Music corner

When you want to start group singing, these activities help children warm up their bodies and then sing more freely. Take these gently so that children don't get dizzy by holding their breath for too long.

Stretch and relax Ask the children to stretch and then relax their upper bodies, including arms, shoulders, and necks. This can help them feel calm if they've been exerting themselves, or help them to settle and listen.

Understanding breath control

* Ask the children to imagine that their insides are like an empty bottle.

When they breathe in, keeping their shoulders down, the 'bottle' fills up with air from the bottom upwards. When the bottle is full, the lid is screwed on and the air held in.

* Now suggest that the bottle lid is partially unscrewed, quietly letting out air. Ask the children to exhale gently by making a hissing sound.

* After another breath, suggest that the air gushes out as fast it can.

Encourage the children to 'huff' or 'whish' out all of the air in their lungs.

Long and short sounds

Ask the children for their own ideas for long sounds, such as ssh, ss, mm, ff, or short sounds, b, t, g, ch. In this way they can practise using their lips and tongues playfully. It helps to use a puppet, for example as you chant or sing the song 'Copy Kitten, Copy Kitten, miaow, miaow, hiss! Copy Kitten, Copy Kitten, sounds like this!' (from Voiceplay).

Humming and sliding

Ask the children to hum with eyes shut and to feel with fingertips their voices vibrating in their throats. The vibrations will change as they hum higher and lower.

When children realise they can control their voices and breath, they will be able to be more expressive and to play at making new sounds.