What is about this time of year that makes us all want to sing? Or maybe your family is like mine and someone is always singing. We don’t have any convenient choral options, so most of our singing is of the unpracticed sort — or maybe it is all practice? While I don’t have any “Sound of Music” aspirations, guiding my children to best use their voices is something I have thought about. Only thought about though, my singing experiences are limited to church, the car and the shower.
Grandparents are always willing audiences, but are they ready to perform? (This is said tongue in cheek – all children should feel comfortable singing or performing for their family even if for no one else) The older girls have a group, complete with a name. The Daisy Girl Band is the current name, but with their brother wishing to join in, that may change. They make up their own songs and love to sing them at family gatherings. Very informally and just for fun, but it is so much fun.
Teaching Kids to Sing is a fabulous DVD/CD set that can help with developing singing ability. Targeted to children from 5 through 6th grade, this set has been a perfect fit for our family. The folks behind this set are Vocal Coach, Chris & Carole Beatty , are well known and have been instructing singers for years (40+). Their programs have been successfully used by award winners and beginners both.
From the first moments of the Building Foundations that Last DVD you can see the enthusiasm the Beattys have for singing instruction. They make all those seemingly tedious (to a beginner at least) exercises and habits fun. My children are learning the importance of posture — and enjoying it! We spent some time on this first DVD to begin developing these habits. The songs to accompany the exercises point to the Lord (big bonus!) and are catchy, too. I’ve heard them throughout our day — during chores and playtime. Most of all, they are learning that good posture is not just something that your mother nags you about — it really is important.
The second DVD in the set is Essential Skills for Growing Voices. Things like diction, rhythm and dynamics are covered. I learned it’s still harmful to your voice to whisper while experiencing laryngitis (oops!). I have one daughter that tends towards mumbling when she speaks. From singing along with the diction song she is improving *greatly* and this is carrying over to her speech as well. We have been trying to get her to enunciate for 3 or 4 years with no change. For this alone I am so thankful for the Teaching Kids to Sing set.
The accompanying CD has the tracks to practice and perform the exercises and warm-ups both with vocals and track only. We have no plans for voice lessons or choral performances. Utilizing the lessons in the Teaching Kids to Sing set from Vocal Coach is a great alternative. Who knows what the future holds. All children enjoy singing, why not instill some good habits while young. As we have seen these habits carry over to other areas as well. Then in the future, should one of our children prove to have been blessed with a great voice and the desire to develop it, they will at least have a foundation to build from.
At $44.99 for the Teaching Kids to Sing set, the price is reasonable. There are other sets and options available at the Vocal Coach website. Read more reviews of this set and Vocal Coach Singer at the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.
