Gareth Malone:
In this film I'm going to show you how to teach a song. This is the way I like to teach songs, there are many ways but I think this yields better results. Don't worry if you've never done anything like this before, we're gonna break it down, follow my lead and I'll show you how to do it.
Gareth Malone:
Now we're going to learn a song and this is a wonderful song that I remember from when I was your age by a man called Bobby McFerrin and it's called, Don't Worry, Be Happy.
Gareth Malone:
A really good first step is to sing the whole song through, so the kids have got a good idea of how it goes.
Gareth Malone:
Here's a little song I wrote,You might want to sing it note for note,Don't worry, be happy.
Gareth Malone:
The impact of you singing the song to them is so much greater than using a pre-recorded version. Take the plunge, even if your voice is a little bit wobbly, it's worth the risk.
Gareth Malone:
Then there's a great bit that goes, doo-do-do-do-do-do-do-doody-do, doody-do-do-di-do, doody-do-di-do. I think you can all feel the pulse. Shall we all just c-, can we all clap or click. It's that kind of speed. [CLAPS HANDS]
Gareth Malone:
If some of your students are struggling with the rhythm to the words, just clapping them, tapping them on their knees, doing nonsense syllables, ba-ba-ba-ba, will really help them get inside the rhythmic pulse.
Gareth Malone:
The rhythm to that is a little bit funky, it's do-do-do-do-do-do-do. Go!
Children:
Do-do-do-do-do-do.
Gareth Malone:
The way that I like to teach a song is to separate the words and the melody, and I'll start with the words and really make sure that everyone knows them before we move on to the melody.
Gareth Malone:
Let's look at the words first. So it goes: Here's a little song I wrote.
Gareth Malone:
Get them to repeat the words back to you, one line at a time, but say it in rhythm.
Gareth Malone:
And go.
Children:
Here's a little song I wrote.
Gareth Malone:
Next, build it up to two lines at a time until they know all of the words in rhythm.
Gareth Malone:
Here's a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note.
Children:
Here's a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note.
Gareth Malone:
Loving the enthusiasm. Very good.
Gareth Malone:
The point of separating the melody and the lyrics is that when you are using your brain to remember words and say them in rhythm and do a melody, that is very, very complicated for young children.
Gareth and children:
But when you worry you make it double.
Gareth Malone:
It's a bit of a tongue twister isn't it? But when you worry you make it double.
Children:
But when you worry you make it double.
Gareth Malone:
You're always going to have those students who are able to pick up a song instantly, but that's not every child. In order to take everyone with you, you need to separate out the elements.
Gareth Malone:
Don't worry.
Children:
Don't worry.
Gareth Malone:
Be happy.
Children:
Be happy.
Gareth Malone:
Best we're going to tackle the melody and we do this through call and response. You sing a line and then your class sing it back.
Gareth Malone:
So we're gonna just do this to la. La-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Children:
La-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Gareth Malone:
And if you want to be very clever and just follow with your eyes, follow the words and see if you can think where those words are gonna fit in, then you can.
Gareth Malone:
At this early stage I would advise against using song sheets. Get the words up on the board, you want the faces up and them engaging with you.
Gareth and children:
Here's a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note, don't worry, be happy. I'm looking at some of your faces and some of them are already happy and that is the effect of this song. That's it, just there, perfect.
Gareth Malone:
If you've got a very confident singer in your class, get them to sing the melody.
Boy:
Here's a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note.
Children:
Don't worry.
Gareth Malone:
Love it.
Children:
Be happy.
Gareth Malone:
This is a great way to stretch some of your more musically able students, so get them to sing the melody to the rest of the class. That can be a really effective way to help you teach.
Gareth and children:
Doo-do-do-do-do-do-do-doody-do, doody-do-do-di-do, doody-do-di-do… Don't worry be happy now! I loved it! Very well done.
Gareth Malone:
That's for this film. In the next film we'll be talking about how to lead your group of singers.
Using call and response is an effective way to help your students to learn a song.
Watch Gareth’s singing techniques to help your children discover rhythm and pulse.
These techniques help with learning the words and melody.
This clip is suitable for teaching music at EYFS and Key Stage 1 in England, Foundation in Wales, Early Years and Foundation KS1 in Northern Ireland and Early and First Level in Scotland.
More from Gareth Malone
Warm up
Use Gareth’s techniques to help your class warm up their vocal cords and ready for singing. See how his activities to help voice and pitch.
Lead or conduct your singers
Use these tips on standing with good posture, using your voice and knowing the words, including how to use emotions while singing with your children.
Preparing to perform
Try these tips about how to use the body while singing and get your children prepared to perform.
