Songs for Children and other Resources
Found in: Accompaniment, Supplemental Programs
Cheri S., Utah
I’m looking for input from teachers who are familiar with the Songs for Children program, whether they’ve chosen to use it in their studios or not. I’d like to hear from those who love it and from others who’ve chosen different resources to expand the Accompaniment program. I’m trying to get various perspectives as I prepare to launch the Accomp. program in my relatively new studio. With Accomp. 1, Reading Notes, and Reading Rhythm all being introduced in the coming year, I want to be sensitive about burdening my families with extra costs.
What are the best ways you’ve found to get students playing lots of songs in lots of keys? How do you balance broad accomp experience with expense? How does Songs for Children compare with other ways of enhancing the Accomp program? If you use SFC, how soon after beginning Accomp. 1 do you begin it? How appealing is SFC to teens?
Annette L., Utah
I have loved using the Songs for Children program! At first I used it only with my younger students, but it does such a great job of introducing different keys in the accompaniment process, that I have had my older students get it too. With the “teenagers” I have stressed that they could use it to help teach younger siblings, or in interacting musically with children in church or community. It really is the most simple way I have found to “branch out” into all the keys.
I have been using the Accompaniment program with several students – some older and some as young as 9 years old – and have introduced the Songs for Children after working through p. 18 (which includes working in the keys of C,D,E,Db, Eb, Am, Cm). But I use it with all the younger students, and they love it! As has been said in other posts, small doses of all the “extra” programs work best! You will find the ways that work for you and your students!!! Have fun in the journey!
Darla H., Kansas
I absolutely love Songs for Children and so do my students. I have started using it in Level 1 right after Amazing Grace, before I ever begin the Accompaniment 1 program with students. ( I do that sometime in Level 2.) It’s a wonderful way to get them more practice with C, F & G before getting into the Accomp program. For students who were already in Accomp 1, it is a wonderful way to give them more songs for transposing into different keys. I used to just use Amazing Grace and Auld Lang Syne for this, unless it was around Christmas time and then I have a number of Christmas sheets for students learning to find I IV & V also.
I have used Songs for Children with my elementary students and with my adults (who love it even more than the kids!). I haven’t used it with teens. And so far, I’ve had no complaints about expense. People seem to be willing to handle the expense for what I believe, and they trust, will be very helpful to them.