri more than three hundred years ago are still the finest in the world. The brilliance and resonance of their tone is legendary, and scientists and musicians alike have been puzzling over the “secret” to the instruments’ tone for centuries. Finally, researchers may have discovered a clue: […]
Is it truly hip to be square? This amazing song gives one adorable shape’s opinion. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll learn facts about polygons. Although the ending is indeed rather gruesome and disturbing if you really think about it (my advice: don’t), the shape is perfectly okay, in fact delighted, with the outcome. This song […]
In the olden days, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln each had their own birthday, like regular people. Since their birthdays were so close, though, they graciously agreed to celebrate them on the same day in honor of three-day weekends. Nowadays we remember these great presidents by sleeping late and shopping. This song is a leave-out-the-words, […]
Yes, I’m aware that the picture features a romantic mouse couple, not rhythm sticks… Here’s the thing though – rhythm sticks aren’t as cute as mice giving each other flowers. This activity appears in my book “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Rhythm Instruments and More for Active Learning” (Gryphon House, 2015). “Oh My Darling Valentine” Tap […]
How to Include Multicultural Music in Your Classroom We all want to be inclusive, to make our classrooms places where all students feel loved, valued, and very welcome – and where students learn to be respectful and accepting of other cultures. Music can go a long way toward making this happen! Multicultural songs, games, and […]
The other day, while singing “Old MacDonald” with a class of three-year-olds, I found myself wondering how many times I’ve sung this song. Must be in the thousands, I thought. Well, I just did some calculations. Multiply approximately ten times a day, three or four days a week, times say fifty weeks a year, for (excuse […]
Groundhogs… cute or not cute? I say definitely cute. My husband disagrees since many groundhogs built an impressively large complex underneath some bushes in our backyard. We only see an occasional groundhog now, but that’s too much for my husband. I don’t get it. Look at that guy! (The groundhog, not my husband.) Totally cute, […]
Is this a leopard or a cheetah? Not sure? Keep reading… Is it too late to make a New Year’s resolution? Because I’d like to make one today. (Sorry, Jan. 1 through 26!) I resolve to follow up on every scientific inquiry made by one of my young students. Even when it’s masquerading as an […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 