Preschoolers - Musical Expression through Articulation

Parenting Tip: Sing favorite songs in staccato & legato ways!

 

Why?

Making music is natural and spontaneous for young children!  It begins within, and then emerges in the form of self-expression.  'The joy of creating something is exhilarating.  Children, especially, enjoy the creative process, loving every minute of the making.  Creative thinking and personal emotion combine into an individual's artistic expression - a kind of expression where there is no right of wrong... Making art fulfills... a need for self-expression... Children crave the creative outlet that making things provides.' - Kids Create!: Art & Craft Experiences for 3-9 year olds, by Laurie Carlson, p. 6
When we offer your child choices, in Kindermusik class, such as 'fast, or slow?' and 'legato, or staccato?,' we are offering her choices which help her to create the song in a way that expresses her own unique view of the song on that day.

 

How?

Sing the Hello song (from Kindermusik's In My Garden CD), in a legato way, while swishing your hands together.  Then, sing it staccato, while clapping!

Next, play I Can Do That! Help your child notice which movement is legato & which is staccato – then copy that movement!

Then, cue up 'Come Fly With Me,' (also from In My Garden).  Take turns flying in a legato, smooth, connected way, and then hopping/looking for worms in a staccato, bouncy, disconnected way. 

What is your child's favorite song to sing?  Try it legato first, then stac – ca – to!

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog - read 4 Benefits of Music for Preschoolers (including self-expression!)

 

Kindermusik 7-Year Continuum: As a baby, your child relied on you to emphasize the legato & staccato in songs by moving her body in legato & staccato ways to the music.  In Kindermusik toddler classes, you modeled those 'smooth' and 'bumpy' motions for him to copy, as the music went from legato to staccato.  Now, in preschool, your child is learning the musical terms 'legato (long/smooth)' and 'staccato (short/bumpy)' and sings in staccato & legato ways, with the class.  As a big kid in Young Child classes, your child will expand their knowledge of legato & staccato, by identifying those articulations within the songs they are learning to play ("'Hop Old Squirrel' is sung staccato, while 'Go to Sleep' is sung legato!  That's right!")