Comments on: Sing a song, learn a language and understand your culture

By: Michael Jones

Michael Jones — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:52:22 +0000

Thanks Judith. It’s nice to hear from you, and thanks for this information. I’m on the case!
Michael

By: Judith Stevens (Dancer)

Judith Stevens (Dancer) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:40:42 +0000

By the way, other really popular and fun CDs are the Keeping the Beat set – as mentioned on the Fatherhood Institute website. Again, male singers, including Steve Scott http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2006/keeping-the-beat-a-new-musical-resource/

Advertised as Nursery Rhymes for Today’s children these are available at http://www.keepingthebeat.co.uk/cds.html

Enjoy as much as I do!

Judith

By: Judith Stevens (Dancer)

Judith Stevens (Dancer) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:36:16 +0000

Totally agree with you Michael – I would totally endorse Steve Grocott’s great work in early years which has developed over many years.

By: Renu Elston

Renu Elston — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:10:50 +0000

Yes I have taught my son through music. He picks up languages (Spanish) easily and he loves music (many varieties). Always playing music and plays a range of percussion instruments.

By: Michael Jones

Michael Jones — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:59:31 +0000

HI Renu
Do you think that your experience as a child has influenced the way you think about music and language with children?

By: Renu Elston

Renu Elston — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:15:42 +0000

Hi Michael

Great Blog: It is very interesting to read your views. I couldn’t agree with you more. I lived for the first 5 years of life in India. I still have very fond memories of singing numerous songs in Hindi (nursery and older songs. Music is a big part of the Indian way of life, on the radio, in films and even in serials on TV. I remember going to cinema and can still recall and sing the songs popular at the time. Numeracy was taught through songs as well. At 5 years age I could count in Hindi up to 100. Hence when my family moved to england they throughly enjoyed watching movies such: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on a Roof and Grease. In essence my education simply continued but the foundation had been laid to speak and be fluent in more then one language.

By: Michael Jones

Michael Jones — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:04:42 +0000

Hello Margaret
Do you know any Shona songs (lullabies in particular) or fun rhymes with actions? That should be a good start. Also encourage the parents to do the same!
Michael

By: Margaret Simms

Margaret Simms — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:23:45 +0000

Very interesting Michael. I had a bit of a headphone bop to the Drones music on your link. Any tips for a Granny wanting to help baby learn Shona?
.

By: Debbie Brace

Debbie Brace — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:53:15 +0000

I am a HUGE Steve Grocott “Bright Sparks” fan and always highly recommend this CD to families and practitioners on my courses. Another fabulous CD is Celtic and Caribbean fun songs by Spud and Yam I have not as yet in 14 years of teaching found any two CD’s that top these smashers!!
Steve Grocott is doing great things Linking letters and sounds with catch songs and rhymes for Early Years in Hounslow. Couldn’t agree with you more Michael!
Debbie Brace

By: Laura Henry

Laura Henry — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:16:03 +0000

Great blog, Michael thank you so much for sharing and writing!

My parents who are from St. Lucia speak a French dialect and spoke 100% English at home, because they wanted us to fit in! My parents regret this now, as they feel that we were denied a second language. Due to their views on what ‘others’ thought of their language and culture. But, mindful, this was 1960’s Britain.

Therefore, on my travels I encourage parents to speak their first language and indeed, sing, sing away on their mother tongue.

Thanks again, Michael.