Today, I'm sharing a guest post written by early childhood music expert, Kathryn Brunner (read more about her below). I know you'll appreciate her thoughtful perspective and fun, creative ideas for teaching music in a preschool choir setting. Enjoy!

- Ashley

Sing this with me! (To the tune of “Oh, How I Love Jesus”)

Come and sing together,
Come and sing together,
Come and sing together,
It’s time to praise the Lord!

Clap your hands together,
Clap your hands together,
Clap your hands together,
It’s time to praise the Lord!

On the next verse, change the lyrics to add your own movement or hand motion idea! Better yet, ask a child in your class to suggest a motion, for example, “rub your hands together,” or “stomp your feet together.”

When I jump into preschool choir rehearsal or music class and see so many little eyes peering up at me in wonder, I realize I’m encountering a divine appointment.

Every class presents the chance for me to catch a glimpse of God’s love as I see his image reflected in each child. Likewise, every song I sing is an opportunity to show them God’s love through my eyes, my voice, my welcoming tone, and my inclusivity, i.e. each little one’s ideas are received with joy! On top of all this, I get to pour God’s love into each child’s life by shaping their musicality while I endeavor to lead them to a deeper understanding of who God is. It is an incredible privilege to teach music to children in the church!

My number one priority when teaching a preschool class is to weave a seamless flow of activities together. When it’s time to begin, I (almost literally) jump into class! I don’t introduce what I’m about to do or what we will be singing that day. I simply begin singing enthusiastically to invite participation, encourage response and gather attention! I want to engage my students’ full body interest with joyful musical play that is relatable and fun!  

When planning my classes, I do my best to pick a theme that weaves my song choices together. I work to imagine and create transitions between songs and activities before I get to class. I want to be sure I’m confidently able to move from one song to the next without skipping a beat. For example, we sing when we pass out instruments. We sing when putting away instruments. I leave no empty space between one activity and the next. Students stay engaged and can’t wait to see what comes next! (Except for that one child who may be having a hard day…a very, very hard day, but we’ll save that topic for another post.)

Whether in a Sunday School class or a choir rehearsal, my goal in leading preschool children is to help them learn to use their entire body as an instrument. As children become comfortable moving through space, we see improvement in other areas such as balance, coordination, and listening skills.

Preschool children who are moving are more likely to listen to their teacher.  It seems counter-intuitive, right? However, I’m sure you’ve experienced it too! As children are exposed to music in a playful, inviting setting that encourages movement, they begin to soak up the music almost effortlessly! Yes, even in rehearsals!

Here’s a lesson flow I have used in my own church. I arrange the spacious room so children sit in a circle on the floor. I am a pianist and guitarist, but with preschoolers, I prefer to simply lead the class a cappella. Children absorb the fundamentals of rhythm and melody most readily hearing only the unaccompanied voice.

SAMPLE LESSON
Theme: God’s Strength

Greeting Song: "Come & Sing Together"

As children are finding a seat, begin singing adding motions as above. Sing as many repetitions of the song as you’d like, changing the lyrics as you request and incorporate movement ideas from your students.

Transition:

Sing with excitement, “Please stand up” on Do-Do-Sol (e.g. F-F-C).

Stationary Movement Song: "The Lord’s Army"

Jump into this well known song with brisk marching! I’m assuming you know this song and the accompanying motions. If not, here is a video demonstration. There is full Body Motion on every line! In between song repetitions continue marching while you chant and practice impulse control: “Marching, marching, marching, STOP!” Again, “marching, marching, STOP!”

Transition:

Sing, “Please sit down” on Sol-Sol-Do (e.g. C-C-F).

Focused Listening: Play a recording of rain, wind and thunder

Say, “Come into my listening corner! I have some special sounds for you to hear.” Gather the children close together to listen to your recording. (If you don’t have a recording of these sounds, gather the children close to listen to you as you make the sounds). After playing the recorded sound of rain, say, “Let’s make the sound of rain.” Make the sound with your body and with your voice. Do the same for wind, then thunder. The following week, create an ensemble of storm sounds, dividing the children into three groups. Say “we’re going to create a storm improvisation!” Direct the children to make loud or soft sounds to demonstrate the dynamic rises and falls of the rain, wind, and thunder.  

Talk or sing about how big God is! He is bigger than thunder, stronger than the wind, and more refreshing than the rain! If you have a rain stick, this would be a great time to introduce it. Talk about the different ways we experience rain and how God controls it all. While you continue making the different sounds, begin to pass out rhythm sticks. Or, if you have time for a story, read or tell the story of the wise man and foolish man from Matthew 7:24-27. Point out that Jesus is mighty and strong like a gigantic rock that can’t be moved by any storm!

Transition:

Say, “rain can fall softly (whisper), but it can also pour down (loud voice)!” Begin singing the following song as you finish passing out sticks. Begin the song again once every child has a pair of sticks.

Rhythm Sticks: "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock"

Verse 1:
The wise man built his house upon a rock (3x)
Tap sticks together on the beat, one on top of the other, making a straight vertical line with your sticks as if you’re building with blocks.

And the rain came tumbling down
Roll the sticks around each other from above your head to below your knees.

Chorus:
The rain came down and the floods came up (3x)
Move tapping sticks down below your knees, then move tapping sticks up over your head

But the house on the Rock stood firm.
Tap sticks together two times (on the beat) and when you sing the word "firm," hold sticks together with both hands.

Verse 2:
The foolish man built his house upon the sand (3x)
Tap sticks any which way with floppy wrists

And the rain came tumbling down
Roll the sticks around each other from above your head to below your knees.

Chorus:
The rain came down and the floods came up (3x)
Move tapping sticks down below your knees, then move tapping sticks up over your head

Verse 3:
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ (3x)
Tap one stick on top of the other, as in verse one. When you sing “Lord Jesus Christ” tap sticks together to make a cross.

And the blessings will come down.
Separate your hands and wiggle the sticks as you move them from over your head to below your knees.

Chorus 2:
The blessings come down as the prayers go up
On “blessings,” separate your hands and wiggle the sticks as you move them from over your head to below your knees. On “prayers,” slap the two sticks together like praying hands and raise them over your head.

So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tap one stick on top of another to make the building motion and end with a cross.

Transition:

Continue singing to the tune of The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock: “So place your sticks right here for me, place your sticks right here for me, place your sticks right here for me, then go back to your seat.”

Singing Game: My God is So Big

Begin by singing this song one time while tapping the beat on your knees to simply get the tune into each child’s mind. Then sing “Please stand up” on the melody Do-do-sol to begin holding hands in a circle.

Here is a recording of the piece. And here are some motions you can use:

Refrain:
Raise up held hands
Bend elbows to shoulder height to show muscle strength while holding hands
Lower held hands and twist the body and head

Verse:
Raise up held hands (“mountains”)
Lower hands and wiggle them (“rivers”)
Sway back and forth (“stars”)

Repeat Refrain

Transition:

While children are still standing, pass out scarves and demonstrate what a scarf can do. The scarf can swirl, it can wiggle, it travel up, down and around in a circle, etc.

Recorded movement for scarves and traveling movement:

Play a recording of an instrumental song that demonstrates God’s greatness. I chose “Summon the Heroes” by John Williams because it’s a mighty song with a contrast of high energy and soft, sweet moments. When I listen, I imagine the glory of God, the sweetness of his mercy, and the strength of his might! You could choose any song that matches the theme of God’s strength, or even a recording of your choir anthem. Move around the room in any direction using your scarf to express the mood of the music. If children begin moving in a circle, break up the circle by weaving in and out of the children.

Transition:

Gather the scarves and sing “Let us make a circle, please sit down” on Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-Mi, Sol-So-Do.

Steady beat recognition with shakers: "Rejoice in the Lord Always"

Here is a recording of the piece. And here are some rhythm/beat ideas:

While seated, model a steady beat for the children to follow. Change the way you tap the beat on each new verse and refrain. For example, tap the shaker on your knee, tap it on one hand, tap the micro beat, tap the macro beat, shake it up high, tap it on the floor, etc.

Transition:

Model gently placing your shaker in the basket while singing to the tune of Rejoice in the Lord Always: “So shake your shaker here for me, again I say let’s shake (2xs), shaker, your shaker, let’s put it right here (2xs).”

Closing Song (To the tune of “Oh, How I Love Jesus”)

Clap goodbye together
Clap goodbye together
Clap goodbye together
It’s good to praise the Lord!

See you all next Sunday
See you all next Sunday
See you all next Sunday
It’s fun to praise the Lord!

Additional choir anthems fit nicely in between these activities, preferably without accompaniment as they are introduced. I also interject rhythm and tonal pattern echoes throughout the flow of my classes and rehearsals.  

My training in preschool music is primarily through Musikgarten. I highly recommend their sacred music curriculum called “God’s Children Sing.” It can be adapted for use in any denomination. It is also a nice supplement to a preschool choir program. Musikgarten offers training for this program both online and in person. Check their training schedule to find out if they will be offering a workshop in a city near you this summer, or check their webinar schedule to find out when they will schedule the next online training for this program. If you’d like to learn more about how I structure the flow of a general preschool music class, you can sign up here to receive access to one of my online preschool classes.

We teach because we love music. We teach because we love children. Above all, we teach in the church because we are committed to passing on our love for Christ to each precious child in our care. May he open our eyes to see his glory as we sing for him, through him and to him.  

Kathryn Brunner is an early childhood music educator passionate about child development and music literacy.

She is a licensed and certified Musikgarten instructor, piano teacher, and founder of Musik at Home, offering Musikgarten's developmentally sequenced classes by way of video to help parents savor precious musical moments and give their child a solid foundation on the path to music literacy.