Embedding informal singing activities in the typical preschool classroom can be done in a variety of ways. Teachers can teach children songs that go along with specific activities such as washing hands, transition times, getting in line, preparing for circle and free play times and going outdoors. The more young children are exposed to music throughout the day the better they behave, because the simple songs tell them what to do. For example a washing hands song, sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques," might use the lyrics "I am washing, I am washing, both my hands, both my hands, I am using soap, I am using soap, I am done, I am done."
The simplest way to help preschool children learn about movement is to dance with them. Have them listen to different types of music and demonstrate how to move to the rhythms and tempos. Select music that will teach the children about marching, moving slowly and moving fast. Help the children learn how to reach up to the sky when the pitch is high and how to bend down to the floor when it is low. Children can learn how to walk on tiptoes, skip and gallop to music.
An special skill to teach preschool children is how to listen. Learning to listen to music and to "hear" what it is saying is important. Children can learn to listen to music and tell if it is happy, sad, funny or angry. Learning to listen for differences in a pitch that is high and one that is low is teaching auditory discrimination skills.
Preschool children are not only ready to learn about music that is produced by the voice, but that music is also produced by objects or instruments. Simple instruments are effective for showing children that music is made when hitting two sticks together, ringing bells, rubbing blocks of wood together and clapping hands. Sing a song the children know, or play a song and have them keep time with the rhythm and their instruments. Make instruments by filling plastic containers that have lids with beans, rice or sand. Use a shoebox to make a guitar by stretching rubber bands around the box to strum.