What Makes a Good Early Childhood Music Song?
Sally Woodson
We all know children are musical and all can achieve basic music competence. Every child can learn to “speak” the language of music—to sing and move with tonal and rhythmic accuracy—and enjoy it, free from the pressure of “performance” standards. But we also know that children need models of active music making by their parents and other primary caregivers in order to learn, and most adults in out culture are not active music makers. The challenge is to provide experiences that engage children and the adults who love them.
For children, developmentally appropriate, informal music instruction (very different from music “lessons”!) is essential to this process—including songs which are active, playful, and challenging at a variety of physical, emotional and cognitive levels. Adults need a combination of both easy access (material that is not too demanding performance-wise) and sophistication (music that is not “kiddy-music”). Both children and adults need a rich variety of tonalities and meters to develop a music “vocabulary” that can express the music of our culture. Both groups need repeated opportunities for informal music participation—not performances: they need to gradually learn that music time can be anytime. A song that “really works” can be adapted to work anywhere, anytime.
This session will show how a balance of rhythmic rhymes, songs, various tonalities and meters, and varied styles (jazz, folk, world music, etc) can work. Musical contrast, surprise, anticipation, and a variety of small/large movements will engage participants.
BIO
Sally Woodson has performed in numerous productions in national tours, regional theatres, and off-Broadway. Sally can be heard on many children’s videos, recordings, and serves as a consultant, conductor, and voice talent for several publishing houses’ ESL divisions.
She has been teaching Music Together since 1994 and wears many hats for the organization, as well as co-directing her own center in New York City. Sally is an Associate Trainer, Songs and Skills Workshop leader, and—along with her business partner – heads up the Video Production Team, creating videos and multimedia materials that support and promote the Music Together experience. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Board and was one of the first Music Together teachers in the country to be awarded Music Together Certification Level II status, having demonstrated outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education.
Sally holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Kansas University, Orff Certification Level I, and has completed Dalcroze Eurhythmics studies. She has membership with NAEYC and MENC.