This tip sheet, developed in conjunction with MacPhail Center for Music and the University of Minnesota, introduces how music in the classroom can be used to support emotion regulation and …
The Benefits of Music Integration to Emotion Regulation Development in Young Children
Engaging in Musical Play with Young Children
This Tip Sheet, developed in conjunction with MacPhail Center for Music and the University of Minnesota, gives ideas for using music in the classroom to help with emotional regulation and …
Next Steps for Ages 3 & Up in Sing Play Learn with MacPhail®
What’s next? If you are wondering what steps to take next, here are a few class offerings to continue your child’s musical exploration.
Parenting Pickup with Dianna Babcock
Dianna Babcock, Director of Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® and host Cara Johnson-Bader of New Horizon Academy talk about why music is essential in a child’s life.
Sing Play Learn: Crossing the Midline
Bailey Cook teaches a movement-based activity using The Syncopated Clock by Leroy Anderson. This activity is a wonderful movement activity to practice what we call “crossing the mid-line”.
Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® Apple Picking Activity
Join Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teacher Cari Gregerson in this apple picking activity for you and your little one!
Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Learning about contrasts helps prepare children to think about details, sort and classify objects, and promotes organizational skills!
What do you do with babies?
Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® Director Dianna Babcock explains how music is an amazing teaching tool for brain development.
Sing Play Learn: If You’re Happy and You Know It…
Check out this short 5-minute video using “If You’re Happy and You Know It” to teach your little one emotional intelligence from Sing Play Learn with MacPhail© teaching artist Amanda …
Sing, Play, Learn with MacPhail®: The Finger Family
A well-known song in our SPL curriculum is Finger Family. This song is fun to do with children at many ages and stages of development. There are several areas of …
Teaching BIG Feelings to Little People Using Music and Literacy
Learn why Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teachers do what they do. There’s an end goal- getting our children ready for school.
Sing, Play, Learn with MacPhail®: My Auntie Anna Plays the Piano
SPL Teaching Artist, Sarah Hruska Olson, is sharing a fun hand clap activity that promotes steady beat, tempo changes, and hand/eye coordination. Learn with her as she teaches a folk rhyme from Australia, My Auntie Anna Plays the Piano.
Sing, Play, Learn: Why We Do What We Do
Learn why Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teachers do what they do. There’s an end goal- getting our children ready for school.
A Winter Wonderland Scavenger Hunt
This winter scavenger hunt will encourage venturing outside and listening for musical concepts in the environment!
Suzuki Talent Education: a “mother tongue” approach to teaching children music
Download Full Article Here How does a child learn a native language? Nurturing adults speak to (and around) the child from the moment of birth, naturally repeating the words and …
Five Minutes of Music
Cozy Relaxation for Children Grab a cozy pillow or blanket and join Teacher Stacy from SPL for Five Minutes of Music to practice some mindfulness techniques with your child. Taking a few …
What is Suzuki Stars in Sing Play Learn with MacPhail®?
Early Childhood Vocal Exploration Activity
Why is vocal exploration important? Vocal exploration helps children find their singing voices and learn how to better control them. It is a vital part of early childhood music-making. Try …
Songwriting Activity at Home with Adam Marshall
Does your child make up songs at home? Join us in taking your child’s songwriting skills to another level. Students will create lyrics from familiar tunes, compose new music, venture …
FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERTS
SUMMER 2022
Keep the music alive in your family by attending some FREE family-friendly concerts this summer. This year, MacPhail featured some outstanding groups at our Free Family Concerts; The Bazillions, The …
Hooray for Birds
with Cari Gregerson Join Sing Play Learn faculty member Cari Gregerson for an interactive reading about birds that will get your children singing and dancing! 0:00 Intro and Hello Song …
You Are A Gift
with Stacy Canino Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teacher, Stacy Canino performing, discussing, and providing ideas for how to use the song You Are a Gift, which Stacy herself wrote. …
Singable Books!
Combining music and reading creates an incredible experience that uses every part of the brain! Learn how with this video from Sing Play Learn teacher Ivory Doublette.
Early Risers Podcast from Little Moments Count and Minnesota Public Radio
Early Risers Podcast George Floyd’s death was a tragedy and a wakeup call — expanding a global conversation about race and racism. And young children have been watching it all. …
How to Make a Monolin at Home
How to make a Monolin (single-stringed instrument) at home. Items needed: Large Milk or Juice Carton (one with a screw top works best and can act as a sound hole) Fishing …
The Story of a Young Boy and His Ukulele
During the pandemic, as was the case with so many children, one of our young students (we will call him O) missed starting pre-kindergarten. O spent weekdays with his grandparents …
Alternatives to Problematic Children’s Songs
The Sing Play Learn department at MacPhail Center for Music has been busy revamping parts of our curricula for the last couple of years. Our goal was to research the origins of the songs …
Sing Play Learn Podcast – Alternatives to Problematic Children’s Songs
Learn about the new songs that have been added to the Sing Play Learn classes in this podcast with Cari Gregerson, Amanda Breininger, and Erika Bennett.
Executive Functioning and the Role of Music
Executive Functioning is a term that describes a set of mental skills which includes: Working memory. Flexibility in thinking. Self-control, or impulse control. As children develop so do their executive functioning skills, however, sometimes …
Next Steps
As the summer Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® classes have come to a close, you might be wondering what next? If you are, you are not alone; we have created this guide to aid you in your next …
Nature Walk with Music
Join Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teachers Cari and Jane at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and have fun singing about bee, birds, butterflies, bugs, and more!
Sing Play Learn Podcast – Sleep Hygiene
Sleep Hygiene is a set of habits that will help establish healthy sleep. Learn more in this podcast with Jane Tate and Cari Gregerson.
Preparing for Sleep and the Role of Music
Sleep is one of the most talked about topics for young children. We live in a society that tends to be sleep deprived. Around 25% of young children have sleep problems. …
Sing Play Learn Podcast – Children’s Books About Inclusivity
Podcast by Jane Tate and Cari Gregerson featuring Adam Marshall, Ivory Doublette, Stacy Canino
Springtime Fun with Music
Now that the weather is warming up, the outdoors are coming alive with music. There is music all around you! What do you hear when you go outside? Listen for birds singing their …
Hello Song in Mandarin
Let’s sing a “Hello Song” in Mandarin with Music Therapist, Yuffie Hu!
Sing Play Learn Podcast – School Readiness
Children and Separation Anxiety
Children and Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is something that most, if not all, children experience at some point in their lives. There are a wide range of symptoms may manifest at different stages of development. Mostly, …
How to Make Maracas at Home
It is believed that the Maracas originated from the Tainos, Native Indians of Puerto Rico. Learn how to make your own Maracas with the help of Sing Play Learn! with …
How did music education adapt to the pandemic?
MPR News with Angela Davis – How did music education adapt to the pandemic? MacPhail teaching artist Ivory Doublette was a guest on Angela Davis’ show on MPR on April …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Musical Games/Creativity Play
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: What Can Become an Instrument
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Explore New Music
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Sing
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Utility Songs
Help make your child’s day go more smoothly with these Utility Songs taught by Jane Tate.
Three Easy Ways to Beat Cabin Fever with Music
Simple musical activities to use at home with your kids. Music is fun, engaging and can motivate even the most stir-crazy kids. You don’t have to have any musical training …
Music And Toddler Development
Join our guests from MacPhail Center for Music, Early Childhood Music Educators, Jane Tate, and Cari Gregerson as we discuss the developmental pathway of toddlers and how music can help …
Sing Play Learn with MacPhail Playlist
Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® Teaching Artist Lisa Wasilowski shares a playlist for fun family time.
The Music and Learning Connection
Listen as podcast guests Dianna Babcock and Jane Tate of MacPhail Center for Music discuss the evidence that music does have a positive impact on a young child’s executive functioning …
Sing Play Learn Podcast – Babies
Talking About Race
What we believe and how we talk about race is of the utmost importance. The National Museum of African American History & Culture asks How do we teach such challenging subject …
Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books
Representation matters – it’s important and affirming for kids to see characters who look like them and the people in their families in the books they read. It’s equally important …
Benefits of Music on Children’s Development
Listen as Priscilla Weigel and her guest Dianna Babcock of MacPhail Center for Music chat about the way music can enhance learning. They discuss the benefits music has on a …
Music and Infant Development
Join our guests from MacPhail Center for Music, Early Childhood Music Educators, Jane Tate and Cari Gregerson as we discuss the developmental pathway of infants and how music can help …
Playing with Music at Home
Music making doesn’t need to be formal at all times – it’s easy to incorporate music into the daily routines with your child, in fact, you may find you already …
Support Math Readiness Through Music
The teachers in our Sing, Play, Learn! with MacPhail® department know that music class isn’t just fun and play. Music learning can build a child’s math skills. Check out this …
Let’s Make a Rainstick
Rain…rain…go away! Or, make it stay and make a rainstick with materials you have at home. Teacher Cari is here to show you how.
Let’s Make Egg Shakers
Egg shakers are popular in our Sing, Play, Learn! with MacPhail® classes. Teacher Cari shows you how to make your own!