Chapter 2: Movement, Expression, and Creativity

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

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Part of Making Music Live

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The line dance
From Making Music Live

The simplest form of group dance is the line dance, in which the dancers follow the leader either in a circle or in free patterns around the room. They can hold hands, place their hands on each other’s shoulders, or place them around each other’s waist….
The mix-it-up
From Making Music Live

With partner songs and rounds, you can do a mix-it-up. A partner song is made up of two or more songs that are sung at the same time. UU song leader Dr. Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock, for example, combines the chorus of “Wade in the Water” with “I Wanna Die Easy When I Die” and some…
Using hand gestures
From Making Music Live

Adding hand gestures to songs can be a participatory event. For the song “Wade in the Water,” for example, simply ask the children what motions would work for the phrase, “Wade in the water.” The children will suggest some ideas for movement, and they will all be good. The motions might involve…
Isolation exercises
From Making Music Live

Find any excuse to get children up and moving, particularly with songs. Then bring in the emotions. Have them sing a song like “Simple Gifts” or “Morning Has Broken” while walking around the room showing sadness in their bodies as they sing. The songs will sound sad simply because their…
Laughter
From Making Music Live

There is actually a new form of yoga that has evolved in India: laughter. Simply initiate laughter among the children and have them keep it going. Laughter changes the chemistry of their brains. It connects them. As with all forms of creative activities, laughter must be practiced in a supportive…
Improvised movement
From Making Music Live

Allowing children to make up their own movements to recorded music is a great way for them to let off steam and let their creativity flow. Choose a variety of CDs that have fast and slow songs in different musical styles (classical, pop, world, and the like), or program your iPod….
Drum Circles
From Making Music Live

The phenomenon of drumming and drumming circles is still in its infancy. I predict that fifty years from now, world drumming will be standard curriculum in schools and will be a standard form of worship. Why? Because drumming requires raised attentiveness, a level of focus that actually makes…
A few words about creativity
From Making Music Live

You may have noticed by now that the possibilities for engaging children with music are endless. They invite creativity from each child and from you, the teacher. We are all creative. Making a shopping list is a creative act. Conversation is a creative act. But when creativity is connected to…
Starting a church children's choir
From Making Music Live

People often think that the purpose of a children’s choir is to perform during worship from time to time. Performance (or celebration) is the goal, the frosting on the cake, but the real heart of a children’s choir is in the week-to-week community-building and skill development that occurs….