Every Kindergarten music class involves nine specially designed exercises to make our youngest students tuneful, beatful, and artful. This means that they can sing simple songs in tune, that they can keep a steady beat to all kinds of music, and that they can express themselves creatively through music.
Exercises
Pitch Exploration (learning to use our voices in multiple ways) Echo Songs (developing good intonation by mimicking the teacher) Simple Songs (songs with few notes which we learn to sing in tune) Arioso Land (where we learn to improvise through singing) Movement for Expression (where we learn about musical expression through creative movement) Movement for Form (where we learn about how songs are structured through specific movements) Movement on the Beat (where we learn and practice keeping a steady beat) Song Story (where we listen to great examples of adult musicians expressing themselves through music)
Songs and Rhymes We Know
Frog in the Meadow: Frog in the meadow, can't get it out. Take a little stick and stir him about. Pitter Patter: Pitter, patter, pitter, patter listen to the rain. Pitter patter, pitter patter on my window pane. Johnny Had One Friend: Johnny had one friend, one friend, one friend, Johnny had one friend, Johnny had two. Johnny had two... (all the way to five) Chop Chop: Chop, chop chippity chop: cut off the bottom and cut off the top. What there is left, put in the pot. Chop chop chippety chop. Five Little Ladies: Five little ladies going for a walk. Five little ladies stopping for a talk. Along came five little gentlemen, they all danced together and that makes ten! Frosty Weather: Frosty weather, snowy weather, when the wind blows, we all go together. Fais Dodo: Fais dodo and let us go dreaming. Fais dodo come dreaming with me. Peep Squirrel: Peep squirrel peep squirrel do do diddleum do do diddleum.