Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 2.

Five words: Anticipation, malleable, responsive, loosening, surprising!

1) Listening is a way for your baby to participate! She’s processing now, but it will all show up at home!
2) You are your baby’s safe space; just knowing you are there helps them feel safe exploring a little bit further.
3) See if you can observe your child and synchronize your movements to them.
4) We really really do wash all the instruments!
5) Did you see how “tuned in” he was? He knew something surprising was about to happen!

Greeting: “Hello” (NR), greet everyone by name. Tribal song “Fly Eagle Fly” with gathering drum in the middle.
Bonding: “Row It Faster!” and “Wiggly Jiggly Car”
Songs About Me: “Can You See Me?”
Instrument Songs: “In My Little Hand,” “I Feel the Beat” with babies’ names, “I Like This Song”
Movement: “March With My Baby”
Goodbye: “So Long, Farewell” with “Thank You Very Much” to transition out

Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 2.
Responsive, exploratory, social, curious, on-the-move!

Write 5 sentences you can use when speaking with parents about musical responses of children in SM 2.
1. Don’t worry if your child shrieks or makes silly sounds–he is exploring his vocal range.
2. As you child develops and becomes more familiar with this class, don’t be surprised if you hear your child babbling musically, in a sing-songy way.
3. This is the age when babies start learning to walk and coordinate movement, which requires rhythm!
4. It’s okay if your child is not doing exactly what we are doing with our instruments. We are giving her opportunities to make her own choices and explore in her own way, provided it is safe.
5. Sometimes in class your child may want to cling to you, and at other times he may want to explore away from you–maybe even sit on another parent’s lap! He is developing independence, which is bittersweet for us parents, but good for him.

Create a plan for songs and music experiences to use in a Sprouting Melodies 2 Session
1. Gathering/Greeting:
Hello (NR), Hello, Everybody (greet each child by name)
2. Bonding/Lap Rides:
Wiggly, Jiggly Care (EKS), Riding on a Pony, Round & Round the Garden
3. Songs About Me: Can You See Me (EKS), Just Like Me (EKS)
4. Instrument Songs (using shakers and bells): Sit with Me & Shake (MRP), Bell Horses
5. Movement Songs: March with My Baby (MRP), Pick Your Hands Up High (EKS) –using scarves, Peekaboo, I See You –using scarves
6. Goodbye: Music Time is Over (EKS), Thank You Very Much (EKS)

Don’t forget to save your submissions. You can use this information for your work. You may also get some great ideas from others submissions, so don’t forget to read through each participants submissions.

Five words: Approachable, dynamic, flexible, diverse and inclusive.

Five sentences: 1. Exploration is really big at this stage; let your baby move around. It’s ok if they do not want to sit still for the class. 2. Your baby is taking everything in and a lot of observation occurs during this stage in their life – they may not always sing along or respond musically in class but they are absorbing the music around them and they will take it and use it at home. 3. Your child enjoys the surprises and variety in our music, but only the surprises/variety that are predictable. 4. If your child is not following the actions/”directions” within our instrument or movement songs (up, down, etc.), that’s ok. The “directions” are there to offer them musical choices (they may make their own musical choices instead and that’s a good thing!). 5. Being able to shake a maraca and stop in response to music takes time! There are many little steps that your child will achieve before getting to this point and this level of control with an instrument.

Class Plan: Gathering/Greeting: “Hello”, Bonding: “Wiggly, Jiggly Car”, Songs About Me: “Can You See Me?”, “Just Like Me”, Instrument Songs: “Shake, Shake… Stop” (original song), “I Like this Song”, “I Know a Chicken” (pre-composed song), Movement: “I Can Move Around” Cool Down: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”, Goodbye: “Goodbye”

Use 5 words to describe the music experiences in Sprouting Melodies 2. Write 5 sentences you can use when speaking with parents about musical responses of children in SM 2. Create a plan for songs and music experiences to use in a Sprouting Melodies 2 session.

Exploring, Playful, Energetic, Independent, Discovery

1.) It’s ok if your child wanders away, but continue to try to engage them from where you are! 2. At this stage, your child may not be singing along, but they are still taking it in – don’t be surprised if they start to sing at home! 3. At this level of development, children are starting to gain control of their movements, so they might not be playing instruments the right way at first, but that’s ok! 4. If your child wanders away from you, its not that they are rejecting you. At this stage they should be exploring their own freedom. 5. Throughout the group, feel free to turn your child out to the group if they seem like they are ready to take that step to start connecting with their peers.

Opening: Good Morning (EKS) Bonding: Swimming Together Songs About Me: All of This is Me Instrument Songs: In My Little Hand and Dancing in the Middle Movement Song: Match with My Baby and Can You Follow GoodBye: Goodnight Ladies with each child’s name followed by Thank you very much.

Energetic, authentic, playful, discovery, spontaneous

1. It’s so wonderful that your child is moving away from you to explore but can come back to you for security.
2. It’s ok your child is standing and watching, this how they learn.
3. It’s typical to still explore the instruments with their mouths and that’s ok. You can demonstrate how to use them and don’t worry they are cleaned after every class.
4. The room is safe to explore, even that little hiding spot in the corner. I have a view of it and they will join us after they check it out.
5. Try positioning your little one’s hands on the outside of yours while clapping. This way they can feel the motion and bring hands to center.

Greeting Song: Come Gather Together Bonding Song: Wiggly Jiggly Car Song About me: All of this is me Instrument Song: Sit with me and shake (bells) Movement Song: Goodbye: Thank You

Welcoming, exploratory, surprising, playful, genuine

1. We are in a really fun and interesting place! Your child is exploring our environment and deciding where in the room they want to be. Our space is safe for that.
2. If your child gets wiggly, that’s ok. They don’t need to sit still and it’s their choice if they want to follow our actions.
3. They love you! If they are moving away from you and toward other people, they’re feeling safe and independent. When they’re ready, they know they can come back to you.
4. These instruments are also very new and exciting. It’s good to shake an shaker, but we keep the instruments clean and mouthing a maraca is another way to explore it.
5. Look how your child is reacting to the music! The surprises are fun, and he/she is starting to anticipate them and be ready!

Greeting: Hello, Everybody (each child by name)
Bonding/lap ride: Wiggly Jiggly Car, Row it Faster
Songs about me: All of this is Me
Instruments/movement: Marching with my Baby, Sit With Me and Shake
Cool Down: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Goodbye: Goodbye Friends (each child by name)

5 words: Freedom, Trust, Flexible, Adventurous, Watch:

5 sentences for parents:
Your child is going to be more adventurous at this stage. Allow them the freedom to explore this environment. They will want to explore but will come back to engage with you because they trust you. We have structure, but will also be flexible to match and re-direct the group when necessary. Don’t be surprised if your child is hesitant to engage with other children in the group yet, but support them in their decision to engage with others.

Session Plan:

Materials/equipment: small rhythm instruments, including egg shakers, keyboard, guitar, drums, scarves.

Begin with hello song, gathering song “Sit Down With Me”, bonding songs “Wiggly Jiggly Car” “Hold On Tight”, songs about me “All of This Is Me”, instrument songs “Sit With Me and Shake” “In My Little Hand”, movement songs “Can You Follow”, transition/goodbye song “Thank You Very Much” “Goodbye”.

Independence, Energy, Playful, Engaging, Anticipation

Your child may begin to move away from you during the music group and this is great. They feel safe in the environment and will come back to you when they need to “recharge”.
It is important to use rhythm to organize babies not disorganize them! Keeping a steady tempo and helping them to feel this is important.
Your child may still be putting maracas in their mouth- this is okay & developmentally appropriate! Start to watch for when they put the maraca in their mouth vs. when they remove it- you may see that when the music stops they take the maraca out of their mouth.
When we do songs with commands such as “shake them high” we are less concerned with them following the command and more concerned with them participating in whatever way is comfortable for them. It’s not really about shaking them high.
Your responses to the music are JUST as important as theirs if not more. When you follow instructions & participate they see and hear that and their mirror neurons are activated. Watching you do something is JUST as powerful as them doing it themselves!

Session Plan: Greeting Song; Bonding Songs- Wiggly Jiggly Car, Jingle Up & Jingle Down, Hold on Tight; Songs About Me- All of this is Me, Just Like Me; Instrument Play- I Like this Song, Shaky Egg; Gross Motor Movement- Wiggle, While We’re Dancing in the Middle; Cool Down- 5 Green & Speckled Frogs; Closing Song