Top tips on leading 'music time'

Julia Plaut, classical musician and producer of top quality Christian music for under-5s, including 'God's wonderful world' and 'Thank you God for snails', shares her top tips to get your group rockin' and rollin'...

Music time is great! It develops a child's musical, language, co-ordination and sequencing skills. It also builds a relationship between parent/carer and child. And as a whole group, we can enjoy creating something musical that we couldn't do on our own.

Confidence in leading a music time can only really be gained by, yes, you guessed it … leading a music time! Everyone has their first time, but by your third or fourth week you will begin to relax enough to see what the children enjoy, and build on what you see is working well.

1. Preparation is essential. Make a short list (five or so) of the songs you want to sing. Sing each song three times, as high as you can. Most of us sing too low when nervous, so practising them high gives a more confident sound and a better lead for the children, whose voices are higher anyway. Be sure you know the words off by heart.
2. Create a circle space with carpet squares, kneelers or seats. Ideally, have everyone on the floor so that the children can sit on their adult's lap. They are then free to bounce and rock with their child. Try to avoid having any toys in view as these can be distracting for children.
3. Under-5s love knowing what happens next, so build a framework into your music time. Start with the same 'welcome' song; perhaps one that greets each child by name. I like to finish by turning off the lights and singing a quiet rocking song, like 'Row, row, row your boat'. This generally leaves the children quiet and calm, and having a nice cuddle with their parent/carer while I give any notices in a gentle voice.
4. Percussion instruments are not toys. Treat them carefully and the children will too. Get them out just for specific songs, and see if the children can put them back 'as quietly as a mouse'. Play 'starting and stopping' with a puppet hiding or blow some bubbles and stop playing as the last bubble pops.
5. A steady beat is the principal building block of music. Any song that encourages children to move to a steady beat, by marching, walking, bobbing up and down, clapping, rocking, swinging from side to side, nodding, blinking or playing percussion is brilliant. Explore musical elements like start and stop, loud and quiet, fast and slow.
6. Singing for under-5s comes when they know a song really well. So don't be put off when they don't join in. They might just be staring at you, but they are listening and learning. Pick songs which have just a small bit to join in with, for example, mother duck's 'Quack, quack, quack, quack!' in 'Five little ducks'. Animal noises and fire engine sounds are a good way to enable children to find their singing voice.
7. The children will show you what they enjoy and give you ideas. Repeat songs as many as five or six times in a row if they're enjoying it. And don't worry about doing the same thing week in, week out - that's how under-5s love it!'

Last Updated 06 December 2010