Katie Gerber

Greetings, Prep 1 Families,

Thank you for another lovely rehearsal this week! The children are settling into chorus routines and expectations, and I know we will be making some great musical discoveries and accomplishments this semester! The theme of our first few rehearsals continues to be All About Me, singing songs and playing games which help the children express who they are, and to become friends with each other! This week, your child went home with a laminated Rhythm Sheet for Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums, and a song sheet for one of their recital pieces, Sleigh Song. All of the songs and activities mentioned below can be reinforced at home!

Rehearsal Recap Rehearsal 3 – Theme – All About Me, All About Us!

• The children were led to a circle with the cheerful and engaging Oklahoma folk song, Come Along, Everybody. This song features repeated lyrics and cumulative actions, and allows opportunity for improvised movement and name-sharing. Please have your child teach you this fun song and dance, so the whole family can join in!
• They continued to get to know one another with the African-American circle song, Shake Hands With Friends. Shaking hands is not as easy as it looks – so this game engages the voice, eye contact, social interaction, and fine motor skills, all while stepping to the beat.
• The children had fun exploring different feelings with the song Downright, Upright.
• The singers shared their favorite activities in a new vocal warm-up, Singing, Playing Dancing, Having Lots of Fun, switching the words to other hobbies, such as basketball, cartwheels, dancing, swimming, science, and many other exciting activities!
• The children took turns playing the steady beat on the drum and saying their name in two opposite ways, with the song Hickety Tickety Flip Flop Flee. This was a challenging activity, because the meter is 6/8 and feeling the pulse is more complex – the children did a great job!
• The children sang a familiar movement song, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes….but in JAPANESE, with the title Aka Makata. They loved exploring these new words with a familiar song, and once we mastered it, we were able to sing it and move very fast!
• We sang a new song called Hey Hey Look at Me, with the help of smiley face toys who showed when the music was on the note “sol” and when it was on the note “mi.” The children then took turns switching the faces so the music changed – it was fun to hear how the music sounded each time!
• The children then loved exploring the space and finding new partners with the singing and movement game, Rig-a-Jig!
• We then reviewed the rhythm and beat to the chant Apples, Peaches, Pears, and Plums, Tell Me When Your Birthday Comes and the children kept the beat on their own sheets while chanting the tahs and titis.
• The children then danced and sang the song Everybody Born in January, taking turns to dance in the circle when their birthday month was called out.
• The children each got a set of jingle bells, and switched between playing tahs and titis, while learning Sleigh Song.
• We ended with one of my favorite picture books, set to the song My Favorite Things. The children had a great time playing the bells and singing this familiar song.
• For this week, please go through all the songs we mentioned above, with the use of the posted recordings and your songbook. Please go over the words to Sleigh Song, and expect a recording of this for next week.

Prep 1 Chorus Expectations – please read!

This is the best age to start routines and expectations so children can embark upon a lifetime of choral singing! At Cantabile, we expect our singers to:

1. Raise your hand to speak
2. Be an active participant
3. Be kind and considerate
4. Play instruments when asked

Please share these with your child and remember that for some Prep 1 singers, this may be their first structured class activity – therefore, if you feel your child will struggle with these expectations, we ask that a parent or caregiver stay until the expectations can be met, and assist as needed. Even at this age, we take the musical progress of every child very seriously, and in order for this to happen, we need an optimal classroom environment. Thank you for your support!

Have a lovely weekend, and see you next Thursday!

Katie