Become familiar with easy-to-learn nursery songs. Start the school day or circle time with a hello song, a name song and one or two nursery songs. Alternately, conclude the day with a goodbye song. Continue to sing at the same time of the day to integrate a regular singing routine. Consider using an instrument to help establish singing time.
Learn new songs by listening to children's music. Choose upbeat (happy), humorous songs with a groove (catchy beat), as kids respond to these songs the best. When learning the songs, listen carefully to be able to sing on pitch. Add one new song each week to build a repertoire or list of songs. This method reinforces repetition learning with older songs and increases the children's interests with new songs.
Sing transitional songs such as, "We're Going to the Park" or "It's Time for Snack" throughout the school day. Use familiar melodies for transitional songs. You can use the melody of "The Farmer in the Dell" for "It's Time For Snack." Modify the sound of the voice for nap time transitional songs.
Speak rhythmic songs without melodies (chants) that are accompanied by a combination of claps, taps and foot stamps (body percussion). "Peas Porridge" is a chant with claps during which you emphasize the strong beat by clapping and speaking loudly on the capitalized words: Peas Porridge HOT / Peas Porridge COLD / Peas Porridge IN the Pot / Nine Days OLD.
Communicate the mood of songs by using dynamics of loud/soft, fast/slow and silence/sound. Generally, a fast tempo communicates excitement in a song and a slower tempo communicates a quieter pace. Silence often creates a dramatic effect.
Teach new songs to the children by asking them to listen as the entire song is sung. After the song is heard, sing one line of the first verse to the children and ask them to echo the line back. Continue echoing until they have sung the entire song.
Include activity songs such as "The Three Little Bears" (story songs); "The Hokey Pokey" and "Ring Around the Rosy" (singing games); and call and response, or echo, songs, to provide multi-dimensional singing experiences. Sing seasonal, multicultural and holidays songs. Give the children hand instruments, including bells, tambourines and rhythm sticks.
Use a loud, projecting voice (chest voice) for upbeat songs like "Jingle Bells." Use gentle, soft tones (head voice) for somber songs like "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" or lullabies like "Hush Little Baby."
Give children opportunities for brief solos during singing time. For the song, "Where is Thumbkin?" substitute a child's name for "Thumbkin." Encourage that child to sing back the response, "Here I am." Help timid children to sing by using puppets.