The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-08-08
MUSIC is A NECESSITY
BY MRS. HARRIET AYERS SEY.
MOUR

should be very heaven. To her,
music was Gods special gift to moth
ers and children, and so she began
singing regularly with each of her
babies.
There are many lovely songs which
a mother can learn, and the best of
all are the folk songs of different
countries.
Archibald T. Dawson and 7. W.
Surett have collected some excellent
and familiar ones in an inexpensive
book called FIFTY Rote Songs" pub
lished by the Boston Music company.
These include English and other for
eign folk songs.
A gay song for baby as he eats his
breakfast and a quiet one as he lies
down to go to sleep-these will sink in
deep and form wonderful foundation
for the music of his life.
With the older babies have regu-
lar singing time. Five o'clock is a
good hour. The children of whom
speak had singing party every day
at FIVE and sometimes the neghbors
came in and sang with them. Their
mother grew to be such a strong in
fluence in the community that many
persons came to her for advice ant
refreshment
Singing Instead of Naggne.
Nagging is often simply a lack OF
something better to do A friend oil
this woman in speaking of her home
life said, "She has substituted sing
ing for nagging."
"Small Songs for Small Singers" by
Neidlinger &c. Schirmer, New York
publisher; $3.50 illustrated; rs cents
without illustrations) is a good collec-
ton for children from four to six
years old. These songs are very mu-
steal, simple, and rather full of jokes
-"jokey" as one child said.
Here are the words of great favor
lite in this collection:
Mister frog came out of the pond one day,
And found himself in the rain;
Said he: "In get wet. and 1 may catch
cold,
So he jumped In the pond again.
Joy is the best tonic there Is, and
happiness creates health The chill
dren's song-hour will affect the atmos-
phere of the whole house.
Another good lot of songs is col
lection of Mature Songs for Chill
dren" by Knowlton, published by Mil
ton Bradley company, Springfield.
Mass, for 81, and there are lovely
collections by Eleanor Smith and Jes-
sic Gaynor.
An w hos
lation music lessons can play simple
songs and can learn to guide her chill
dren into a singing life.
Teach the children to listen to
birds and to remember their calls.
There Is a book of bird-calls by Odds
which is very good. Its title is Given
ty-tive Bird Songs for Children" and
1t is published by G. Schirmer, New
York, for SIPS,
Sing, "Come and be washed" In
stead of saying it. Here is a little
tune spontaneously sung by child
of six: Something ever, ever, sings"
The little child was right but the
trouble is, most of us do not listen.
Ask your question in song, mother,
and soon you Will be answered Dy
cheerful singing reply.
"Baby, where are your sung on
a simple ascending scale will soon
bring musical reply from hiddeD
child of 81 am hiding here"
Play softly, sing gently and listen.
Teach to Follow Tune.
During the day take some familiar
tune and swing the rhythm with the
arms. Let the children step it, find
ing out where the slow and quick steps
come. Afterward, have them draw
lines on the blackboard to show this
duration, thus: -. =. =.
Let them find in which direction the
tune goes, up or down, and make pic
lures of it either denoting the direc-
ton with a sweep of the hands or
drawing a sweeping line on the black
board.
Singing, swinging, stepping and max
ing pitch and duration pictures, the
children live in music as fish in water
or birds In the air.
If there are quarrels and tears, play
something pretty and think the word
Harmony. See how this Gains the at
mosphere. The mother | speak of
controlled her children almost entire
" through the power of constructive
thought and music. They easily yield
ed to the word Peace sung gently
over and over.
Mothers, If they only knew 1t, have
the making of a new world of love in
their keeping, and music is torch to
light them on the way.
To mother who does not know
any music, say, If you can, get some
one to come for an hour every day
to sing with your children at twilight.
See to it that the words of the songs
are constructive and beautiful and
learn to sing little yourself. Every
one can sing little.
Join the community chorus and If
there isn't one, start one.
"a singing army is winning army"
A singing family is a spiritually grow
ing family and music the link that
brings heaven to earth.
1t is stated that constantly mount
;nnr ooctS Of onaratipo aud dacraacinor