Alligator Pie ~ Rhyme for Children

Episode 1
My name is Sandra Hammel. I love children, music, dance, visual arts, theatre, writing, being creative. I leave the mistakes in. We all make them. And children need to feel free to make mistakes, especially when trying something new or out of their comfort zones. A simple rhyme, spoken in rhythm, of course with the underlying pulse that is the beat. I sat on the sofa for this one. It could be done standing for those who can stand, using more gross motor skills. There are so many creative things that can be done with this rhyme with groups of children or two people, which can be done with an adult and a child or two children. Stand facing one another (when two people, or when a group, pick a leader and the group follows the leader's movements) and take turns leading movement and have the other person repeat after you or mirror the movement simultaneously. Use the rhythm of the rhyme to be the foundation of the movements. I find when teaching this, it is helpful to teach it phrase by phrase, or a half of a phrase. Phrase is a musical term that you can think of as a musical sentence. These are just some ideas, for starters. Use your imagination. You've got it, so why not use it?

In this video, in place of breaking it down by phrases when teaching the rhyme's words, I just teach by repetition and rote learning. But when I do the movement or percussion instruments, I do it phrase or half phrase at a time.

Folder at YouTube
Music Activities for Children

Sandra Hammel, rhythm, beat, music, spoken, words, rhymes, instruments, percussion, movement,
Rosalie Hammel, granddaughter, Nahm is for Grandmother, Melanie, Levi, Selah, Abigail, children, children at heart,