Twinkle, twinkle, little star (SE)

Sing the song

Sing the song in different ways. Do you have problems remembering the lyrices? Here we go:

Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are.
Up above the earth so high, Like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are.

Okay, that is it. Try to sing the song in different ways:

Stamp your foot on the ground when singing the long vocals: star, are, sky, are (all words in bold).
Clap your hands when singing the short vocals: twinkle twinkle little …
Sing only the short vocals and stamp your feet on the ground when the long vocals should be sung.
Sing only the long vocals and clap your hands in stead of singing the short vocals.
Sing only the long vocals and think the rest.

Working in pairs

Let the children work in pairs. The children stand in front of each other. They watch each other and sing after each other: one pupil the short vocals, the other one the long ones. After that, they change roles. Variation: one pupil claps the short vocals and the other one starts singing the song. The teacher gives a sign and the children change roles: the other pupil continues singing but claps the long vocals.

With sticks

For this task, the children can use sticks from the wood, from the Chinese restaurant or forks and spoons. Repeat the same exercises as before. Try also to to sing the song and tap on the syllables in bold and after the long word:
Twinkle twinkle little star_ , How I wonder what you are_.

Background

This lesson is based on a workshop given by the Swedish children's and youth choir director Petter Ekberg at Spelenderwijs, a practical study day for primary school teachers in October 2014. Petter Ekberg is related to the Swedish project Barn och sång (“child and song”).

This project started as a collaboration project between music pedagogues and voice specialists – medical and acoustic specialists from Uppsala University Choral Centre, UNGiKÖR, The Swedish Children and Youth Choir organisation and Swedish concerts 2002-2010. Its goal was to gain knowledge about the prerequisites for children to sing and how to make practical use of this knowledge. In 2007, a book was published called ‘Barn och sång. Om rösten, sångerna och vägen dit’ (Gunnel Fagius, red) (Child and song. About the voice, the songs and the way to get there). The book combines a deep knowledge of the anatomy of the young voice, of musical and singing development and historical, linguistic and neurological research on children’s voices and singing requirements. It is also a book on methods of singing with young children that became the basis for a campaign on how to sing with children, with particular attention to the singing range of children. The knowledge gained from voice research and pedagogical experience have been combined and displayed. The book has become an important tool at teacher colleges, for practising teachers and the general public.

Since 2011, ‘Barn och sång’ arranges courses for further education, organised by the choir organisation UNGiKÖR and the Choral centre of Uppsala University. These courses aim at inspiring people who want to sing with children developing children’s singing capacities increasing the knowledge about children’s voices organising meetings on the subject of children’s voices and singing with children.

Project:

Barn och sång

Organisation:

UNGiKÖR and the Choral centre of Uppsala University

Location:

Sweden

Target audience:

primary school teachers

Website:

Barn och Sång