The Music-Literacy Connection – And How to Make the Most of It
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
2y ago
Resources Recommended Books  “The Doorbell Rang” by Pat Hutchins “Drip Drop” by Sara Weeks “Stop That Pickle” by Peter Armour “The Leopard’s Drum” by Jessica Souhami “Knick Knack Paddywhack” by Barefoot Books “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” by Jane Cabrera (and all Jane Cabrera books of songs) “Creak! Said the Bed” by Phyllis Root “Farmyard Beat” by Lindsey Craig “The Chick That Wouldn’t Hatch” by Claire Daniel “I’m the Best” by Lucy Cousins Recommended Songs “Shake Your Hands” sung by Jen Gould – on Spotify and Amazon Music “Sleeping Bunnies” sung by Jenny’s Jukebox Jam – on Spotify and Amazon ..read more
Visit website
Nice news!
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Hi everyone – I hope you all had a very merry holiday! I just got a nice surprise – a great review from the Midwest Book Review! Most preschool teachers have musical instruments in their classrooms, but may not realize they can use them for science explorations. Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) these explorations are crucial for laying a solid foundation for later learning. Abigail Conners is an Early Childhood Music Specialist throughout the New Jersey area. Her programs include singing, dance, rhythm instrument activities, literacy/music activities, and listening gam ..read more
Visit website
A Creativity “Cheat Sheet” for Music Class
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
There’s nothing mysterious about coming up with new ideas. As a matter of fact, there are no new ideas, only new combinations of existing ideas. Being creative is all about changing around different variables in different ways. When children seem stuck for ideas, suggesting one or two new variables can start their brains zooming along in new directions. Here are some examples. (These ideas can be used in music, dance, movement, poetry, songs, and dramatic play.) Tempo –fast or slow. Dynamics –loud or soft. Area –a large or a small motion. Height –high (above head), low or anywhere in between ..read more
Visit website
The Musical Toddler
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Toddlers and twos are uniquely musical creatures. With their truly jaw-dropping energy levels (research indicates humans are at their most active at age 2) and their whole-hearted embrace of novel experiences, very young children respond to music with a pure and exuberant enthusiasm. I wrote “The Musical Toddler” to help parents and teachers  to understand the special musicality of these little ones and how best to nurture their inborn love of music. From my twenty-plus years teaching music enrichment classes to toddlers (as well as older children), I’ve put together selections of the bes ..read more
Visit website
Creating New Timbres
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Of course, there are really no new ideas, only new combinations (or arrangements) of existing ideas. So learning to combine and arrange ideas in new ways is an essential part of creative thinking. When young children have learned the concept of timbre and heard many different examples, they can “create” their own timbres using familiar instruments, objects and materials in new ways. The resulting timbres may not truly be brand-new, but they’ll be “brand-new” to their young ears. Through developing the skill of creative music-making, children experience the excitement and empowerment ..read more
Visit website
STEAM Learning with my Favorite December Story
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
December can really be a magical time of year. I love finding songs and stories that convey that magic in a way that ALL children can understand and appreciate together. “Polar Bear Night” has been a favorite of mine – and my students – since I first discovered it. Talk about a simple plot. A little polar bear wakes up in the night and explores a bit outside the den. He sees seals, walruses, and whales. There are beautiful shooting stars. Then he goes home and cuddles with Mom. That’s it! And the sweet woodcut illustrations, all in cool shades of blue and white, are equally simple (and CLEAR ..read more
Visit website
The Top 10 Greatest Things About Lists (to Generate Creative Thinking)
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
This article, adapted from a chapter in my book “Teaching Creativity: Supporting, Valuing and Inspiring Young Children’s Creative Thinking,” shows how list-making can be a springboard for students to generate creative ideas. What could be more mundane and uncreative than writing a list? Lists are for grocery shopping, weekend chores, or what to pack in a suitcase. How could making a list be a springboard for creative thinking? Linus Pauling, who won two Nobel Prizes (one for Chemistry and one for Peace) once said: “The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas, and throw away the ..read more
Visit website
E. Paul Torrance’s Creative Manifesto
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Music (and Science) For Young Children In 1983, E. Paul Torrance wrote these remarkable words: Manifesto for Children Don’t be afraid to fall in love with something & pursue it with intensity. Know, understand, take pride in, practice, develop, exploit, & enjoy your greatest strengths. Learn to free yourself from the expectations of others and to walk away from the games they impose on you. Find a great teacher or mentor who will help you. Don’t waste energy trying to be well rounded. Do what you love and can do well. Learn the skill of interdependence. Torrance, known as the “Fat ..read more
Visit website
Great Ways to Explore Timbre With String
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Music (and Science) For Young Children (Like young children, cats are enthusiastic and relentless scientists.) For years I’ve used strings (mostly ukulele strings and rubber bands) to help young children explore and understand how pitch (the highness and lowness of sounds) works. I plan to write more on this later, and I’ve shared several of these activities in my latest book, “Exploring the Science of Sounds: 100 Musical Activities for Young Children,” but the basic principle is: longer strings produce lower pitches, and shorter strings produce higher pitches. Kinders and older children ..read more
Visit website
Games for Exploring Timbre
Music (and Science) For Young Children
by Abby Connors
3y ago
Music (and Science) For Young Children Games for Exploring Timbre For his fourth birthday, Brycen received a rhythm band set. He enjoyed playing with all the instruments, and his mom, Kyleigh, was delighted that he seemed to be musically inclined. Then one day she found him playing with the maracas in a rather unusual way – he was stomping on them! “Don’t do that,” Kyleigh said instinctively. “You’ll break them!”                 Brycen calmly explained, “I’m trying to break them. I need to see what’s inside them ..read more
Visit website

Follow Music (and Science) For Young Children on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR