Make your own kind of music
Have you ever listened to a little person making up a song as they play? It could just be the sweetest sound in the whole wide world!
These little made-up childhood ditties may seem insignificant but actually you’re witnessing musical thinking of the highest order.
According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, original thought is the highest form of thinking.
Now, when thinking of creators of music (or composers), your thoughts may first turn to the greats of orchestral masterpieces like Mozart or Beethoven or to mighty songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Lady Gaga or Ed Sheeran. But there’s no doubt in my mind that these geniuses started their musical careers as toddlers singing about their teddy’s tea party.
Some children seem to enter this world making up their own songs while others need a little more encouragement. Here are three ideas to get your little composers singing:
Singing sock puppet
Find an old sock (if you’re like me you have a never-ending supply of odd socks!).
Add some eyes (you can get fancy and sew buttons on OR just attach pieces of paper with sticky tape).
Show your child how to make the sock puppet sing and then hand it over ready for them to start composing!
PRO TIP: Singing on a neutral syllable (like LA LA LA) is a great place to start. Making up words AND a melody at the same time is a real brain workout that can add an extra challenge when your little composer is ready to go to the next level.
My singing sock puppet
Singing animal conversations
Grab a couple of toy animals.
Give one to your child and keep one for yourself.
Start a singing conversation by making up a little song using your animal’s noise eg Moo moo moo OR Baa baa baa.
Encourage your little composer to reply in song using their animals’s noise.
PRO TIP: Be sure to encourage your child to use their ‘singing voice’ rather than their ‘speaking voice’. You can make a game of this… if they reply by SPEAKING (eg Oink oink oink) you can pretend that your animal can only hear them when they SING.
Three things about my favourite toy
Ask your child to find their favourite toy.
Get them to think of THREE things they love about their toy.
Listen to their song!
PRO TIP: Making up words AND a melody at the same time can be tricky! Get them to brainstorm their ideas before they sing to help get their words ready. And if it gets too overwhelming they could always make up a song just using their toy’s name eg Teddy, teddy, teddy, teddy, teddy…
Three things about my favourite toy
Whether you use one of these ideas or spontaneously make up a song together at bath time, be sure to appreciate the miracle of your little musician’s compositions! These little songs are guaranteed to bring some joy into your day…
