Are you able to access a personal treasure trove of information by simply humming a tune? Though decades have passed, reciting that tongue-twisting list of minor prophets in the Old Testament with complete accuracy is one of my superpowers. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk, all the way to Malachi remains embedded somewhere in my gray matter. All I have to do is recall the melody of “Did You Ever See a Lassie.”
With music, our minds can process and file away massive chunks of information. It’s easy to do when you “piggyback” new information onto an already well-known melody. Every child uses this procedure to recall their A-B-C’s as they sing the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” However, learning new lyrics combined with unfamiliar rhythms and melody can be overwhelming.
An assortment of simple music games, and teaching hints coupled with the proverbial truth, “it’s hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch,” can ease the burden of having to learn a song with brand new rhythm, melody, and lyrics. I’ve included a few of my favorites.
ARCHES
This music game is very simple and I use it to familiarize the children with the melody and rhythm of the song so that adding the lyric will not be too overwhelming. One thing I like about this game is that no one is ever eliminated. Everyone is engaged in the activity
This game is played much like the traditional London Bridge is Falling Down game. As the teacher plays and sings the new song, the children walk in a line under the arch formed by two of the students. When the music stops, the arch is lowered and the child caught in the arch stands behind one of the original “archers.” Play resumes and the second child caught forms a new arch with the previously captured child. Now there are two arches. Play continues in this way until one child remains. Note: I like to stress that running or crawling through the arches is not permitted.
MODIFIED HOT POTATO
Seat children in two equal circles on the floor. Distribute one ball or beanbag to a child in each circle. As the music plays the children pass the ball from one child to another. When the music stops, the student holding the ball in each section stands up and trades circles. The children are able to experience the suspense of being caught holding the ball, without being eliminated from play.
ECHO PUPPET
For this method, I use a pop-up puppet. These can be bought commercially or the Do-it-Yourself variety can be found on several YouTube videos. The children are instructed to only listen when the puppet is hidden inside. I usually sing two lines of a new song acapella. When the puppet pops out, the children echo the lines they heard. Repeat this as you add longer passages of the new song.
ASSIGNED MOVEMENT
Allow the children to choose a movement for repeated words in the new song. For example, each time they come to the word joy, they might choose to jump. For the word friend, they may choose to clap their hands.
