Singing is an invaluable talent that many children love to learn. By starting to teach children to sing early, you can foster a lasting love of music in them. Start with the basic notes and clefs, and then teach them a few songs and exercises. Since singing is a technical skill, a professional can help you develop your children's voices. However, even without the help of a trained vocal coach, your children can learn to love the art of singing.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Teach the Basics
Step 1. Warm up by yawning
Before you start practicing, ask the children to take a deep breath and then yawn. This will open up your throat to avoid overexertion when singing.
Step 2. Practice breathing
Children need to learn to breathe correctly when singing. Do some breathing exercises so they can understand how the air is regulated when singing.
- Ask them to breathe in through their noses and breathe out through their mouths.
- Encourage them to direct the air to the stomach and diaphragm instead of the chest. Ask them to put their hands on their stomach and tell them to direct the air so that that part rises.
- Have the children count when they breathe. Ask them to breathe in for a count of four and then breathe out for a count of four.
Step 3. Find a note that comes naturally to you
Ask the child to sing an "la" or "a" and calculate its natural pitch. Use a tone of voice meter to measure it. You can also play a few notes on the piano or other instrument to find a note close to the child's range.
Step 4. Use that note as a basis for exploring scales
Once your child has their starting point, you can use it as a basis for exploring common scales. Take it down a basic la-si-do scale (using a scale recorder to help you). Start near the child's natural range and move him up and down the ladder as needed.
Don't worry if it doesn't hit the notes perfectly. The point is that you can get an idea of its tone. Later you can work on its precision
Step 5. Show the scales and pitch with visuals
Children respond to visual cues. Raise and lower your hand to tell him to raise or lower his pitch. You can also use body parts to teach the do-re-mi scale. For example, put your hands on your knees for a do, put your hands on your thighs for a re, and so on.
Part 2 of 3: Teach with Games and Routines
Step 1. Show the pitch by singing
If you have a good voice, sing to show the tone. If you are teaching children, you can sing the songs that you are going to teach first. If you are a parent, make singing a daily part of your routine. Sing during the day and sing lullabies at night.
- If you are not a singer, you can put on nursery rhymes by talented vocalists.
- If you are a teacher, encourage parents to sing to their children at home.
Step 2. Start with simple songs
You can search the internet for age-appropriate songs for your child, and you can even buy songbooks for various ages at bookstores. Kids can win big with some simple classics like "The Little Spider" and "Mary Has a Ram." These songs have simple lyrics and melodies that teach the basics.
If you are a parent, download recordings of those songs from the Internet. Play them as background music while children play or do their chores to bring the music into their lives
Step 3. Play tone imitation games
Sing a note like that and ask the children to repeat it. Keep singing in turns until you start to hit the note. Sing various notes of basic scales. This type of pretend play helps children learn to recognize pitch and adapt their voices to reach it.
- You can help yourself with a tone meter to make sure everyone is in tune.
- So that the children do not lose interest, offer small prizes during the game. For example, you can hand out stickers when one hits the pitch.
Step 4. Use echo and call songs
These are songs where children respond to calls from the leader. The child can repeat the exact words or add a detail like “la-di-da”. These are excellent songs that teach children to sing in tune. Many songbooks for young children include these types of songs.
For example, Boy Scouts songs have a format similar to the one we described
Step 5. Have the children make up songs
Make things more fun and ask your singing students to make up songs. They can sing about wizarding worlds, heavy chores, fantastic foods, and much more. Ask them to use familiar melodies from childhood classics or to make them up. This is another way to expose children to music on a regular basis so they can learn to sing naturally during their day-to-day lives.
If you are teaching a class, ask the children to make up their own songs as a team
Part 3 of 3: Enroll Children in Classes and Extracurricular Activities
Step 1. Enroll the child in extracurricular activities where there is singing
Many schools offer these activities for free, so take advantage of it. If your child's school has a choir, encourage them to sign up. If he is able to choose optional classes for a semester, encourage him to take classes where there is singing.
Extracurricular activities do not necessarily have to be directly related to singing. School band or even a music appreciation course can develop a child's singing skills
Step 2. Hire a vocal coach
If your budget allows it, look online for voice trainers in your area. If one is not professionally trained, it can be difficult to teach children the technical aspects of singing. A personal vocal coach can be invaluable when teaching children to sing.
Find a vocal coach with experience in children. Children respond to different teaching methods than adults, so they will gain a lot from a coach who knows how to treat children
Step 3. Find virtual lessons
Virtual lessons are usually cheaper than those from a professional vocal coach. You can buy access to a virtual course that will provide you with material with which you can teach. Virtual courses sometimes include occasional evaluations from a real tutor through means like Skype.
Step 4. Have the child join a choir
Look in your locality for children's choirs and consider the idea of signing it up. If your child's church has a children's choir, for example, sign it up. Singing with other children under the guidance of a professional can go a long way toward honing their singing skills.