Old MacDonald Had A Brain
Singing helps create neural pathways that can later be used for speech (Song Into Speech, Speech Into Song). Speech (unless it is extremely rhythmical and melodic) activates a more localized part of the brain than singing does. This makes it naturally harder to do. When we sing, we are blazing a wide neurological pathway. We are driving a tractor through the snow, making tracks that the speaking voice and the verbal imagination can later walk with ease.
So much of the traditional children’s song literature is brilliant in this regard. Take Old MacDonald. There are reasons everyone seems to know this song. One is that it’s a perfect learning menu for growing sound into words - and rote words into improvised ones – all on the fly!
Old MacDonald had a farm
It’s a great hook. Name recognition. General concept – farm – which already puts the idea of animals into our minds.
E-i-e-i-oh!
Exhaling on vowels is a vacation from words – even from consonants! And it buys us the time to think of an animal.
And on that farm he had a duck
The plot thickens. We go from the general (farm) to the specific (duck)
E-i-e-i-oh!
Another integrative exhalation on the same vowel sounds. Gives us time to think of what sound a duck makes.
With a quack-quack here and a quack-quack there
Onomatopoeia is an excellent cognitive ice-breaker – an interstitial place between sounds and words.
Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack-quack
Even if we couldn’t remember what sound a duck makes on the first try, we just got to hear it from the teacher, or our neighbors – and now we get to sing it, too! Second chances build confidence.
Old MacDonald had a farm
Like I said, it’s a great hook. Just as good a conclusion as a beginning.
E-i-e-i-oh!
Release the breath on those easy vowels.
And on that farm he had a . . .
Here we go again!
As we sing on and on, from animal to animal, we build an ever-stronger structure to hold those concepts – cow, dog, cat – and associated sounds – moo, bow-wow, meow. After a while, they just begin to drop into the slots. We’re improvising concepts in music, one word at a time.
In general, singing is a wonderful way to get speech to flow. And songs with these extremely regulated improvisatory opportunities help organize our brains. As we walk the paths of the recurring melody and rhythm and lyrics, we know exactly when we can take a step into something new. And we feel the satisfaction as our new idea integrates into the familiar context. Our creativity is welcome!
And on that farm he had a monkey . . .
Comments
Thanks for the kind words, Tricia, and the reminder that the simple things we already know, and do instinctively - like making eye contact - can be the most profound.
So simple, short and sweet. Traditional music provides so much for the young child. As teachers, we often forget the wealth of material right at our finger tips.
Tricia Jan 22, 2012
I always look forward to Eve Kodiak’s articles! Her words are gentle, sweet, practical and eloquent. They comfort me in knowing that the simple things I do and the eye contact I make does make a difference.
Thanks for another heartwarming article!
Tricia