Music Makers - MusicTherapy.cc

A Fun, FREE time for kids to learn through music.

• What: Music Makers is a program that engages children in seasonal and holiday-themed music activities and stories, with a new set of songs introduced each month.

• Who: Music Makers is for newborn to pre-K kids and their parents. Please feel free to invite your neighbors and friends whom you think would enjoy a wonderful free music program.

• When: Regular time every week

• Where: Our house

• How: Music Makers is designed to run by parents in the group, whether they are “musical” or not. Please let us know if you are willing to lead music, read stories, make props, or bring snacks. The best help from parents can also be to sit with their kids and help them participate actively.

• Why: Because it is fun!

We are looking forward to seeing you there! Please call or text if you have any questions.

This is the description of the Music Makers group that has been passed down from multiple groups over the years across multiple geographic locations. It is a community-based music exploration program that does not require the involvement of a music therapist. However, we felt that it is extremely beneficial and therefore wanted to include it here. You will find everything you need below to start one of your own!

First of all, you will need a space to conduct your group. This could be in a community center, church, public library, private residence, or even the park!

Next, you will need a collection of rhythm instruments, ideally one per child you plan on attending. We recommend the rhythm sets from Nino Percussion, as they are well designed to look like real instruments and not toys. You can find them online at places like Musiciansfriend.com or at your local music store. Any rhythm instruments will do, however, as long as they are durable and small enough to be played by little hands while being carried.

You will also need a nice selection of hand puppets. These can be anything, really, even homemade. If they are washable, even better. We like the animal hand puppet sets sold by Melissa & Doug.

Some other items that are nice to have but completely optional are: finger puppets that match the themes (eg. insects, halloween monsters, etc.), craft kits, scarves, play food (think yarn spaghetti and meatballs or felt donuts), and a microphone (real or plastic). Oriental Trading Company is a great place to look for these kinds of novelty items.

Finally, you are hereby granted the Music Makers song canon, including songs used for opening and closing. They are divided by monthly themes, which are as follows:

Music Makers Opening Songs
September – Animals
October – Halloween
November – Harvest/Thanksgiving
December – Christmas/Hanukkah/Winter
January – Weather
February – Love and Family
March – Food/Nutrition
April – Insects
May – Ocean/Water/Beach

Music Makers Forms:
Planning Sheet
Sign-up Sheet

Of course, any of these are interchangeable depending on your preferences.

Below are even more resources you are invited to explore on your Music Makers journey.

CIRCLE TIME

Run Baby Run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFnYq2pMDbs

Shake My Sillies Out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZde3-0RjrM

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4eueDYPTIg

Open Shut Them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHMW8yTUOA

Freeze Dance: Play music and each child has to stop when the music stops.
Follow the leader
Dancing with ribbons: Shaking the ribbons while dancing around with a little instruction (dance up high, dance down low) was a favorite.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat: You sing this one with a partner (either parent/child or two children sitting next to each other). Sitting across from each other, you hold hands and “row” your arms as you sing.
Counting: We always ended singing time with a counting activity that fit the theme that month. Print off little pictures that fit the theme and cut them out on cardstock. Glue them to popsicle sticks, and you have little counters. Give a counter or two to each child and have them line up. Then sing “one little, two little, three little <item name>, four little five little six little <item name> seven little eight little nine little <item name> ten little <items doing something>. For example, bees could be flying around, popsicles could be melting, clouds could be floating in the sky. You can sing the same song backwards or you can speed it up each time you sing it.

Easy Circle Time Songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt24uA3UG5M

ANIMALS

HALLOWEEN

If You’re a Monster and You Know It

www.scholastic.com/ifyoureamonsterandyouknowit

Have the children recreate the actions in the song while you sing:

*snort and growl

*smack your claws

*stomp your paws

*twitch your tail

*wiggle your warts

*give a roar

Next invite children to explore the different sounds that your rhythm instruments make. Ask questions like, “Which of the instruments makes a sound like snorting and growling? Which instrument’s sound would remind you of smacking your claws? Which instrument’s sound could represent stomping your paws?” Give volunteers an opportunity to match each action with an instrument. As you sing along, pause to play the instrument with the actions.

Five little pumpkins: https://youtu.be/cm1qvX1ygOo

Skeleton Dance https://youtu.be/Ns91jtuPHZI

Halloween Freeze Dance https://youtu.be/ho8NXCvwElY

Spooky Scary Skeletons

10 Scary Monsters

Floor is lava Halloween (just a warning–kids LOVE playing this game, so having a version that fits your theme for the month in your back pocket is GOLDEN —THE FLOOR IS LAVA YOUTUBE PLAYLIST)