I’d like to share a very special person with you who has been a profound part of my life – Claricia Iona Cummings. Miss Cummings, endearingly referred to as Nona, joined my family from Panama when I was just five days old. At the time, we lived in Springfield, Massachusetts. Nona has been like a mother to me throughout childhood and adulthood, and incredibly, lived to be 105 years old, just 4 months shy of 106! Nona, with presence and awareness, passed away this October in Washington DC. Her life shines as an extraordinary example of humility, joyfulness, dignity, careful craft, and hard work, and those who knew her remain in awe of her graciousness and love.

In remembrance of Nona, I wanted to share a Russian lullaby I recorded in 2012. I think Nona would like it, and would feel comforted by its gentle melody. I invite you to listen, and to join me in honoring this very special person. For you Nona…I love you.

Russian Lullaby (from I Am Sleepy! with Sukey Molloy) ©2012

Drum play is inherently a magical activity and seems to attract children young and old. Drum play creates an invitation to touch that allows children to explore sounds and rhythm all on their own. With a little guidance, drums are wonderfully responsive instruments for play and learning, and are very versatile particularly for little hands.

I offer drum activities in my mommy & me and preschool PlayMove&Sing classes, and I include a variety of drum play options for children to try.  Children find drumming exciting and satisfying, and I believe it’s in part because they’re able to impact directly on their environment, and receive immediate feedback with instant response.

I invite children while seated to:

• Pat the drum with two hands
• Rub the drum in circular motions with one hand
• Scratch the drum with finger tips
• Tap on the drum with pointer fingers
• Pat the drum with hands alternating R/L

And while standing to:

• Pat the drum while marching in place
• Pat the drum while marching around the room

Then seated with mallet to:

• Tap the drum with one mallet (or two, one in each hand)
• Circle the mallet(s) around the top of the drum in circular motion
• Tap the drum with mallet(s) alternating R/L
• Turn drum on its side and tap the top with mallet(s)
• With drum on its side, tap the side(s) of the drum with mallet(s)
• Stand and tap drum on sides or top with mallet(s)
• March in place, then march around room tapping side or top of drum

The song melodies I use are taken from Ten Little Indians and Skip to M’Lou. I’ve recorded them as Pat the Ball and Rocking in My Rocking Chair on my CD’s. You’ll simply need to modify the traditional lyrics to direct the drum activity. It’s fun to try! (See lyric recommendations below).

Here’s video clip of a PlayMove&Sing class in Nyack, NY and we’re drumming away. Join us!

To the tune of Skip to M’Lou

If I had a drum, what would I do?

What would I do what would I do?

If I had a drum, what would I do?

This is what I would do, do, do.

I would tap and tap and tap on the drum,

Tap and tap and tap on the drum,

Tap and tap and tap on the drum,

That is what I would do, do, do.

…and so on!

 

To the tune of Ten Little Indians

One little, two little, three little children,

Four little, five little, six little children,

Seven little, eight little, nine little children,

Ten little children go pat, pat, pat.

Pat, pat, pat the drum,

Pat, pat, pat the drum,

Pat, pat, pat the drum,

Pat the drum today.

…and so on!

Each of us has a natural inner rhythm that corresponds to our own sense of personal expression. Young children thrive on connecting that personal sense of rhythm with physical action.

Offering fun objects to make sound with, and to create musical rhythmic patterns, gives valuable learning opportunities for exploration, rhythmic training, and eye-hand coordination. Tapping sticks and spoons together is both fun and instructive. Children love finding lots of ways to maneuver the sticks, and enjoy the freedom to experiment at their own pace while having physical fun.

Here’s a video clip of children (1 ½ – 3 yrs) in a PlayMove&Sing class with me in Nyack, NY. We’re singing If I Had Hands and tapping away. Click here to watch.

To join in the fun, place multiple pairs of wooden “stix” (or spoons) in a basket, pass them out, and watch the fun begin. When adding music, the rhythmic play event takes on a life of its own. Children can be invited to:

• tap the stix together
• tap them on the floor
• tap high in the air
• tap gently on the knees
• tap gently on the nose
• tap while marching
• tap while dancing
• tap behind the back, and so on

The song featured here, If I Had Hands, is based on the traditional tune “Skip to M’Lou”, and the lyrics have been changed up to create rhythmic training.

Click here to listen to song If I Had Hands – audio

Click here to download the song lyrics from I Like to Sing CD

To make your own rhythm stix:

• begin with wooden dowels (3 ft, 6 ft, or 12 ft lengths)
• cut the dowels down into 6 or 7 inch pieces
• sand the ends of each stick
• paint them (or leave them natural wood)
• finish by covering them with a clear, child friendly, non-toxic coating

 

To make rhythm spoons, purchase plain, inexpensive wooden kitchen spoons, cut the handles down to 4 inches (6 or 7 inch total length with spoon end), paint them (or leave them natural wood), and coat them with a clear, non-toxic finish.

Enjoy!

 

Hello Play and Goodbye Play serve an important role in creating special moments for children to connect with one another when gathering together. Special attention given to Greetings and Partings helps to bring a sense of welcome and belonging.

In my classes and performances, I always like to begin events with a special Hello song, accompanied by my hand puppet Sunflower, and Little Flower when singing Goodbye. One day in class, it dawned on me that the children and parents would enjoy having their own puppets to sing along with too, and I now begin and end every class with two baskets full of Sunflowerand Little Flower puppets for everyone to share.

The two songs I sing, Hello Everyone and Goodbye Everyone, are easy to learn, and are designed to include each child’s name as the circle time leader sings around the circle. It’s fun to include a gentle cheek touch from your puppet as you greet each child, and to allow time for children to play with their own puppets before singing. I invite children and parents to move the puppets up and down, side to side, round and round, and behind the back for peek-a-boo.

I first created my Sunflower and Little Flower puppets out of felt, and you can do the same. Simply outline the shape of your hand on paper in order to make the mitt pattern, then sew the two felt sides together, followed by sewing or gluing on faces. You can include petals, and a circle, to go around the faces by cutting shapes and sewing them into the mitt seam. (See patterns below – click to download).

I now make hand puppets for educators, librarians, parents, and children to enjoy in and out of the circle time setting, but I always encourage everyone to try making their own. It makes for a great family or classroom activity.

Here’s a short video clip from a PlayMove&Sing mommy and me class (ages 1 ½ to 2 ½) at the Rockland County YMCA in NY. In the clip, we’re singing Hello Everyone with our puppets, and the class is just getting under way. Sing along with us!

Click here to download lyrics to Hello Everyone and Goodbye Everyone from my Circle Song CD.