6th grade boys!

I've posted about Angie Cammack at Clinton Elementary and her wonderful 6th grade boys who can sing before. But now I have the proof!

Here are some tips on how to get your boys (and girls) to sing for you.

1.   DO demonstrate they way you would like them to sing.  Elementary age children are very good at reproducing or copying a vocal sound.  If you naturally sing low, train yourself to sing a little higher for the sake of their young voices.  Sometimes a description like: 'light' or 'like a bird' is more appealling to boys than a word like high.

2.  DO use vocal play with them.  Practice vocal bowling or riding on the vocal roller coaster.  Good vocal play gets them in their head voice to stay.  

3.   DO use partner songs.  Girls and boys are natually competitive and will be very successful at partner songs.  

4.   Do encourage them to stand or sit up straight when they are singing.  Making sure the vocal mechanism is primed physically includes proper posture.  

5.  DO use songs they enjoy.  This does not mean every song has to be a pop song, but the more they enjoy the song, the more they will sing for you.

 5.  DO NOT push them to sound more mature than they are.  5th and 6th grade boys are still in unchanged in voice and should not be expected to sound "older" then they are able.