School News

Come Sing With Me

Singing Meeting is a long held tradition at Lowell that is much more than just getting the “wiggles” out. Gathering together in song is widely known to promote community and prosocial behavior. “Music is universal,” says Lisa Powell, Pre-Primary School teacher; “it affects your ears, head, and heart, and helps your body move.” Starting October 1, Pre-Primary parents are invited to join the community for Singing Meeting at 11:45 am every day.

Did You Know?
While naturally responding to rhythm and repetition children are developing literacy and listening skills. Memory and language are developing during singing, as well. “Songs slow things down for children, the beats and rhythms bring clarity…it’s reading and writing even before they can,” Lisa explains. “When you read and write, there is a pattern and rhythm involved just like in songs.”

Upon hearing a song, children develop phonemic awareness. They gain listening skills as they learn to discriminate between sounds. Soon, children begin to play with the sounds, adding rhymes or their own words, proof of their developing vocabularies. “Some words may reach above their comprehension, says Pre-Primary-1st Grade Music Teacher Audrey Engdahl, “[but] they hold onto the words they do know, relate to the beat, and find the meaning.”

Singing Meeting Connections
As Audrey guides children through Singing Meeting, she centers herself with a few goals while remaining flexible to work with what the children need. “It’s about moving people through a shared experience,” she says. Audrey creates a ‘flow’ as children engage with the rhythms and sounds through movement and emotion. Even children who remain reserved during singing meeting are processing the experience. Often times, their expression is displayed at home as they sing the songs to their family and friends.

Singing Meeting transcends as children clap and move along to the songs. With a twinkle in their eyes, children connect with the themes and concepts of the songs. “[Then] that one song becomes their passion,” says Lisa. “It’s wonderful,” Audrey adds: “it’s my favorite time of the week!”

Further reading: “How Music Bonds Us Together,” by Jill Suttie.
 
Lowell School is a private PK-8th grade school located in NW Washington, DC. Our mission is to create an inclusive community of lifelong learners in which each individual is valued and respected.