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Amanda Foster — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

Approved Guide

How to Handle Teach Children to Sing Step by Step

When teach children to sing leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Teaching the Basics

Practice breathing.

Children need to learn how to breathe properly when singing. Do some breathing exercises so they can understand how to regulate breath while they sing.

Children need to learn how to breathe properly when singing.
Do some breathing exercises so they can understand how to regulate breath while they sing.
Children need to learn how to breathe properly when singing.
Do some breathing exercises so they can understand how to regulate breath while they sing.
Children need to learn how to breathe properly when singing.

Use the note as a base to explore scales.

Once each child has their starting point, you can use this as a basis to explore common beginning scales. Walk them through a basic A/B/C scale, using a recording of scales to help. Start near the child's natural range and have them move up and down the scale as needed.

Once each child has their starting point, you can use this as a basis to explore common beginning scales.
Walk them through a basic A/B/C scale, using a recording of scales to help.
Start near the child's natural range and have them move up and down the scale as needed.
Once each child has their starting point, you can use this as a basis to explore common beginning scales.
Walk them through a basic A/B/C scale, using a recording of scales to help.

Part 2

Teaching with Games and Routines

Illustrate tone and pitch through singing.

If you have a good singing voice, sing to illustrate tone and pitch. If you're teaching children, you can sing songs you're teaching first. If you're a parent, make singing a daily part of your routine. Sing throughout the day and sing your child lullabies each night.

If you have a good singing voice, sing to illustrate tone and pitch.
If you're teaching children, you can sing songs you're teaching first.
If you're a parent, make singing a daily part of your routine.
Sing throughout the day and sing your child lullabies each night.
If you have a good singing voice, sing to illustrate tone and pitch.

Start with simple songs.

You can look up age-appropriate songs online and even purchase song books for various age groups at a local bookstore. Children can benefit from learning simple classics, like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb." These songs have simple words and melodies that teach the basics.

You can look up age-appropriate songs online and even purchase song books for various age groups at a local bookstore.
Children can benefit from learning simple classics, like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb." These songs have simple words and melodies that teach the basics.
You can look up age-appropriate songs online and even purchase song books for various age groups at a local bookstore.
Children can benefit from learning simple classics, like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Mary Had A Little Lamb." These songs have simple words and melodies that teach the basics.
You can look up age-appropriate songs online and even purchase song books for various age groups at a local bookstore.

Play pitch matching games.

Sing a note like "la" and have the children repeat the note to you. Keep singing back and forth until they begin hitting the note. Sing a variety of notes across basic scales. This kind of imitation game helps children learn how to recognize tone and maneuver their voices to match it.

Sing a note like "la" and have the children repeat the note to you.
Keep singing back and forth until they begin hitting the note.
Sing a variety of notes across basic scales.
This kind of imitation game helps children learn how to recognize tone and maneuver their voices to match it.
Sing a note like "la" and have the children repeat the note to you.

Use call and echo songs.

Call and echo songs are songs that involve children responding to prompts from a song's leader. The speaker may repeat the words back exactly or add an embellishment like "La-dee-da." These can be great songs to teach children to sing in tune. Many songbooks for young children contain these types of songs.

Call and echo songs are songs that involve children responding to prompts from a song's leader.
The speaker may repeat the words back exactly or add an embellishment like "La-dee-da." These can be great songs to teach children to sing in tune.
Many songbooks for young children contain these types of songs.
Call and echo songs are songs that involve children responding to prompts from a song's leader.
The speaker may repeat the words back exactly or add an embellishment like "La-dee-da." These can be great songs to teach children to sing in tune.

Have the kids make up songs.

Get a little silly and fun by telling your singing pupils to make up songs themselves. Kids can sing songs about magic worlds, tiresome chores, fantastic eating, and more. You can have them use familiar tunes from classic childhood favorites or make up their own tunes. This is another way to expose children to music regularly, letting them learn about singing naturally throughout their day to day lives.

Get a little silly and fun by telling your singing pupils to make up songs themselves.
Kids can sing songs about magic worlds, tiresome chores, fantastic eating, and more.
You can have them use familiar tunes from classic childhood favorites or make up their own tunes.
This is another way to expose children to music regularly, letting them learn about singing naturally throughout their day to day lives.
Get a little silly and fun by telling your singing pupils to make up songs themselves.

Part 3

Enrolling Children in Classes and Extracurriculars

Enroll the child in extracurriculars involving singing.

Many schools offer extracurriculars for free, so take advantage of this. If the child's school has a choir, encourage the child to enroll. If a child can pick optional classes for a given semester, encourage them to take classes that involve singing.

Many schools offer extracurriculars for free, so take advantage of this.
If the child's school has a choir, encourage the child to enroll.
If a child can pick optional classes for a given semester, encourage them to take classes that involve singing.
Many schools offer extracurriculars for free, so take advantage of this.
If the child's school has a choir, encourage the child to enroll.

Hire a voice teacher.

If it's within your budget, search online for local voice teachers. It can be hard to teach children the technical aspects of singing if you're not professionally trained. A personal voice teacher can be invaluable when it comes to teaching children to sing.

If it's within your budget, search online for local voice teachers.
It can be hard to teach children the technical aspects of singing if you're not professionally trained.
A personal voice teacher can be invaluable when it comes to teaching children to sing.
If it's within your budget, search online for local voice teachers.
It can be hard to teach children the technical aspects of singing if you're not professionally trained.

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