Operation Respect

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary, goes on tour again, this time to promote his newest children's book. "Day is Done" is his third children's book and No. 1 on the Publishers Weekly Children's Picture Book Bestsellers list.

Yarrow, 71, will give readings, perform children's music and promote the importance of music education for all children. In 1999, he founded Operation Respect, an organization "working to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning" through music in the classroom. In an interview with LoHud.com, Yarrow stresses the importance of passing music from generation to generation, creating a safe, loving environment in which children may grow up to be compassionate people and good citizens.



I'm a little boy with glasses
The one they call a geek
A little girl who never smiles
'Cause I have braces on my teeth
And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep
I'm that kid on every playground
Who's always chosen last
A single teenage mother
Tryin' to overcome my past
You don't have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

I'm the beggar on the corner
You've passed me on the street
And I wouldn't be out here beggin'
If I had enough to eat
And don't think I don't notice
That our eyes never meet

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey, aren't we all

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

Not Special Needs, But Special Skills

An MSNBC report today described a global "quiet movement" towards embracing the things people with disabilities can do rather than focusing on the things they can't.

According to the report, certain companies actively seek potential employees with certain disabilities, such as Asperger's Syndrome, an Autism spectrum disorder.  Often times, the symptoms of a disorder that make social interaction difficult can actually prove useful in the workplace.

Sing a song of celebration today to remind you and your child of all the things he or she can do! 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34047713/ns/health-mental_health/

"60 Minutes" Segment Spotlights Music and Art Education

On Sunday night, "60 Minutes" ran a segment about the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academies, a successful charter school in New York City. According to Marty Lipp, communications director of Promise Academies, every student takes music and art. In public school systems across the country, budget cuts and the pressure to perform better on standardized tests continue to force music and art out of the curriculum. The Promise Academies also provide "vital one-on-one instruction" after school. Whether your child receives arts enrichment at school or not, you can only help him or her by incorporating music into your one-on-one learning and playing time at home!

Promising Study on Behavior Therapy for Children with Autism

The University of Washington published a study indicating behavior therapy for children as young as 18 months can significantly improve symptoms of autism and result in a milder diagnosis over time.

Behavior therapy aims to strengthen social skills, like making eye contact, which are difficult for children with autism to master. Social interaction through music can be a kind of behavior therapy. An important difference between the children in the study who improved and those who did not was the level of parental involvement at home. Singing with your child at home is so easy, all you need is your voice! Incorporate some of the simple songs you see on this blog into your daily routine today!

For more details about the study, visit:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/30/health/main5835842.shtml

This is The Day

What: Traditional Christian Song, Celebration Song

Why: This is a "call and response" or echo song. Children work on listening and responding, ear training and taking turns. The simple signs encourage visual tracking, crossing the midline and fine motor skills. Incorporating signs or simple, repetitive choreography into your songs teaches children about expressing ideas through physical movement. Physicality in a song can be a way in for children who are non-verbal or more comfortable observing before vocalizing.

How:



Who: Rosalie Horak contributed this song. 

Rosalie has worked as a Director of Christian Education for the past 17 years, the last 12 at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Lakewood, Colorado. Rosalie also taught first grade in the public school system for 10 years. She holds a degree in elementary education. Performed by Rachel Dempsey and Matt Dempsey.

Che Che Kule

What: Active Song, Concept Song

Why: The lyrics and corresponding actions of this song teach body awareness and identification.

The "call and response" or "echo" structure encourages listening and responding, and, on a more sophisticated level, ear training through pitch matching.

This West African version of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" exposes children to the language of another culture and mastering the lyrics will help a child's memorization and oral motor skill development.

Try starting the song slowly and speeding up gradually over several repetitions. This will challenge a child's oral motor skills, quick-thinking skills and balance!

How:



Che Che Kule (Hands on your head)
Che Che Kofisa (Hands on your shoulders)
Kofisa Langa (Hands on your waist)
Langa tilanga (Hands on your knees)
Kum Aden Nde (Hands on your ankles)
Hey!

Who: Jennie Lutz contributed and performed this song.

Pitch It High

The fathers (and the altos) in my classes would groan whenever I started a song in my upper register, but I had my reasons. For one, a young child's sense of hearing is not fully developed, making it difficult for her to hear low sounds produced by slower vibrations. For another, the ultimate goal of singing with your child is to inspire her to sing along. Children's voices are naturally higher than adults' and we want to sing at a pitch they can successfully hear and mimic. Let me reiterate; the "prettiness" of your singing matters less than your enthusiasm when it comes to singing for the benefit of your child!