Submitted by Beth S., Tracy King, Monica Autry, & Tami Mangusso, AZ, MO, NC, CO
Idea posted March 30, 2004
From Beth S.: Try playing the melody with them on an instrument that sustains (synthesizer, recorder, etc.), and have your students then compare themselves to what they hear from the instrument.
Also, I use a slide whistle (thanks to my college methods professor Dr. Brent Gault) with my first graders as part of our vocal warm-ups. They echo/imitate the whistle on a "whoo" sound. They have naturally fallen into using their "support" muscles, especially as they imitate (slow) low-to-high slides.
From Tracy King: I introduced my kinders to my good friend Wilson (originally shared by Laurie Zentz). Wilson is a tennis ball with eyes and a mouth that opens when I squeeze him. (The mouth is a straight line cut into the tennis ball.) It worked like a CHARM! My students all shaped their mouths nice and tall and held the song out as long as Wilson did!
From Monica Autry: I sometimes use a length of yarn to demonstrate sustaining long notes. While I continue to pull the yarn through my fingers, students should sustain the note until the yarn runs out. I use my hands for a clear cut-off. Sometimes they just need a visual. You will have to practice a little so you know how fast or slow to pull the yarn, and to make sure it's an appropriate length.
From Tami Mangusso: Try using a slinkie or a Hoberman Sphere. I hold the slinkie in one hand, and stretch it out with the other hand. I slowly close the slinkie up, and when it's finally closed up, they stop singing. I also use my Hoberman Sphere. This is a plastic toy that expands into a round sphere and then collaspes into a smaller ball. I often use the Hoberman Sphere for breathing exercises as well. (See www.hoberman.com for more information on the Hoberman Sphere.)