Space Cat Solfege: First Steps in Songwriting
Songwriting for Young Singers
Songwriting isn't limited to older students with a deeper knowledge of music theory. Your students can begin organizing their "musical thoughts" from the very first singing lessons. Even your youngest beginners can start experimenting with simple melodies, rhythms, and lyrics, using their natural creativity to express themselves. This music exploration is what many of our students crave. And, as music educators, it is truly inspiring to watch your students' creativity!
Pro-teacher tip: It is about nurturing a learning space where students feel confident sharing their unique musical ideas.
New Songbook Series for Kids
Developed for the young beginner singer, these exciting and age-appropriate songbooks make lesson planning a breeze for teachers while keeping students engaged and smiling. The series will continue to develop with Level One coming in 2025.
Space Cats is a First Song Adventure from the book Songs and Studies for Kids! Introductory A. This song introduces singing descending triads and following the piano/vocal score. This simple melody with the Space Cats theme is a favourite for many students! If you have the piano backing track, you can use it with many of the songwriting ideas below.
Flashcards are Hands-on, Minds-on Learning
Flashcards are an engaging, hands-on activity that assists in memorization and learning. The mini cards are perfect for singing at a desk and take-home activities (trust me, the kids will want to take them home!), and the medium-sized cards can be used on a bulletin board. Printing on cardstock or laminating your cards will help them last longer.
Download these space-themed cards to enhance your Introductory A lesson plans and to expand the music reading and writing activities.
Singing Major Scales
- Place the cards on a table and ask students to assemble an ascending or descending scale.
- Have students sing (and sign) the scale patterns without assistance from the piano. (Students can sing and sign. However, these cards do not have images of the hand signs, so practicing them first makes a great warm-up exercise!)
Triads and Arpeggios
- Ask students to use the cards to create triad or arpeggio patterns.
- Practice singing triads and arpeggios without assistance from the piano.
Pro-Teacher Tip: Use the musical language of "triads and scales" in your lessons, and be sure to review this with students often.
Triad Songs
Using triad patterns only – have students compose a song using only DO, MI, and SO. (You will need several pages of cards printed for these exercises)
Additional music activities:
- Have students recreate the melody of Space Cats using flashcards.
- Students can create a new triadic melody and sing it with the accompaniment from Space Cats. (Students LOVE this! It brings the activity all together!)
- Allow students to create unique melodic patterns and use them for warm-ups!
Happy songwriting and happy singing!
