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We frequently sing the mission statement song, "Teach the Children to Sing" at the close of our Chapter meetings. Frank Carpenter recently gave me an article from the Manhattan Mercury titled, "Encourage children to sing and you open their world." It was written by Judy Lyden who operates a pre-school in Evansville, Indiana. She relates an experience she had with a visiting 6-year old boy from New York City whose parents were on short-term business in Evansville. During the course of the day's activity, Lyden noticed the boy could sing and did so with great energy and, furthermore, the songs did not frighten him away. She found that both of the boy's parents were singers. Her observation is songs frighten some children and they can't bring themselves to sing. Her conclusion - nobody sings to them. They hear all sorts of recorded music but hearing the human voice is rare. Singing adds a daily measure of natural body-mind rhythm. This rhythm increases balance skills for math and reading, says Lyden. Finding the music inside the person and reproducing it are real skills most children have no trouble with because they are second nature. They are delighted with turning words into strings of music. Sometimes the beginning phases are disjointed, even monotone, but it's a start and should be encouraged. Telling a child or anyone he can't sing is tantamount to freeze-drying the spirit, admonishes Lyden. Lyden has a word for parents and grandparents. Children need to hear their parents singing. Singing relieves stress. But the important part of adult singing is teaching |
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Inside this issue: |
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InCider Press Chapter meetings are every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.. at the First Methodist Church Activity Center on the corner of Poyntz Ave. and 6th St., Manhattan, KS |
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Volume 27 Number 1 InCider Press January 2004 |
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Upcoming Events |
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Teach the Children to Sing |
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President Sam Kvasnica |
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the kids. Kids won't sing if their parents don't. They, too, will become self- conscious. Judy Lyden sums it all up by encouraging us to sing simple songs to our kids. See if your kids don't mimic you and sing, too. It's a great gift that any parent can give. Recently, I spent a week with grandkids. One morning before breakfast, grandpa and 2-year old Elijah met in the kitchen. My greeting was spontaneous. I looked him in the eye and began singing, "Good morning to you" to the tune of "Happy Birthday". Of course, it was in falsetto lest I frighten him or break his eardrums. His response was a delight. Maybe his parents sing to him but for that wonderful, memorable moment his happy face said it all for me. Soon he will mimic the adult, be given a lifetime of song and be happier for it. So, |