Summary Be wary of classification, and forcing the voice to anything it is not prepared to do. This is especially true with children. The adult voice does fully develop until the age of 21. Therefore, until that age, you must be very careful in what/how you ask children to sing. Make sure that the length of singing is short, the range is small, and that their true, light, voice is encouraged, not stifled. Examples of pressuring children's voices to do abnormal things is boy sopranos, children in musicals, etc. Tone deaf children can also participate in the musical process, because pitch recognition can be slowly taught. Exercises that compare the pitch on the piano to what they are singing are useful. Creating games that involved differentiating high and low pitch are also effective. When you are a child, singing should be fun, a joyful time of discovery. When teaching children, we will be thinking for them quite a bit, in order to help their natural sound come out.
Key Terms:
monotone
fach system
Key Concepts: Singing for children should be fun, no expectations, and light.
Making Connections: I worry that when I'm a high school choir teacher, that I will be pressured into doing a musical that is inappropriate for the age group I'm given. For example, a large number of high schools, including Mtn. Crest HS this year, performs Pirates of Penzance. After reading this chapter, I have to think this isn't a good idea.
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