The Sounds of Winter

During the holidays children are exposed to so many new sounds that are unique to this time of year.  Children that may never otherwise hear violins, pianos, harps, an orchestra or live band have the opportunity to explore new sounds, make observations, and investigate experiences that they will have to wait another year to again be acquainted with.  We don't mean to deny the sounds of live music...it just isn't as present as it used to be in our culture anymore with the invent of the internet.  Concerts, songs, and instruments that they may not hear during the remainder of the year can be an immersion lesson that can spark a new found interest in music and instruments.

I even strive to include these experiences in their circle times during December, but I never have made the sounds a primary focus.  I was thrilled with this sweet little study called, "The Sounds of Winter," by Mother Goose Time, and my children were as well.  

LOOK AT THAT!  

This little cutie pie is only 3 and learned that a violin has a bow, a neck, a body, and strings!  She had the opportunity to "play" her violin, make it glittery (we are all about the glitter!), and hear music played on a violin.  I no longer owned my childhood violin (frowny face here), but we pulled up some stringed arrangments on YouTube and allowed the children some time to experience the difference of the music they were hearing as they watched the orchestra play.

Our Christmas "show" is coming up as well, and the "Sounds of Winter," has given us lots of opportunities to bang on our pots and pans, listen to guitars, drums, violins, cello's and trumpets.  a

The "Sounds of Winter" has been a perfect fit for the very first week of December.

During our week of the "Sounds of Winter," we made a kazoo, a tambourine, a drum, a bell and a violin!  We listed to instrumental arrangements of these as well and even brought out the pots, pans, and spoon band to practice for our upcoming Christmas show as we discussed and practiced  rhythm.  

During this week we have also introduced the letters "V" for violin and "M" is for Music by practicing letter recognition of both upper and lower case letters, writing them in our journals, and pointing them out during our daily reading times!

We even sneaked a little Bob Seger in the mix!  HA!!!

We have been diligently rehearsing our drumming (on my very pretty and multi-functional pots and pans to this little tune.  Our "version" is heavy on the drumming....but pretty light on the actual singing!!

Our newest book, Mississippi Musicians was the perfect compliment to this study and the children LOVE the plot twist at the end!

Leslie Falconer hit another home run with this fun book, "Mississippi Musicians!"  It has great illustrations and is LONG....but the story line goes along so well that my little preschooler's ask for it again and again.  It gives them lots of opportunity to ask questions as we read like, "Why did the farmer say the donkey was useless?"  

The story is a book about some misplaced animals that no longer served their purpose to their owners, so they set out to follow their dreams of becoming a blues band.  Along their journey they run into a band of thieves and have to pull together their courage and imagination to defeat their fears and realize their goals.  Its a filled with adventure, animal sounds, silly moments, and sweet success of helping one another at the end!

We even added a bit of science into our music themed week!

I had to snap a quick pic of this one PRIOR to the play!  This is such a fun and simple way to add a bit of science into the learning week!  In this little lesson we discussed how different levels of water is called "volume" (great vocabulary builder!!) and we observed that with different volume's come different sounds.  This eventually did end up ALL over the table, but it was very fun while it lasted and well worth the clean up!

So as to not disappoint...

It is my usual fashion to explain the research behind every activity we choose to spend our time on here at preschool.  With a mix age group ranging from 1-5 years, we have lots of opportunities for experiencing education through play in a variety of ways. 

Music in the early years play a special role in brain development.  It has been proven to increase listening skills which is imperative for young children learning self-regulation.  Researchers have found that, "songs and chants that enhance rhythm and rhyme; opportunities for aural discrimination — listening skills — that strengthen neural pathways for language learning; tonal-pattern and rhythm-pattern dialogue for improvised musical conversations; movement emphasizing flow, weight, space and time; playing and exploring simple instruments; and use of props, such as scarves and bean bags, to nurture rhythmic and expressive awareness.” - See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/07/041.html#sthash.1WDnCLDE.dpuf

That's powerful!

Music grabs the attention of the listener and creates the pathways for increased listening and learning skills. 

We have experienced this again and again at Woolsey Academy as the children are easily excited, soothed, or transitioned with the help of songs, chants, and music.

We will be continuing our "Sounds of Winter" far past Christmas, but for now, it has been an energetic and fun filled week that has easily engaged all ages!  

As always, I wish you well and I hope you get to play today! - L