It’s no secret that our world is experiencing unprecedented times and our lives are filled with so much uncertainty.
How do we stay positive and productive without letting the never-ending negative news get us down?
Enter music as mental medicine.
As an early childhood music educator, my days are filled with singing and dancing, playing my guitar and ukulele and listening to loads of music every moment of the day. But a few weeks ago, all that was taken away when the schools where I had been teaching were closed due to the pandemic.
The first few days home I found myself glued to my phone reading every article possible on this terrible virus (you too??). I’d fall asleep with the television telling me about new cases. It was no surprise that my sleep suffered and my dreams turned to nightmares because of what I had been filling my mind with.
After several days of this, I knew something needed to change. I was exhausted, scared and no fun to be around (just ask my family).
I walked into my office ready to take on a mind-numbing task to take my mind off of it all when I saw my ukulele sitting there all cool, calm and collected. (Don’t worry, this email is not about convincing you to learn to play the ukulele, put if you are interested, I’ve got a class for that! Click here.)
That’s when it struck me, I haven’t had any music in my life! Well, that had to change.
I quickly realized that I could replace the time I had been spending absorbed in my phone with music. It had been there all along, waiting patiently to comfort me and take my mind off of my current obsession.
I picked up that ukulele and began to play. It didn’t take long before a sense of peace came over me. Time seemed to stand still and all that was going on in the world around me was forgotten. It was just my music and me.
I still find myself watching a bit too much news, but I’ve also done a better job of balancing it with the positive energy that music brings and I so encourage you to give it a shot for your own mental health.
At this point you may be thinking, but I don’t play an instrument so how can I tap into the benefits of music?
Here’s the great thing about music, you don’t just have to produce it to reap the positive mental benefits. If you too have been sucked into the never-ending negative news and need a break, I’ve made a list of three ways you can begin tapping into the power of music to increase your overall mental health not only now, but any time life throws a curveball.
If you are interested, head over to my blog.
3 Ways to Use Music as Medicine
Turn on music that makes you dance! We all know that when we move our bodies we feel better. Why? Because movement stimulates the release of endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals our body produces to relieve stress and pain. While we can get this from a vigorous walk or aerobic workout, dancing seems to release even more endorphins than typical aerobic movement. Take Action: Choose a song or playlist that makes you move your body. Grab a partner or go it alone. Don’t forget the old saying that’s really true now, DANCE LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING! This is probably not hard to do these days since most of us are alone or with our immediate family;)
Trigger happy memories with a favorite song. Every one of us has at least one song that’s tied to a positive experience. Whether it’s the song that accompanied the first dance at your wedding or the music you listened to in high school, music has the ability to trigger memories that are so strong it makes you feel like you are right back in that moment. Take Action: Think back to positive times in your life and recall a song or two you were listening to a lot during that time. Turn it on and let the memories come flooding back.
Create a bedtime playlist – While many of us may not be setting our alarms at the moment, our internal alarm may be scheduling wake ups on your behalf. If you’ve found yourself wide awake at 2 a.m., it may be time to take a look at your bedtime routine. Rather than looking at your phone until sleep finally arrives, try turning on calming music. It naturally slows down your heart rate and breathing, lowers your blood pressure, and oftentimes your muscles relax. All of these lead to a perfect recipe for slumber because these biological changes mirror some of the same changes that your body undergoes when you’re falling asleep, making music the perfect preparation for restorative slumber. Take Action: Since everyone’s music preferences are different, create a playlist filled with music you love. But be sure to choose music with a slow tempo as that will elicit the physical responses that will benefit your sleep. These slower tempos are more often found in jazz, classical and instrumental music.
May music be the medicine that calms your nerves and lifts your spirits.
Kids love this theme because it is so meaningful. And when a topic is meaningful, they make connections.
To make it extra fun, I used a chef puppet to introduce many of the songs. This was a great way to capture their attention as they couldn’t wait to hear what my chef had to say!
Check out a few of my activities below. Then download the activities (along with links to the recordings) for your next food themed circle time!
Over these last few weeks, many of us have gone from classroom teachers to online educators and are faced with questions we need answers to now!
One of which is what are the rules around sharing music via Skype/Zoom/YouTube etc? That’s just the question I received this week from a teacher…….
Question: My preschool team has attended your workshop at WAEYC the last couple of years and we love learning new music and movement activities from you! Due to the COVID19 situation we have created a YouTube channel for our students to access. We are providing circle time content, snack demonstrations, story time, and music and movement.
Since you’ve been doing this for awhile I wanted to ask you about the rules regarding using licensed songs in YouTube videos. What are the restrictions? Can we sing the music or play it on an instrument, but NOT play the actual song?
Answer: As far as using licensed songs, I stay away from them especially on a public format such as YouTube. Instead, I stick to public domain songs (if you aren’t sure if a song is public domain, click here to search for the song).
However, during this time, many artists are being extremely generous and allowing online sharing. If there is a specific song you want to share because your kids just love it, reach out to the artist!
If you can’t get permission to share online, why not create a playlist on YouTube or Spotify for your students to access after the online circle time? Fill the playlists with your class’s favorite songs and encourage families to turn on the music and let their child be the teacher!
Click herefor how to make a Spotify playlist. Spotify has a ton of songs and getting an account set up is quick and easy.
Click here for directions on how to create a YouTube playlist you can share.
If you are looking for fair to share content, there are so many great poems and songs out there in the public domain. One of my favorite resources is King County Library’s collection called “Tell Me a Story”. They have tons of songs broken down by topic that are all ok to share. If they aren’t public domain, they do let you know so you feel good about knowing you are legal. There are also video demonstrations so you can see how the activity looks in action.
What about books?
While we are on the topic of what’s legal to share in an online platform, let’s talk about books. Sorry to say it, but same same goes for reading books. I know, YouTube is filled with people reading books so I’m not sure why those haven’t been taken down. The truth is you do need to get permission from the publisher if you want to read the book online.
But, because we are experiencing unprecedented times, many publishers have loosened their rules. Click here to view an ever-growing list as well as their rules around sharing. If you don’t see the publisher of a book that you want to share, contact them! Word is they are responding quickly with their sharing guidelines.
In the end, meeting your students online during these stressful times can be just what all of you need. When they see your face and hear your voice, a sense of comfort is felt.
I hope this information helps you to navigate the online world a bit better.
Looking up at the night sky, it’s hard not to miss the moon and the stars. And what about all those planets? If you and your little ones are ready to blast off, then join me in the space-themed sing-along.
Dinosaurs are ALWAYS a hit in our music classes. Check out my Facebook LIVE where I share lots of songs perfect for a dinosaur circle time. Then grab your copy of the songs below!
Ever heard someone singing a familiar tune, but the words were different? They were singing a “piggyback song” and if you are someone that works with children (and even adults), you will want to utilize this very effective group management strategy on a frequent basis. From hand washing to lining up, this strategy beats the heck out of yelling AND kids actually listen!
Why piggyback songs ROCK!
They Get Kids’ Attention! Trying to make an announcement to the class but they just won’t listen? Start singing what you have to tell them, but put it to the tune of a song you know. You’ll find that they’ll stop whatever they are doing and listen. Why? Because the sound of your singing voice is different from the other sounds they are hearing. Your voice activates the brain’s alerting network (it’s the brain’s way of keeping us safe) and will require the body to stop whatever it is doing, figure out where the sound is coming from and then decide what to do about it. In that short amount of time, the child will listen to the words you are singing and the brain will get to work processing the information.
They Lock in Learning Want to teach your children information such as steps to washing their hands or how to put toys away? Turn it into a song using a tune they already know. Piggyback songs are great for learning new information because they offer children an opportunity to connect information to a tune they often already know. Think of the song as the vehicle that will carry the information to their memory bank. It provides a rhythm and rhyme and sometimes alliteration which helps to unlock that information with cues.
How to write a piggyback song
When writing a piggyback song, the trick is to keep it simple so you remember it! Below are four easy steps that will get you a piggyback song in no time!
Know your purpose – Decide the purpose of the song ie. lining up, sitting down etc.
Pick a Tune – Find a tune you know well. Refer to the list below for tune inspirations
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat – If the song has four lines like many simple songs do, your lyrics can repeat four times. This allows the children to hear the direction over and over again and by the fourth time, they know what you are saying! So don’t worry about getting fancy and writing a ton of lyrics. That makes it hard on everyone including you. When you think of a great piggyback song, you want to be able to remember it again with ease.
If you do want to get a little fancy, try changing the third line of the song as shown below:
Piggy Back Song Example
(Tune: She’ll be comin’ round the mountain)
Oh it’s time to wash your hands.
Oh it’s time to wash your hands.
Scrub them here, scrub them there, scrub them everywhere,
Oh it’s time to wash your hands.
Piggy Back Song Tunes
Below is a list of well-known songs that work great as a piggy back tune. Be sure to choose ones you know the tune to really well.
“A Hunting We Will Go”
“Bear Went Over the Mountain”
“Bingo”
“Clementine”
“Farmer in the Dell”
“Frere Jacques”
“Happy and You Know It”
“Head Shoulder Knees and Toes”
“I’m a Little Teapot”
“London Bridge”
“Mary had a Little Lamb
“Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
“Ten Little Indians”
“The Wheels on the Bus”
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
“Zippidy Doo Dah”
Piggyback Song Examples.
Here are some of my favorite piggyback songs so you can see how they work. Credit is given to songs written
Where is Big Toe? from The Complete Resource Book for Infants: Over 700 Experiences for Children from Birth to 18 Months via Mel’s Desk (Tune: “Where is Thumbkin?”)
If you’ve ever listened to Izzy’s version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” then you’ve heard the beautiful sound of the ukulele.
The sound takes me right back to the islands as Hawaii was the first place I ever played this sweet sounding instrument.
Twenty years ago my husband, Eric, and I took a trip to Kauai and attended a luau. They were offering free ukulele lessons and I couldn’t resist.
What surprised me was just how quickly I was able to start playing!
Why? Because it only takes one finger to play a chord!
Sadly, I returned to the main land without a ukulele:( But, unbeknownst to me, Eric had purchased one for me and it arrived just a few weeks after we returned home. It’s the same ukulele I play today!
I have to admit, I didn’t start using the uke in my music classes until last year. Not sure why, but now that I’ve started, I haven’t stopped.
Kids love it and I do too. With just a few simple chords, I can play tons of songs. I also love its small size which makes carrying it on my back as I travel to different schools a breeze.
Have you ever thought about learning to play the ukulele? Yep, I’m talking to you!
There’s no time like the present to learn! I’ve made a list of reasons in case you’re on the fence. Here you go….
3 Reasons Why You Should Learn to Play the Ukulele
Learning something new gives us energy and reminds us that learning is fun (and a little challenging)! Your kiddos will feel your energy and excitement and can even support you on your journey. It’s also good for us as teachers to remember what it’s like to be challenged by something new because our kids feel this often.
It creates community in your classroom. Want to bring your students closer together as a community of learners? Teach them songs they can all sing together! They’ll naturally feel connected. I’m not just saying that, research says it too! Music impacts brain circuits involved in empathy, trust, and cooperation. Now those are some skills every human needs strengthened, right!?!
Singing boosts everyone’s mood! There’s nothing like a roaring rendition of “Wheels on the Bus” to energize a group of preschoolers. Why? Because music releases dopamine which is involved in regulating mood. Coupled with the effects on endorphins, music makes us feel good and connect with others.
Bottom line, the ukulele is the perfect instrument for you to learn if you want to bring a new skill into your classroom that will engage kids.
Are you ready to learn to play the ukulele? Enroll today! Our next session starts Friday, January 28th.
Ever thought of learning to play the ukulele? You might be saying, who me? I don’t have a musical bone in my body!
Well guess what, learning to play an instrument is a skill, not a talent.
Still with me?
Now that we’ve got that hurdle out of the way, I’d love to help you get started by choosing an instrument I know you can learn quickly!
Let’s face it, as adults we want immediate results without having to put in a ton of time practicing (or maybe that’s just me!). That’s why I recommend the ukulele.
If you have a ukulele in the back of your hall closet collecting dust and you are just waiting for “someday” to roll around to learn to play, there’s no time like the present. Get it out, dust it off and see what kind of sounds you can get out of it.
If not, I’ve made a list of 5 really awesome ukuleles that range in price. Honestly, I’m surprised that some of these ukuleles make such an awesome sound and don’t break the bank!
Let’s Meet the Ukuleles
Before I give my recommendations, I want to talk a bit about the four standard sizes of ukuleles so you’l be sure to pick (no pun intended) the right size no matter which one you select.
Soprano: Known as the original ukulele, it is the smallest in the ukulele family and has a bright sound. It is great for playing chords and works well for smaller hands.
Concert: Because it is longer than a soprano ukulele, it produces a deeper and louder sound, but still sounds much like a soprano. This makes it a great size for most players.
Tenor: Tenor is the next step up from the concert in size. The scale for the tenor is about two inches longer, the neck is just a little wider, and overall it’s a little heavier than the concert. The tenor size is the most popular among professional players, but is great for any skill or experience level. A tenor may be even more comfortable for those with larger hands and fingers than the concert size.
Baritone: The baritone is not only the largest in the ukulele family measuring 30” long, its tuning is the same as the highest four strings on the guitar. With that said, I’d recommend not going with this size if you are looking to play from traditional ukulele music because the chords will be different.
I’d recommend a soprano or concert size. If your hands are on the smaller side, go for the soprano. If your hands are on the larger side, go for a tenor. For me, the concert seems to be the perfect fit and here this from many ukulele players.
If time allows, go to a music store and try them out! It is a great way to feel what’s right for you.
(Note: All links are to Amazon and show Amazon Prime prices, but the ukuleles can be found on other sites or at your favorite local music store for around the same cost.)
Makala Dolphin Soprano Great ukulele if you have a tight budget, but still want a quality sound. Comes in a ton of colors that will for sure catch the eye of kids and adults.
Donner Concert Mahogany ConcertUkulele comes with case which is great for keeping it safe and protected especially around kids when not in use. The strap will allow you to easily stand up for songs that involve movement.
Cordoba Concert Ukulele – I got this ukulele for my dad and it is very nice quality. It has a great sound and fits his bigger hands, but still feels comfortable for my smaller hands.
Kala Satin Mahogany Soprano Ukulele– Another great budget-friendly ukulele with beautiful finished mahogany, makes for an affordable ukulele that stays in tune. It is fun and easy to pick and great for beginners and advanced players alike.
Luna Guitars Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele –You can pretty much feel the island vibe thanks to the beautiful tattooed designs. The fret markers even look like sharks’ teeth! A perfect choice if you are looking for great sound and style.
Are you ready to learn to play the ukulele? Enroll in a 4 week online course and be playing in no time!
It’s fall y’all. That means the leaves are falling, turkeys are a gobblin’ and your little ones need to be singing all about it! Fill your circle times up this fall with songs about leaves and turkeys. Your preschoolers will love the fun and interaction and you’ll love new material!
I’ve put together some of my favorite fall songs to share with you and I hope you enjoy them as much as my kids do.
To download the lyrics sheet and printables, simply fill out the form below.
When I first started teaching, I had very few activities that worked well with kids. That is until I discovered Orff Schulwerk.
Talk about a lifesaver! I went to all the workshops I could and slowly my repertoire of activities that actually worked with kids grew.
One summer I traveled to Las Vegas because summer is the perfect time to head to the desert (said no one ever!).
I spent two weeks learning so much and I still use a ton of the ideas to this day!
One rhyme in particular always seems to come into my mind around the holidays. I hope you have as much fun teaching it to your kids as I do! If you’d like the pdf to print and save for later, just click here.
