Talking About Tambourines This week I’ve been using tambourines in my music enrichment classes (I rotate among several different rhythm instruments) and my experiences in the various classes have reminded me of why I both love and hate tambourines. Okay, I don’t like to use the word “hate” – let’s say “Have problems with.” Tambourines […]
Tag Archives: early childhood music
Helpful bouncing babies show that moving together builds bonds from the time we learn to walk Date: June 24, 2014 Source: McMaster University Whether they march in unison, row in the same boat or dance to the same song, people who move in time with one another are more likely to bond and work together afterward. […]
“All Around the Kitchen” Dan Zanes from “Live! All Around the Kitchen” CD available on iTunes Why do you see a picture of a rooster with a song called “All Around the Kitchen,” you ask? Simple – because the words “cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo” appear in pretty much every line of the song. Dan Zanes is a unique […]
“Looking for a Moose” by Phyllis Root This is one of my favorite stories for fall, especially because of the use of fall colors in the illustrations. It also has Phyllis Root’s great ear for rhythm and rhymes that captivate young children. There’s not really a lot of plot to “Looking for a Moose.” A […]
This article of mine originally appeared in Creativity Portal (creativity-portal.com) in December 2010. Creative Arts and Creative Thinking Are Not the Same Thing! By Abby Connors Earlier this year, I presented a workshop at a unique international conference, “Educating the Creative Mind,” held at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. The conference was tremendously stimulating, […]
“The job of adults is to make sure natural curiosity is supported and not squashed. Curiosity cannot be directly taught and doesn’t have to be; it emerges and can be nurtured.” – Anne Mitchell […]
“Tue Tue” recorded by Nico and Morlunah available on iTunes I just love this piece. It’s very exuberant and happy, and has a very strong beat. It’s suitable for improvisation with rhythm instruments and with movement. I created my own simple dance to “Tue Tue” which I use with fours and fives, based on motions […]
This article is excerpted from my book “Teaching Creativity” and also appeared on the “Creativity Portal” site (creativity-portal.com). Think Outside the Catalog When I look through school-supply catalogs, I shake my head at the amount of money some people are apparently willing to pay for little fuzzy pompoms, foam paper, feathers, sequins, stamps, stickers, and […]
“Talent is the desire to practice.” – Malcolm Gladwell, “Outliers” I don’t know when I realized this, but at some point in my teaching career I realized that all my amazing ideas for music activities for young children – or what I thought were amazing ideas – didn’t always translate into amazing lessons. In […]
“Cumbamba” by Jose Conde on “Jazz Playground” CD by Putumayo I first discovered the music of Jose Conde on the unbelievably fabulous CD with the absolutely fabulous name of “Salsa for Kittens and Puppies.” (I’m sure I’ll be writing more about that later!) Conde is a Cuban-American composer and musician and this piece is just […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 