Wake Up Kids in the Morning on the Right Side of Things Waking up in the morning is tough for a lot of people, not only kids. My three kids have been early risers since they were babies, but that doesn’t mean they always wake with the best of attitudes. Especially as the school year gets along.
Music Activities and Warm-Up Ideas to (Literally) Wake Up Your Class!
Do you have an early morning music class where you can’t seem to get the students alert and focused? Here are some great ideas from NAfME members to help you get your class into a musical frame of mind!
“Shake Down Warm Up – speak 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 while shaking the right hand, then left hand, then right foot, then left foot. Repeat starting from 7 down to 1, next time 6 down to 1, etc. until your last one if simply one share of each!”
“Many mumbling mice, making mighty music in the moonlight, mighty nice!
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C GF ED C”
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C GF ED C”
“To Stop The Train is an easy round for children to learn. It can be found on page 280 of Arvida Steen’s “Exploring Orff: A Teacher’s Guide.” Arvida suggests adding movement to visually enhance the round, although she doesn’t describe any specific gestures.”
Here are some video ideas for rhythmic games, which can be used in all kinds of subjects, not just music!
“A rhythm game where they all to a steady pulse- pad their thighs – clap their hands and click each finger- pad, pad, clap, clap, click click- on the clicks they say their name and a word that starts with the same letter- there could be a theme eg animals/ something from nature – or whatever you like!”
“Another game is- copy rhythms clapped by teacher- except if you hear the rhythm ‘dont clap this one back’ – if you clap then, you are out… You can also nad a rhythm ‘never clap this one back’ so that there are two rhythms not to be clapped back.”
“If they are working with pitch recognition you can play ‘pitch chairs’ – play little five note melodies, and for the lowest note they sit on the floor- one up: sit on knees, one up: sit on chairs – stand- stand on chairs…”
Physical
- Breathe in slowly through the nose. Blow out through the lips like a horse. Do the same again, but do a rolled ‘r’. Finally, try doing both together.
- Chew one, then two, then three imaginary pieces of gum. Swallow the gum!
- Breathe in slowly through the nose. Sigh, louder and louder on each out breath. Add shoulders (hunched on the in-breath, dropped on the out-breath) then knees (bend them on the out-breath).
- Massage your scalp and face with your fingertips. Grin widely, stick out your tongue, then finish with a big yawn.
- With softly-closed fists, gently ‘pummel’ your chest (preferably with an accompanying ‘Tarzan’ noise!), shoulders, tummy, thighs and anything else you can reach.
Vocal
- Hum a major scale to the fifth, using the pattern 1-2-1-3-1-4-1-5-1-4-1-3-1-2-1, and sliding between the notes. Move the starting note up or down by a semitone and repeat. Sing an arpeggio using the pattern 1-3-5-4-2-(7)-1. Sing the pattern twice, first to a legato ‘oo’ then a staccato ‘ah’. Move the starting note up or down by a semitone and repeat.
- Pick a fricative consonant such a ‘v’ and pulse five times on it. Start loud and get softer, or vice versa. Work through other fricative consonants: ‘j’ (as in “vision”), ‘z’, ‘th’ (as in “there”).
- Sing a descending major scale to ‘ninga ninga, ninga ninga, ninga ninga, ning …’ (Breathing halfway through). Move the starting note up or down by a semitone and repeat. Focus on getting plenty of tone in the ‘ng’ sound and keeping the halfway breath quick and silent.
- Start on a single held note to “ah”. Moving only your lips (not your tongue), change the vowel sound to “oh” then “oo” then back again. Then start on “ah” again and, moving only your tongue, change the vowel sound to “eh” then “ee” then back again. Focus on keeping the “ah” space in the mouth and throat and not “pinching” the sound when you change vowels.
“Try singing “den-tal floss is ve-ry good for teeth” while moving up and down from do to sol to do.”
“Create silly word combinations to use while doing triads or single note warmups, like “double bubble gum” or “quadruple double bubble gum,” etc.”
“Have them THINK the pitches of a triad, then have them sing every other note.”
“Have each section solfege the scale, starting at different times, then on the descent have your sop/top voices stay on the tonic, and the others stop at the 6th, 4th, and 2nd respectively, not resolving the chord until cued by you.”
“Possibly, provide a big space for them to move about, and give them something specfic to do….move waving
their arms, crawl, jump, walk and then on cadences have them make a pose. Find simple things for them to do that are related to the music, tossing ball (gently) to a partner, clapping games, folk dances and even drawing. They will op in and out, and sometimes with younger children the more the hear it the better!”
their arms, crawl, jump, walk and then on cadences have them make a pose. Find simple things for them to do that are related to the music, tossing ball (gently) to a partner, clapping games, folk dances and even drawing. They will op in and out, and sometimes with younger children the more the hear it the better!”
“Start by having everyone hiss for 16 seconds. You count down from 16 to one – but instead of saying “one” you say How many made it [raise your hand]? Great! Can you do it from 20? Remember: relax, take a deep breath, and save your air at the beginning – start quietly!” Then give them a chance to take a deep breath, start, and count down from 20 to four, then say “louder, louder, louder” for the last three seconds. Go immediately into the next exercise: Soo-oh-sah-seh-see on do-mi-so-mi-do, moving up by half-steps.”
“Sing the alphabet quickly, using a 5-note scale up and down three times, ending do – si – do on x – y- z. Start slowly nd at a low pitch (the goal is tongue quickness and distinct consonants, not range extension). Sing in the front half-nch of the face (use the tip of the tongue, not the middle).”
“Sing to the enunciators: “Lips, Teeth, Tip-of-the-tongue” so – la – fa-fa-fa-fa, fa – so – mi-mi-mi-mi, mi – fa – re-re-re-re, re – mi – do-do-do-do.”
“”Hoo – oh – oo” is a great singing warm-up that I picked up years ago from a friend who was assistant director for the Seattle Boys Choir and Seattle Girls Choir. She said this was a frequent vocal warm-up exercise to get boys’ voices bridging an octave. I have found it just as useful with girls, and with adults. The “Hoo” is high and open, the “oh” is big and low. Dropping a whole octave really gives you the feeling of the different voice registers.”
“The “Hel-LO” vocal warm-up exercise is one I devised myself (as far as I can remember). I use it when singers have a melody which drops down to Middle C or below for a few notes, causing their voice to thin out and disappear. Young singers who don’t understand how to transition into another register believe they must continue with the head voice on down the scale, where they seem unable to sing with any volume.”
“Then we turn the talking into singing… I turn spoken “LO” into a sustained tone, and now I’m singing it, easy and forward and with a bit of volume, but not pushing. The “LO” sounds and feels different than the higher note, “Hel-“. For now, it’s okay that it is VERY different. Gradually they will learn how to blend the different registers so that high and low notes alike sound as if the same person is singing them! Try it — with this vocal warm-up exercise, every student I’ve ever had has been able to sing the low note with better volume.
As we continue to use the “Hel-LO” over multiple lessons, the singing muscles memorize the feeling of the drop into chest voice, and it becomes easier to switch to it from head voice, and to blend the two.
“The third vocal exercise is pretty new in my studio, but I like it so much I’ve been using it a lot. Kids really get “in touch” with the movement of their larynx as it travels up and down throughout this vocal warm-up.”
Do you have other suggestions? Share them with us below in the comment section!
Kristen Rencher, Senior Manager, Member and Student Programs, February 13, 2015. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)
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Did you know the music you listen to in the morning can influence the rest of your day as well?
Listening to the right kind of music in the morning can help you be more productive, calmer and happier throughout your day.
50 Positive Songs to Wake Up to
The following is our hand picked collection of 50 best songs with positive lyrics to wake up to. These songs will put you in a good mood, raise your vibration, and fill you with positive energy first thing in the morning.
1. Blessed – Martina McBride
Perfect way to start your day is to offer gratitude and this song helps you do just that.
Positive lyric: “I have been blessed, and I feel like I’ve found my way. I thank God for all I’ve been given at the end of every day. I have been blessed with so much more than I deserve, to be here with the ones, that love me, I have been blessed”.
2. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
This song by Bill Withers is the perfect morning anthem.
Positive lyric: “I look at you and the world’s alright with me. Just one look at you and I know it’s gonna be a lovely day, a lovely day“.
3. Feeling Good – Michael Buble
Nice slow tempo, powerful vocals and magical beats. Perfect classic song for that early morning wake up call.
Positive lyric: “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me, and I’m feeling good, I’m feeling good“.
4. Good Morning Beautiful – Steve Holy
Nice, slow, melodious track for a relaxing start to your day.
Positive lyric: “Good morning, beautiful, how was your night? Mine was wonderful with you by my side. And when I open my eyes to see your sweet face, it’s a good morning, beautiful day.”
5. Rise Up – Yves LaRock
Energetic number with peppy beats and a positive message.
Positive lyric: “Rise Up, don’t fall down again. My dream is to fly, over the rainbow, so high“.
6. It’s my life – Bon Jovi
Highly motivating and energetic song from Bon Jovi. Will get you all pumped up to face the day.
Positive lyric: “It’s my life, it’s now or never; I ain’t gonna live forever; I just want to live while I’m alive“.
7. Good Life – OneRepublic
Positive lyrics and energetic beats of this song will make you feel happy and optimistic.
Positive lyric: “Oh, this has gotta be the good life, a good, good life“.
8. This Year – Chantal Kreviazuk
This song doubles as a positive affirmation because of its amazing lyrics and underlying positive message.
Positive lyric: “This year, is gonna be incredible, this year, is gonna be the one. All the planets are lining up for me, this year, I’m gonna have fun“.
9. Here Comes the Sun – Beetles
Fun, light hearted song with lots of positive energy.
Positive lyric: “Here comes the sun, and I say, It’s all right“.
10. Sun Child – The Vines
‘Sun Child’ has a nice relaxed vibe to it and will put your mind at ease as you wake up.
Positive lyric: “Sun child, You’re a sun child, Awoken by the spirit of the day“.
11. Skyscraper – Demi Lovato
Highly motivating number to give you a boost of self confidence and motivation first thing in the morning.
Positive lyrics: “Go on and tear me down, I will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper”.
12. Perfect Day – Hoku
‘Perfect day’, is a fun, cheerful number with peppy beats and positive lyrics.
Positive lyric: “On this perfect day, nothing’s standing in my way, on this perfect day, nothing can go wrong“.
13. Martina McBride – Ride
Nice upbeat number with encouraging lyrics to start off your mornings on a positive note.
Positive lyric: “Shine while you have the chance to shine, laugh even when you want to cry, hold on tight to what you feel inside and ride“.
14. Pocket Full of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield
Upbeat number with lively beats and empowering lyrics.
Positive lyric: “I got a pocketful of sunshine, I got a love and I know that it’s all mine“.
15. Upside Down – Jack Johnson
A lively track with refreshing music and positive lyrics.
Positive lyric: “I want to turn the whole thing upside down, I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found, I’ll share this love I find with everyone, We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away“.
I don’t want this feeling to go away“.
Also Read:50 Quotes On The Healing Power Of Music
16. What a Beautiful Day – Chris Cagle
A mellow feel good country song with beautiful lyrics and great vocals.
Positive lyric: “Oh what a feeling, what a wonderful emotion, yeah, what a life. Counting my blessings and knowing, oh we had our ups and downs, all along the way. She had a chance to leave but chose to stay. What a beautiful day“.
17. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
This relaxed number by Bob Marley will infuse you with positivity as you wake up in the morning. There is also a remastered version of this song by Maroon 5 which you can find here.
Positive lyric: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be alright”.
18. Ace of Base – Beautiful Life
Really peppy number with positive hook – it’s a beautiful life.
Positive lyric: “You can do what you want, just seize the day. Don’t you ever consider giving up. It’s a beautiful life“.
19. Walking On Sunshine – Kartina & The Waves
This song has a lovely hook – I am walking on sunshine, that will infuse you with positivity.
20. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
A relaxed soulful number that will make you feel good and look forward to the day.
Positive lyrics: “There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the years.
So bring your good times, and your laughter too. We gonna celebrate your party with you“.
So bring your good times, and your laughter too. We gonna celebrate your party with you“.
21. Alright – Supergrass
A light hearted song with some really nice and uplifting beats.
Positive lyric: “But we are young, we run green, keep our teeth nice and clean, see our friends, see the sights, feel alright“.
22. I am Alive – Celion Dion
A positive message mixed with the powerful vocals of Celion Dion.
Positive lyric: “When you call on me, when I hear you breath, I get wings to fly, I feel that I’m alive, I am alive”.
23. Hanson – Mmm Bop
Something about this classic song that makes you feel really good.
Positive lyric: “Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose, you can plant any one of those, keep planting to find out which one grows. It’s a secret no one knows, It’s a secret no one knows“.
24. What a feeling – Irene Cara
Irene’s vocals are really uplifting and so are the lyrics of this retro number.
Positive lyric: “Take your passion, and make it happen, pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life“.
25. Staying Alive – Bee Gees
Just a light hearted number from the Bee Gees that is sure to put you in a positive frame of mind.
26. Owl City – Shooting Star
Another lovely song from Owl City with some really powerful lyrics for that early morning positivity.
Positive lyric: “Fill the darkest night, with a brilliant light, ‘Cause it’s time for you to shine. Brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are“.
27. I am alive – Electric Light Orchestra
This song literally makes you feel alive to take on your day.
Positive lyric: “I’m alive – and the dawn breaks across the sky. I’m alive – and the sun rises up so high“.
28. The Animal Song – Savage Garden
The vocals of this song are amazing, the beats are energetic and the lyrics are refreshing.
Positive lyric: “Cause I want to live like animals, careless and free, like animals. I want to live, I want to run through the jungle with wind in my hair and the sand at my feet“.
29. Coldplay – Adventure Of A Lifetime
Mostly an instrumental that generates positive vibes
Positive lyric: “I feel my heart beating, oh, you make me feel like I’m alive again“.
30. Good Time (2012) (Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen)
This song will instantly put you in a good mood.
Positive lyric: “We don’t even have to try, it’s always a good time“.
31. Brave by Sara Bareilles
Great song for that early morning confidence shot.
Positive lyric: “Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out. Honestly I wanna see you be brave“.
32. Up! Shania Twain
Nice catchy music with optimistic lyrics that will put you in a good mood.
Positive lyric: “Up, up, up, can only go up from here. Up, up, where the clouds gonna clear. Up, up, there’s no way but up from here“.
33. Happy by Pharrell Williams
This song lives up to its name and it will leave you feeling happy and optimistic.
Positive lyric: “Can’t nothing bring me down. My level is too high to bring me down”
34. Coldplay – A Sky Full Of Stars
This song by Coldplay has a really positive vibe to it. The tunes are ethereal and will uplift your mood instantly.
Positive chorus: “Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars. I’m gonna give you my heart“.
35. Mr Blue Sky
This song is like the epitome of optimism, right from the catchy beats to the lovely vocals and uplifting lyrics.
Positive lyric: “Sun is shinin’ in the sky, there ain’t a cloud in sight, it’s stopped rainin’ everybody’s in a play and don’t you know, it’s a beautiful new day“.
36. Jump – Van Halen
Positive lyric: “I get up, and nothin’ gets me down. You got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around. And I know, baby, just how you feel. You got to roll with the punches and get to what’s real“.
37. All Star – Smash mouth
Nice peppy number with encouraging lyrics that will inspire you to take on the day.
Positive lyric: “Hey now, you’re an all-star, get your game on, go play. Hey now, you’re a rock star, get the show on, get paid”.
38. This Is the Day – The The
A nice upbeat song that will put you into an optimistic mood.
Positive lyric: “This is the day, your life will surely change. This is the day, when things fall into place“.
39. Oliver – Good Morning Starshine
A great mood lifter with some nice positive lyrics and catchy beats.
Positive lyric: “Good morning starshine, the earth says “hello”. You twinkle above us, we twinkle below. Good morning starshine you lead us along. My love and me as we sing our early morning singing song“.
40. Chris Montez – Let’s Dance (1962)
A fun light hearted retro number that will make you shake a leg.
Positive lyric: “But let’s dance, well let’s dance. We’ll do the twist, the stomp, the mashed potato too. Any old dance that you wanna do. But let’s dance, well let’s dance“.
41. I am a believer – Smash Mouth
Nice beats and a positive message.
Positive lyric: “Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer. Not a trace, of doubt in my mind. I’m in love, and I’m a believer“.
42. Best Years of our Lives – Baha men
A fun energetic track with positive lyrics.
Positive lyric: “Oh, makes me want to dance. Oh, it’s a new romance. Oh, I look into your eyes. Oh, the best years of our lives!”
43. Love Generation – Bob Sinclar
This song is all about feeling love within not only for others but also for yourself. The song has a nice relaxing vibe to it coupled with beautiful vocals.
Positive lyric: “Just look to the rainbow, you will see, Sun will shine ’till eternity. I’ve got so much love in my heart. No one can tear it apart“.
44. Let Your Love Flow – Bellamy Brothers
Positive lyric: “And let your love show, and you’ll know what I mean. Let your love fly, like a bird on the wing and let your love bind you, to all living things. And let your love shine. And you’ll know what I mean“.
45. Up Up and Away – Kid Cudi
A fun track with a positive message to do your thing and not care about what people think.
Positive lyric: “I’ll be up up and away, up up and away, cause they gon’ judge me anyway so whatever“.
46. The Walker – Fitz and the Tantrums
A high spirited song with catchy tunes and uplifting lyrics.
47. Sheryl Crow – Soak Up The Sun
Nice friendly song with a positive outlook and relaxing vocals from Sheryl.
Positive lyric: “I’m gonna soak up the sun, I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up. I’ve got no one to blame, for every time I feel lame, I’m looking up. I’m gonna soak up the sun“.
48. One More Time – Daft Punk
Peppy number that will put you in the right mood to face the day.
Positive lyric: “One more time we’re gonna celebrate, Oh yeah, all right, don’t stop the dancing“.
49. Sun is Up – Inna
A fun mellow track to start your mornings.
Positive lyric: “Everybody come on and get in the rhythm, music will take you high“.
50. Today My Life Begins – Bruno Mars
Inspirational mellow song by Bruno Mars with a powerful message to to let go of the past and be optimistic about the future.
Positive lyric – “I will break these chains that bind me, happiness will find me, leave the past behind, today my life begins. A whole new world is waiting, it’s mine for the taking, I know I can make it, today my life begins.”
Choosing songs that work for you
Below are some of the things you should consider when choosing good wake up songs.
Tempo
What kind of tempo works best for you will depend on the individual and what part of the morning you’re listening to the song.
Some people like a fast paced tune right from the start to really jump start them to alertness. Many find this a little too abrasive for their systems and prefer a slower tempo song to slowly bring them into an awakened state.
Later in the morning, fast tempo songs can get you pumped for your morning workout or focused as you head to work.
Genre
The majority of people prefer to wake up to their favorite genre, but some find that jazz, new age or nature sounds are particularly good early in the morning. Pay attention to what emotions and mental states various genres invoke in you.
In the initial part of the morning it is great to choose genres that instill a sense of calm. For later in the morning it is nice to switch to something that makes you feel confident, happy and ready to take on the world.
Tone
Music can dramatically alter your moods, so it is important to choose morning songs that create the mood you want to achieve.
If the tone of the song is aggressive or dramatic, your mindset will adjust accordingly. Whereas if the tone is encouraging, funny or just plain fun, then that is where your mindset will fall.
Your agenda for the day will determine which is best.
Lyrics
Some people prefer instrumental music in the morning, while others think the lyrics make the song and rarely listen to a song without them. Many songs tone and lyrics are in agreement, but some have an upbeat tone and more negative lyrics.
If you are someone who likes lyrics but doesn’t listen to the words, then this doesn’t affect you much. But if you’re someone who listens to what the lyrics say, then you should consider how this conflict of tone affects you.