Series Finale THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE with Rekha Rajan

Congratulations Shaunda and Jany!  You are the winners of YELLOW DOG BLUES by Alice Faye Duncan!  Thanks Alice for your generosity, and thank you Shaunda and Jany for supporting PBJamz!

Around the world through Music with Rekha

Rekha Rajan and I chat about the fourth and final book in her board book series THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE. Our conversation runs from her inspiration and process for this book and the series, to marketing and the power of music in so many areas. We talk about representation and multiculturalism, and tons more! It's always a delight to talk with Rekha, and these books are the perfect gift for your young musical reader as the holidays approach.

THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE by Rekha Rajan

The fourth and final installment of Rekha Rajan's board book series focuses on Voice, and like the others, this small but mighty book packs a powerful punch for the young musician in your life.  While it is a board book, don't be fooled. It is chock full of musical content and vocabulary for your young musicians.  Featuring vibrant and familiar illustrations by Tania Yakunova, the entire series is colorful, informative, musical, fun, and interactive. This set of four books would make a great gift for the young soon-to-be-reader, preschool music-lover, teacher, parent, or more. 

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

One of the things Rekha and I point out in our conversation is that Tania included sign language in the illustration of the chorus.  This song is literally about singing, which is a perfect tie-in for VOICE, but it also is fabulous for helping kids identify/recognize colors.  Colors are super-easy to sign in ASL. Here's one example.  This is a lovely way to bring some of these ideas together. 

Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics
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Perfect science tie-in:
How does our voice work?  You could do the simplest version of this where students touch their throat gently to feel their vocal cords vibrate and talk about vibrations creating sound or you could get much more technical for older students.  Check out the links section for some resources.

Social Studies:

• What does it mean to "use your voice" or "lose your voice" for a social/cultural/ political/educational cause?  Discuss the differences in a literal interpretation of your voice and the more figurative interpretation.
• Discuss how some historic figures used their voice for change.
• Do deaf people have a voice? Does a voice have to be audible?  How can people without an audible voice have their voice heard?

Companion reads:
DECIBELLA AND HER 6-INCH VOICE

​Sign language

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers
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1. Different styles of using your voice to make music:
   1. Opera
   2. Rap
   3. Yodeling
2. How the voice works
3. How to care for your voice appropriately
4. Vocal warm-ups
5. A cappela  (singing without the use of musical instruments)
   1. Various a capella groups:
      1. Pentatonix
      2. HomeFree
      3. VoicePlay
6. Solfege/vocal scale singing
7. Comparison between Indian solfege and western solfege (syllabic note singing)
8. Vocal exploration exercises (check the YouTube playlist in the links section)
9. Different vocal ranges: soprano, alto, tenor, bass, etc.
10. Pitch
11. Mouth shapes/vocalizations/etc. (partner with speech therapist/reading teachers

Writing Prompts from Tonnye
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1. Write about using your voice
2. Write a poem titled "My Voice"
3. Does everyone's voice matter?  Why? How can we make sure every voice is heard?
4. I can use my voice for _______________ (good, change, helping, kindness, etc.) Fill in the blank and then give good details and examples.
5. Write a story titled, "The Singer Who Lost Their Voice"
6. What would you do if you woke up one day without a voice?
7. Write a funny story about a bear with a mouse's voice.
8. If I woke up with the voice of an animal, I would want the voice of a _______ because ______. (Add lots of details. What would be good, hard, scary, exciting . . . if you switched voices with that animal.)
9. Title: When Ant Found His Voice
10. Would you rather use your voice for opera, rap, yodeling or another style of singing?  Why?
11. Write a step-by-step plan for taking care of your voice.
12.  Would you rather?  Have the voice of a dolphin or a dragon? Why?
13. Write about a historical person who used their voice to change the world.
14. Write about a deaf person who discovers their "voice" and learns to make a difference without an audible voice.
15. Write about a great big animal with a teeny tiny voice OR write about a teeny tiny animal with a great big voice. What if they were best friends? Write that story.

Writing Tips from Rekha
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1. Read the types of books you want to write. When I was working on a nonfiction, picture book biography, I read as many as I could.
2. Find time to write everyday - even if it is just one paragraph.
3. Step away from your projects. We get so invested in what we write that sometimes, leaving them for a day or week helps to read with new eyes.
4. Don't give up!

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!
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YouTube playlist with vocal exercises, fun songs, solfege, voice care tips and more!

Pinterest boardpin.it/KXPs5pI with lots of teaching tips and ideas, voice care, vocal exercises, information about how the voice works, etc.

PBJamz Snack

While Rekha and I were chatting, she shared that she ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day for lunch for years.  Now that her palate is more refined ;-), I'm thinking this peanut butter and jelly sandwich would be right up her alley now. It's more of an idea and a technique that you could personalize with your favorite bread, your favorite jam/jelly, your favorite nut butter, etc. and then apply this technique.  Bring on the Boysenberry jam, Rekha, and give this  a try :-) 

Guest Links and Giveaways

Rekha's website
Twitter/X
Instagram
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To buy THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE

Rekha is offering a TRIPLE giveaway for this episode!!!  Comment below for your chance to win:
1. A PB critique (subject to Rekha's exclusions on word count, etc.)
2. A signed copy of THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE
3. A virtual OR in-person school visit with Rekha!

Three winners will be chosen! Leave us a comment to be entered!