First Demo Class

My first demo was a huge success! I had four classes - 3 preschool, one pre-K. Oh, it was just lovely. I expected it to work, I expected things to go relatively smoothly. After all, these classes are time-tested. But I had never sung a name song with a group of preschoolers who had never had a song "personalized" for them before.


There were eleven of them sitting in the circle, experiencing varying degrees of shyness. But when I got to each one of them, and sang that child's name in the song, each one got the sweetest little smile, and I was thrilled.

There was one little boy who had come in with his arms crossed over his nametag. He was clearly feeling a little bit sulky...I figured he'd probably been dragged away from a favorite toy or game; of course I didn't take it personally. He was to my left in the circle and I started on the right, so his turn would come at the end. Halfway through the name song, I heard him whisper to his teacher, "This is actually kind of fun." One small victory.

I actually remembered to do the "new" words AND motions to "Tommy Thumb" - or "Thumbs Pointing Up," as I must remember to call it for class. And in a few of the classes - by the time we got to the third and fourth verses, the kids were actually singing with me.

Maybe it's because I'm relatively new at this, but the experience of hearing a child sing a song I taught him or her...it still amazes me. Especially if it's a song I've known for a very long time. I can't explain it, and I'm not sure I really want to try. The sense of wonder is enough, and the deep, sure feeling that comes from spreading music like candlelight.