Challenge on.
I look up and the first thing I see is a stunning black and white poster of Mikhail Baryshnikov in his prime. Sporting an intent look, Mikhail has one arm in the air spurning me to say, "Is there a song about armpits?" Eyes began to roll and while at the time I thought I had won, I think she may have been on to something.
During my early teaching days, I noticed when I sang directions to the children they responded in a way that was almost magical. I would often say to myself, "I should sing the whole day!" Yet I never endeavored to do so. I kept my singing to the structured music class of the week. Now that I teach in a Public Waldorf Kindergarten, I feel so fortunate that it is part of my job to sing with the children throughout the day. Directions, circle time, fun songs, made up songs...the possibilities are endless. I have yet to sing the whole day, however I did write a thesis about music in the Waldorf Kindergarten with an emphasis on singing.
In my research about music in education I found that yes, music does provide measurable benefits. I also found that in Waldorf Kindergartens the amount of singing varies throughout the day. Some do sing often throughout the day, while others provide limited singing or music opportunities.
While my study didn't explore the answer to why some teachers had limited music, I can imagine the biggest challenge is finding the right song to go with the right activity. Easy access can make all the difference. With this in mind, I put together a list of possible activities and transitions where singing could easily be added. Then I searched for the songs. Some were quite easy to find, some I found yet could not find who composed it, and some subjects I came up empty. I guess I'll just have to write those songs. (However if someone has a song to fill in the gaps, please share in the comments! Also share if you think of a transition or activity that I haven't listed. Sharing is good).
So here is my little list of songs. My original intent is to also share an audio file. That will come...I just need to learn a few things about technology.
After that I will write that song about armpits. Edited to add: I soon found out that there are many songs about armpits, so I have no need to create one. Thank you google for your thorough searches.
Songs to Incorporate into a Waldorf Kindergarten (or any class!)
Transitions:
- Blessing/giving thanks for food: Traditional Waldorf verse: “Blessings on the blossom” (Ehrman, 2012).
- Clean up: “Little Mousie” (Origin unknown); “Now it’s Time to Clean Up” (Origin Unknown).
- End of day goodbye/closing verse: “The Time Has Come” (Origin Unknown).
- Entering classroom: “Little Drops of Water” (Origin Unknown).
- Gather attention: “Open Them, Shut them” (origin unknown), “Hands Together” (Origin Unknown).
- Gathering students: “Gather Together” (Origin Unknown).
- Hand washing: “Come Let’s Wash Our Hands” (Lonsky, 2009).
- Lighting a candle: “I Can Light a Candle” (Origin Unknown), “Little Candle” (Origin Unknown).
Activities:
- Attendance: “Golden Flower” (Origin Unknown).
- Bread baking: “This is How We Kneed Our Bread” (Lonsky, 2009).
- Bathroom break (sing while walking/skipping to bathroom): “Skip to My Lou” (Fox, 1951).
- Birthday: “Today is a Special Day” (Origin Unknown); “Waldorf Birthday Song” (Origin Unknown).
- Beeswax forming: “Zumma, Zumma zee…” (Origin Unknown).
- Coloring: “A Painting song” (Thienes-Schunemann, 2003).
- Comfort: “Sana, Sana” (Thienes-Schunemann, 2003).
- Conflict management: “A Cure for Crossness” (Lonsky, 2009).
- Finger knitting: Song to be developed
- First aid: “When I’m Sad, I Cry” (Origin Unknown).
- Grain Grinding: “See the Golden Grain” (Lonsky, 2009).
- Painting: “Rainbow Fairies” (Origin Unknown).
- Rest: “Baby’s Boat” (Origin Unknown); “All the Little Birds” (Ker & Klocek, 2007).
- Sewing: “The Thread follows the Needle” (Lonsky, 2009).
- Shoe tying: Song to be developed
- Silk folding: “Butterflies Up…” (Origin Unknown).
- Story telling: “Mother of the Fairy Tale” (Aulie & Meyerkort, 2005).
- Vegetable cutting: “Chop, Chop, Chippety Chop” (Thienes-Schunemann, 2003).
- Playtime: Sing or hum any songs sung during circle time to match the season or task at hand!
- Walk/Nature walk: Various songs that describe nature surroundings ~ example, when going to the river sing: “Five Little Ducks” (Raffi, 1986); “Red River Valley” (Krull, 1992). Songs from current circle are also appropriate.
Aulie J. & Meyerkort, M. (Eds.). (2005). Gateways. (3rd ed.). England: Wynstones Press.
Ehrman, K. (2012, November 9). Song: Blessings on the blossom [Web log post]. Retrieved
from http://lavendersbluehomeschool.com/song-blessings-on-the-blossom/
Fox, L. (1951). Folk songs of the United States: For enriched social living in school, home and community. Sacramento, CA: California State Department of Education.
Ker, R., & Klocek, B. (2007). Transitional games, verses, and songs. In R. Ker (Ed.), You’re not
the boss of me!: Understanding the six/seven-year-old transformation. (pp 227-235).
Spring Valley, NY: Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America.
Krull, K. (Ed.). (1992). Gonna sing my head off!: American folk songs for children. New York: Random House, Inc.
Lonsky, K. (2009). A day full of song. Spring Valley, NY: Waldorf Early Childhood Association
of North America.
Raffi, (1986). The 2nd Raffi songbook. New York, NY: Crown Publishers.
Thienes-Schunemann, M. (2003). This is the way we wash-a-day. East Troy, WI: naturally you
can sing.
