Sandra Kirkwood

VOICES – CREATING MUSIC STORIES

MUSIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA

EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE

Listen for a moment and you may hear someone’s voice

What is their voice like? Is it soft and gentle? Is it loud and strong?

GREETING PEOPLE WITH OUR VOICES

When it is your turn, introduce yourself:

My name is… I come from….

LANGUAGES Greetings in Aborigin

al Languages of Australia Can you say ‘Hello’ in different languages?

Some people say Howdy, Gooday, (wave hand) Awabakal peoples of NSW say alla, ella, or

Wontakalowa Wiradhuri peoples of NSW say: Yiradhu

marang , or Guruulbarng Gamilaraay peoples say: Yaama, or Yaama

nginda Bandjalang peoples of NSW say: Bugalbeh (in Gidhabal dialect), or Jinggala wahlu (in Baryulgil dialect).

GREETING THE MORNING Some animals

make sounds to greet the morning

Birds sing Roosters crow Willy Wagtail

wiggles his tail from side to side

The baby birds are chirping

Willy Wagtail nest

VOICES FOR WAKING UP

Voices can laugh out loud like a Kookaburra (audio-sample created by Little Mutt)

Can you sing “Laugh Kookaburra, Laugh”? What sounds do you make when you wake

up? Yawning and stretching arms and legs?

Photo ‘Laugh Kookaburra Laugh’ by Just Jen

Have you ever heard Mum or Dad sing a song to you at bedtime?This is called a lullaby.

The Maranoa Lullaby is sung by Harold Blair, a famous Aboriginal singer (Australian Screen website). This is a very old recording from 1950 so it is crackly, but you can still hear Harold Blair’s beautiful voice.

WE CAN SING A SONG AT BED TIME

Listen to the voices of the Gunawirra Kids…This is what my Granny or Grandpa sounds like; and Mum or Dad, brothers and sisters. This is what Bubba sounds like...This is me when I’m happy or sad…This is how I giggle…or cry…

Everyone has their own special voice. Your parents or teachers may be able to help you record the voices of your family and friends.

Pretend to have a phone conversation…

VOICES MAKE ME FEEL SPECIAL

What are your favourite songs? We can sing My Mara Song from the Tracking the Milky Way Website.

Some people like to sing songs in the car or bus. “The wheels of the bus go round and round?” Can you sing this song and do the actions?

You can hear “The Wheels of the Bus” song in the “I go to preschool now” video.

Listen to people using their voices to tell stories.

Ask your Mum, Dad, Aunties and Uncles if they can make different voices. Listen to a choir singing. Find singing voices on CD/DVD, computer, radio or television.

Photograph from Mosman Festival 2011, Mosman Council

We can make sounds to let people know how we are feeling. Sometimes our voices sound happy, but other times our voices are grumpy.

WHY ARE VOICES IMPORTANT?

We can talk about all the things that we have learned at Prep.

We can yarn with our friends and family. We can sing. We can even talk on the telephone.

We can learn words in new languages. Some of our teachers or Elders can talk or sing in other languages.

TEACHING OUTCOMESThis presentation helps children to understand that their voices can be used in many different ways. Voices are important for social communication and learning literacy at home and school.•Children can participate through introducing themselves individually and listening to the qualities of their own voice (laughing, yawning , crying..).•Teachers can help children to sing action songs with the whole group, or sing-along with the Gunawirra Kids. Try greeting songs, children’s favourites, lullabies.•Children learn by listening to how adults use their voices. Families often yarn around the dinner table so this is a good place to encourage conversation.•Children can usually tell the difference between the voices of people they know well: elderly, babies, teachers, friends, and close family. •Children will imitate the tone of voice they hear around them.•The class can listen, imitate and learn words in different languages. •Teachers may be able to seek out language resources suitable for your geographical area with assistance from cultural advisers, linguists, libraries and the internet. If possible, use native speakers of the languages chosen.Sandra Kirkwood, Music Health Australia www.musichealth.com.au B.Occ.Thy, B.Music, M.Phil 18 August, 2012