Wendy Zieve


Board certified music therapist with a private practice in Shoreline WA serving children with autism and other developmental delays. She gives in-services to music educators on effective ways to reach and teach their students with special needs and also provides programs for schools, parks and recreation, and daycamps.
contact:   wzieve@frontier.com
website:  www.wendyzieve.com

 

What role does music play in your work?
"Music therapy is my training, which is the evidence-based profession of using
music as a tool to address motor, communication, cognitive, affective and
social domains.

See
www.musictherapy.org "

 

 

 


What is the one thing you want people to know about singing with young children?
"The singing voice is a very nurturing thing. It can stimulate and activate at the
same time! There is no better tool for connection, learning and therapy.
"


1. Sally Go Round the Sun

About the Song: There is a delightful pause before the word “BOOM” or “WHEE” and the child will begin to anticipate with pleasure that the surprise is coming! On “boom” can be a gesture, a squeeze, an instrument noise, a movement. You can teach the children about what a chimney pot is.

Personal Comment: Just have fun with this! How children respond, why it’s fun. This is what will make people want to use this song!

2. Oh, John the Rabbit

About the Song: There is the opportunity in this song to feel a repetitive pattern, the phrase ends with “Oh Yes” or “Yes, Mam” depending on your version. That “Oh Yes” rhythm pattern can be clapped, patted, played on an
instrument, and certainly sung immediately. There is an entire story about a
farmer who has a rabbit bothering him by eating his vegetables. You can
substitute names of any vegetables you want and find pictures of them.

Personal Comment: "OH YES" can be communicated in sign language.

3. What’ll We Do with the Baby-O

About the Song:  A game that can be played with this song is to have a blanket that is wrapped around the child who is “IT” and then that child walks in the middle of the circle and wraps it around a child of his/her choosing.

Personal Comment: Wrapping it tightly is an effective sensory integration
experience for some children with processing disorder.


4. Today is Monday

About the Song Plastic food toys or pictures of food can be selected by the
children to go with the days of the week. Echoing phrases is a fun – but in this song it would involve asking the question, “Did you bring?” and answering it with “Yes I brought ______”

Personal Comment: It is fun to know the history of this song – is was sung by soldiers in WWI with the limited foods they were offered.

5. Allison's Camel
About the Song: A good song for introducing subtraction. There is a predictable rhythm pattern on the BOOM BOOM BOOM and also where the number of humps is sung, that can be tapped, played on a rhythm instrument, communicated with sign language, and picked up easily for singing.

Personal Comment: Children love this song! A fun visual can be made with humps that can be folded back, so children can see how numbers get smaller.