Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Hello Songs!

In my practice I have always begun my sessions with a hello song. This gets the attention of the individual I'm working with and provides structure - which is comforting to many of my kiddos. I'm sure this is true in preschool and kindergarten classes too - and it's a great way for children to transition into a "listening and learning mode"! Hello and other songs can also be used at home to get the attention of active and/or noisy little ones. Instead of calling their name, try singing softly and see if suddenly their attention is focused on you!

There are three songs I commonly use depending on who I am working with. The first is quite easy with very few words. After singing to my client, I then encourage them to sing it back to me. Many times I will sing with them, omitting the space for my name and encouraging the vocalization of my name.
The second hello is wordier and is quite appropriate in the classoom setting.
The third hello is a rap that I came up with for one of my pre-teen clients. His favorite type of music is rap and we play the bongo as we "rap" hello to help us stay on the beat.

Hello (to the tune of Goodnight Ladies)
Hello Suzie, Hello Suzie
Hello Suzie, How are you today?


This is the Way We Start the Day!
(to the tune of Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we start the day
Start the day, start the day,
This is the way we start the day,
So early in the morning.
First we smile and shake a hand,
Shake a hand, shake a hand,
First we smile and shake a hand,
So early in the morning.
Then we sit down quietly,
Quietly, quietly,
Then we sit down quietly,
So early in the morning.
We listen very carefully,
Carefully, carefully,
We listen very carefully,
So early in the morning.


Hello Rap
My name is Anthony and I'm hear to say,
It's time for music and I like to play!
Today is Wednesday in the afternoon,
I'm feeling ________, how 'bout you?

8 comments:

  1. This is such a refreshing site to see on here. Nice to meet you from MBC...xo shelly

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  2. I'm a new follower from Simply Follow on MBC! I love your blog! I have a 5yo son, who has Autism, and he absolutely LOVES music! I actually sing alot to him, because he responds so well. Look forward to reading more!

    I'd love for you to come visit and follow me :)

    Have a great night,
    Shelley @ Shelley's Swag

    www.shelleysswag.blogspot.com

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  3. Hi! Here from Simply Follow/MBC! Hope you'll return the favor :)

    http://thekingscourt4.blogspot.com/

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  4. Shelley - so glad your son repsonds so well to music - thanks for visiting and hope you can find some ideas to use with him here!

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  5. hi from mbc! i haven't seen a blog like this before and i'm excited to be a follower. we're going to enroll our ten-month-old into a music class in the fall and we know she's going to love it!

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  6. Hey Pam, wow i am in total amazment!!!!

    What a wonderful blog you have and great job you do it must be so rewarding.

    Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment, hope you come by again.

    when it comes to your blog i am sold, keep up the good work, will be stopping by again soon!

    Steph

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  7. Hi Pam! Great blog! Your songs remind me of the welcome songs I used to sing years ago when I taught Gymboree and Gymboree music. Great stuff! Thanks for following me -- I'll happily do the same!

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  8. Very cute song! I am your newest follower via MBC! Visit me at www.fatnutritionwriter.com!

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