Pre-K students, ages 3-5, represent a unique part in a music teacher’s curriculum. Let’s say you have the pleasure of teaching this age group. In that case, you likely know that your lessons thrive on a variety of short singing and movement activities that incorporate games, instruments, props, storybooks, and more, all while providing opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Developing singing skills, a sensitivity for the steady beat, and expressive qualities in music within a developmentally appropriate aesthetic framework are all plausible goals, even for these young learners. In doing so, a strong musical foundation is being formed.
I don’t believe children need to be able to match pitch at this young age, but they can grow awareness of melodic direction with high and low and, simply put, begin to enjoy singing! Help children develop a list of what I like to call “back pocket songs.” These are short, memorable songs they can sing anywhere. Echo songs, call-and-response, audiation songs, like B-I-N-G-O, and sing-along songs offer great variety in how you can interact with kids through song.
Light up your face! Speak with colorful inflections! Offer an expressive delivery of songs, poems, and rhymes. When done consistently, you will notice students modeling it on their own, which always makes me smile, chuckle, and just plainly warms my heart! And think about it: delivering content expressively is an opportunity to demonstrate high/low, fast/slow, soft/loud, and a whole range of emotions.
Speaking of speaking….nursery rhymes and short poems can be perfect for practicing steady beat. Add some unpitched percussion, and you’ve got the makings of their first ensemble! Reciting rhymes and such are a natural and familiar part of a child’s day-to-day. There is a rhythm in language that I believe helps with a young child’s language acquisition, too.
And, of course, have fun with this age group! They are so cute and easy to please, impress, imagine, and play with. It’s really OK to go off your plan if the students carry you in THEIR direction because just about everything can have a steady beat, be sung, and be delivered expressively.