scojo
504 posts
Mar 04, 2015
12:06 PM
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I am going to be teaching a week-long beginning harmonica class for elementary-age kids this summer, and will also be a guest artist at the Mississippi Children's Museum (which entails leading workshops). Additionally, I have a possible private student who is 6 years old.
Do any of you teachers have suggestions for how to connect with these students and communicate the basics? I have taught teens and adults of all ages and skill levels, but never young children. Please post your suggestions here or contact me privately.
scott * scottalbertjohnson dot-you know
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HarpNinja
4049 posts
Mar 04, 2015
12:34 PM
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For sure, don't hand out a harmonica until you're ready for them to play it. I always hand them out and give them a minute to do whatever they want.
Have a cue for when they need to set it aside and listen. I simply raise my hand and ask them to give me five.
Worry about them having fun more than being good.
Try to have them play twice as much as you talk.
Use visuals as well as verbal models.
Think of direct instruction - I do, we do, you do. So for example, show them a riff, model how to play it. Then have them play it with you. Then have them play it on their own.
Basically, kids have to move from concrete to representational to abstract...so start by showing them how to do something in small easy to understand chunks.
When I do large group kid lessons, which are usually an isolated lesson, not a whole week, we cover:
Holding the harp
Chords
Single notes
Playing to a tab
Playing a song together (usually When the Saints or the Muddy riff)
How to practice and have fun
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Littoral
1216 posts
Mar 04, 2015
3:31 PM
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Christmas carols are helpful. O Christmas Tree is easy enough. Basic 1-4-5 shuffle with chords catches on pretty quick, it's fun -we all cool it up together. Maybe write a song that everybody sings together at the end of the week.
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catochan
44 posts
Mar 04, 2015
4:02 PM
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Hal Walker is a genius at teaching groups of children, from what I can tell from his youtube videos. I would start with them!
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Harmonicatunes
15 posts
Mar 04, 2015
5:29 PM
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I've made a site which should help. It's at www.HarmonicaForChildren.com
It has a set of tunes for kids, along with separate instruction for child and adult players.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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scojo
505 posts
Mar 04, 2015
7:42 PM
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Thanks so much to all of you who have responded here and privately. VERY helpful!!!
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shakeylee
136 posts
Mar 04, 2015
7:54 PM
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i teach pre-school music mon-fri.
the most important thing is to have fun!!!
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www.shakeylee.com
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JustFuya
752 posts
Mar 04, 2015
10:53 PM
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I just watched a documentary on ukelele virtuoso, Jake Shimabukuro. He did a "Twinkle Twinkle..." lesson for a group of kids that should enlighten any teacher of wee ones. He grabbed their attention and then they participated naturally with glee. It's all about the glee.
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J_Bark
50 posts
Mar 05, 2015
2:28 PM
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I would try to learn what songs kids that age already know.
When my kids were that age it would have been songs from "Barney," "The Wiggles," (Henry the Octopus was always my favorite, but then who wouldn't love a girl dressed up like a boy octopus who sings and dances??, just sayin')and a Disney sing along DVD that we had.
If they already know the song,and you can make a simple version so that they recognize what they are playing I think it will help.
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