Vocal Play for Babies

Parenting Tip: Sing Sol-Mi songs to baby (like the Seesaw song!)

 

Why?

Did you know that, in the Western world, children usually learn to sing the notes 'sol' & 'mi' first?  Think of  'Rain, Rain, Go Away,'  'A Tisket, A Tasket,' and our Kindermusik song, 'Seesaw...'  All are built around that 'sol-mi' interval! 

You can foster your child's singing success by including 'sol-mi' songs in your repertoire - inviting him to join in singing, by starting with notes that may come more naturally to him. 

Singing benefits us physically, emotionally, personally, and socially.  It exercises major muscle groups in the upper body. 

It is an aerobic activity that improves the efficiency of your cardiovascular system, and encourages us to take in more oxygen (increasing our alertness). 

Singing also releases endorphins into the body, helping to lower stress levels, and rid the body of tension.

 

How?

Listen & sing to the 'Seesaw' song on Kindermusik's Big Back Yard CD.  Find fun ways to move baby up & down, during the song.  Can she sing along with this 'sol-mi' song?  What if you add vocal sound effects when you move up & down? 

Then, 'Chalk it Up!' Make homemade chalk, and create some fun new ways to play!  Can your voice follow the car as it drives on the chalky road?  Does it drive up & down hills?  Can you make up a new 'sol-mi' song as it goes? (Car, car, up & down, Car goes up.... Car goes down?)

Read 'In My Sandbox' with your child!  For fun, you could sing to the tune of 'I Like to Walk in my Backyard,' as you turn each page ('I like to sit in my sandbox to see what I can see,' or 'I like to sit in my sandbox to see what I can see,' etc).  Can you sing a Sol-Mi 'Hello' to each new thing you see?

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog  - read how music therapy (including singing) benefits babies!

 

Kindermusik 7-Year Continuum:

Now, you sing Sol-Mi to baby to reinforce those notes that will become the most natural to her, when she sings.  As a toddler, your child will begin to match those notes with his own singing voice!  In Kindermusik preschool classes, your child will build on that 2-note foundation to begin singing more complex melodies and songs with classmates (and alone).  As a big kid in Young Child classes, your child will learn how to write Sol-Mi melodies on the staff, in the form of treble-clef letter names!