I have been fortunate to have received great instruction from professors and colleagues. So I thought that today, I'd pass on some of that knowledge to you! I'll share two very short "songs" with you; and I say "songs" with quotations, because they aren't quite songs. Mini-songs, maybe. Song-etts? Whatever you want to call them, they are short melodies that are used for teaching purposes, and mostly used at some sort of transition or when an instruction is given.
First is the tune of "Happy and You Know It;" easy for students and staff alike to sing and remember. I use it most often during group instrument play. When the time has come to stop play (and the next tune comes in handy here!), students may be instructed to place their instruments on the floor. This gives a concrete statement that the instrument is finished, and keeps the environment a little more quiet and controlled while I either ask a student to collect instruments from peers or each student to individually put his/her instrument away. It's a great part of the routine now, and students sing along if they are able!
Next, you'll hear a countdown that I use DAILY and typically often througout the day. I learned this 'trick' if you will, during my internship with the wonderful therapists at Midwest Music Therapy Services. When an activity is coming to an end, prepare a student to stop by using this simple descending scale. Whether it is playing with instruments, participating in a dancing activity, or singing a song, I have seen such great success that students use it independently! (which is what music therapists strive for: create musical interventions that help an individual transfer a concept to daily life).
I hope that you may find use for these tips, either at home or school. If you experiment with either, I'd love to hear feedback about it, as well as any tricks you'd like to share!
INSTRUMENTS ON THE FLOOR
5-4-3-2-1 COUNTDOWN
