By Connie Greenwood

 

Parents often view First Steps in Music classes as a fun time, playing musically with their children. Although this is a true statement, what they may not understand is the degree of research and time-tested practitioner experience and knowledge that goes into each carefully crafted lesson. In order to educate the parents, I have created a series of Parent “Tell Me’’ sheets that give a little more back round, information, and at home activities for their understanding. As we use our precious class time to “do” music, I have found this to be a beneficial way to give caretakers a little more depth into the learning process.

 

The Importance of Vocal Exploration is the first in this series. I may share this document with parents physically or through Google Classroom. I may share it in its entirety or break it down into shorter segments. I may include portions of it on an “Ask Me” sheet with a picture of a slide whistle. The goal of this communication is to give caretakers a little more knowledge so they can appreciate what their child is learning in their First Steps in Music class and hopefully try some of the activities at home.