KINDERMUSIK FOR THE YOUNG CHILD, SEMESTER 2 Week 7 (Lesson 22)
As your child matures and grows, he is developing a stronger awareness of emotions and feelings. Typically, we hope our children develop the ability to express feelings in an appropriate manner. “Music can assist us in creating, identifying, and using emotional states to regulate our lives. Musicians use music to communicate, and a good performance or song will communicate emotions. … [Music is] a powerful language of expression, whether a student is playing or listening to it. In summary, music-making enhances the systems that allow us to perceive and respond appropriately to a world rich with emotions and complex social structures.” *
Today’s class included several activities in which the children were given the opportunity to talk about their feelings. You might continue at home by singing “If you’re happy and you know it…,” asking your child what makes him happy, and how she acts when she is happy. Continue by singing “If you’re sad and you know it…” and talking about what might make him sad, discussing the best ways to show your feelings. Be sure to read Music at Home 22 for ideas of ways to create music that expresses feelings. The poem, My Kitten, gives them an opportunity to explore how to play the glockenspiel to where it sounds happy or sad. This will be the first thing we review in class next week, and their explorations at home will make a great deal of difference in the activity.
Please make sure they have opportunities to practice Lucy Locket and Bell Horses on their glockenspiels this week. THANKS !