Week 3: PLN Post 1

Music with Miss Leslie

Click here for the Music with Miss Leslie website!

About Miss Leslie

I came across Miss Leslie's website through my Twitter feed. The post that particularly caught my eye is titled "The Singing Voice: Why Some People Never Learn to Sing." (This is the post that I've provided a link for above.) Although I consider myself primarily an orchestra teacher, I also teach a few sections of middle school and kindergarten general music. I find that a few students come to me at the beginning of the year already able to match pitch and use their singing voices. Others seem to discover their singing voices during the year. It's so exciting when a student suddenly begins singing mid-year! Still others leave kindergarten without finding their singing voice (or at least without showing me that they can do it).

I liked Miss Leslie's reminder that children should be able to hear their own voice. This is one reason I use my guitar often with kindergarten instead of always using piano or a recording that can sometimes overpower their voices. I also sometimes use singing games that require students to sing alone or in smaller groups. I know I have a lot to learn about helping young students to find their singing voices, and Miss Leslie's post was a good reminder of some things I can work on.

Miss Leslie's website is a blog that is frequently updated with useful information, especially for teaching young children. I have added it to my Google Reader so I can keep up with her thoughts and ideas.