The circle banner., 1919-11-28
MvsIl IS A NECESSITY
Dy MRS. HARRIET AYERS SEY.
MnlIa

! know q mother with four childrel
who made up her mind that hom
should be a very heaven. To hel
music was Gods special gift to NTH
crs and children, and so she bega,
singing regularly with each of he
babies.
There are many lovely songs wnicl
mother can learn, and the best o
all are the folk songs of differen
countries.
Archibald T. Dawson and T. W
Surett have collected some excellent
and familiar ones in an inexpensive
book called Fifty Rote SongsS pub
iished by the Boston Music company
| These include English and other Tor
eign folk songs.
A gay song for baby as he eats his
breakfast and quiet one as he ,es
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 a regu-
lar singing time. Five o'clock Is q
good hour. The children of whom ]
speak had singing party" every day
at five. and sometimes the neighbors
came in and sang with them. Their
mother grew to be such a strong In
fiuence in the community that many
persons came to her for advice anu
refreshment.
Singing Instead Of Naqqing.
Nagging is often simply lack OF
something better to do. A friend OF
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; IS cents
without illustrations) Is good collec-
tion for children from four to six
years old. These songs are very mu-
sical, simple, and rather full Of jokes
-"jOkey" as one child said.
Here are the words Of great favor
ite In this collection:
Mister frog came out of the pond one day,
And found himself In the rain,
Said he: I'm get wet, and I may catch
cold
So he jumped in the pond again.
Joy Is the best tonic there Is, and
happiness creates health. The chill
drens 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.
Any mother who has had tie regu-
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 book of bird-calls by Olds |
which is very good. Its title is 'Twen- |
ty-five Bird Songs for Children" and
It is published by G. Schirmer. New
York, for $1.25.
Sing, "Come and be washed" In
stead of saying it. Here is little
.une spontaneously sung by a child \
# six: Something ever, ever, sings"
The little child was right. but the
rouble is, most of us do not listen.
Ask your question in song, mother,
ind soon you will be answered by q
.heerful singing reply.
"Baby, where are your" sung on
simple ascending scale will soon
ring a musical reply from hidden
hid of II am hiding here"
Play softly, sing gently and Listen.
Teach to Follow Tune.
During the day take some familiar
une and swing the rhythm with the
rms. Let the children step It. find-
1g out where the slow and quick steps
ONE. Afterward. have them draw
nes on the blackboard to show this
uration, thus: -. :. :. :.
et them find In which direction the
lne goes. up or down. and make pic
lres of 1t either denoting the direc-
on with sweep of the hands or
rawing a sweeping line on the black ]
oard.
Singing, swinging, stepping and max
Y pitch and duration pictures, the
1iIdren live in music as fish In water
: birds In the air.
II there are quarrels and tears, play
,mething pretty and think the word
armony. See how this Gains the at ?
osphere. The mother l speak OF
,ntrolled her children almost entire :
through the power Of constructive
ought and music. They easily yield
to the word Peace sung gently I
'er and over.
Mothers, II they only knew It, have :
e making Of a new world Of love In I
cir keeping, and music is torch to
1ht them on the way.
To mother who does not know
y music, ! say. ii you can, get some \
e to come for an hour every day 4
sing with your children at twilight.
e to It that the words Of the songs Z
g constructive and beautiful and
,rn to sing little yourself. Every
e can sing o little. X
Join the community chorus and II
ere isn't one, start one. ~
"A singing army is winning army"
singing fnmily il spiritually grow
, family and music the link that
ngs heaven to earth.