BABY LET'S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA w/Janna Matthies

A Multi-Layered Convo with Janna Matthies

Join Janna and me as we chat about her latest book and discuss musical things, writerly things and teacherly things! This book is so full of goodness and so is this conversation! We talk about the importance of the illustrator and what it means to "leave room for the illustrator", chat about various ways to integrate this book into instruction, and music weaves its way throughout the conversation. This chat literally has something for everyone! Whether you are parent, teacher, writer, preschool teacher, daycare provider, etc., you will find something useful here!

BABY LET'S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA

This book is a lovely introduction to orchestral instruments and attending a concert along with various musical concepts!  It's perfect for our youngest musicians!  The illustrations are absolutely adorable -- and integral to the story!  The text is one that caregivers, parents, and teachers will enjoy reading on repeat! You and your kiddos/students will love this one!

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)
​

This is a fun little ditty that also introduces some of the instruments of the orchestra.  If this one isn't your jam, there are quite a few more on the playlist below in the links section.

​Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

Since this book is for our youngest musicians in training (toddlers - preschool), my tips will focus on that. Of course, if you are in a primary grade, the book would work equally well there as there are some fun literary devices and comprehension activities you could do. And the musical content would still be appropriate -- especially if it's a rural school or high poverty level where kids don't have a lot of access to instruments and these concepts may be new.  Having said that, the illustrations will definitely have a lot of appeal for toddlers/preschool age and the draw will lessen as children age.

First of all, it is important to note that repeat readings are key for kids of this age.  Also, as those of you teaching/working with them know well, their attention span is very short.  So, keep that in mind.  I would read aloud and focus on probably one of these things. The next reading I would focus on a different activity.  You could easily do daily lessons for a week on this book for this age.

If you are a parent/caregiver wanting to use this book and get some extra educational mileage out of it, I would suggest similarly that you choose one - two concepts to focus on with subsequent readings. 

I also have to say that this book in particular lends itself to a gift-giving set/basket/etc.-- Think of pairing this book with a little blanket stuffie, a fun magic wand/conductor's baton and perhaps one of the other toys in the book. What an absolutely precious gift that would make!

Layers and tips/follow-up activities.
Alliteration: Some of the spreads have lots of alliterative activities. These are fun to read aloud, fun to identify the repeated sound. You could even chant them, adding rhythm, etc.  

Rhyme: Read, listen for the rhyming words. Play around with the rhymes -- find new words that rhyme.  If your child is writing-ready, then have them copy the write the words.  There are some fun word family activities on Pinterest that you could download, create, and use to go along as well.

Onomatopoeia: Kids love onomatopoeia!  Play around with this idea of words for sounds. If you focus on this, you might pull out the old See'n'Say or play the song, "What Does the Fox Say" or "Who Let the Dogs Out" or "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" etc.

​​Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

For music teachers (in the preschool/daycare/early homeschool/kindergarten space mostly)

As the book beautifully introduces each instrument, be sure to use and focus on the embedded vocabulary.  Call-and-response is effective.
Ie. "This is a conductor. What is it?" -- (students: conductor) or something like that works well.  Playing little matching games (two pictures of same instrument or if kids are reading, the instrument and name matching)  If you have access to these instruments or someone could come in to play, that would be ideal.  But either way, be sure to use Janna's playlist in the links section to reinforce the sounds.
Musical vocabulary: 
Conductor
Baton
Violin
Strings
Bow
Viola
Cello
Trumpet
Tuba
Flute
Clarinet
Keys
Kettledrums (Tympani)
Cymbals

Conductor
In the interview, Janna and I talk a lot about conducting and how kids perceive that. It would be fun to give each student their own conducting baton (chopstick or craft stick with a star on the end [to match the one in the book].) Practice counting 1,2,3,4 and teach littles that 1=downbeat (bottom). then left-right for 2-3 and top for 4; repeat.  You're reinforcing math/counting skills, one-one correspondence and crossing the midline, as well as improving large motor skills. This is also a repeating pattern, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck with the conducting piece too.

Names/verbs-to-nouns
Whether you do this in spoken form (or written for more advanced students), one thing students struggle with is different forms of words.  Ie.  She is a conductOR She conductS. Now you can conduct. We are conducting. etc.
Violin-violinist
Cello- cellist
Trumpet -- trumpeter
etc. 
Play around with the various forms of the vocabulary words and help kids get used to hearing (and saying) different forms of the word and that they are relative.

 Concert etiquette
Several places the book mentions etiquette for listening to live music, so this is a great conversation for littles (and olders)
When do we clap?
How do we listen?
Should we talk or play during the music?
etc.
​Why do they bow?

Pitch (Concept of high/low)
​It's mentioned several times in the text, so this is a great time to introduce littles to the concepts of high and low. Play the instrument snippets and whether they sound high or low. If kids are ready you can talk about the characteristics of each instrument that makes them sound low or high.

​​Writing Prompts from Tonnye

While this book is focused for littles, my writing prompts are for all ages.  For your non-writers, you could use some of these for them to draw rather than write or they can tell you their response and you could write it down for them -- increasing the idea that they have a voice and there are many ways they can use it.
These prompts are great for the kidlit community as well as students ;-)

1. Write about a special toy (you had -- or it doesn't have to be) that played an instrument. Which instrument? Challenges?
2. Which instrument from the book is your favorite and why?
3. What was your favorite stuffie/toy from childhood and why?
4. Write a story about an orchestra of instruments played by toys. How is yours the same as this one? How is it different?
5. Write about the first time you went to a live concert.
6. Write an acrostic poem entitled "Orchestra".
7. Write a diamante or a cinquain poem moving from flute to tuba.
8. Do you prefer fast music or slow? Why?
9. Do you prefer instruments that play high or play low?
10. Write your own rhyming story or poem about a xylophone played by an octopus.
11. Look at the picture of the giraffe playing the clarinet. What is their name and how did they come to play the clarinet. Write the back story.
12. Write a letter to the author and/or the illustrator telling them what you like and what you wish was different about the book.
13. Draw a picture of another toy playing an instrument. Write their story.
14. Write a report about one of the instruments in the book.
15. The character's name is Penelope. What is her story? What instrument does she play?
16. Write the sequel to this story, BABY, LET'S GO TO A CHRISTMAS CONCERT.

Writing Tips from Janna

1) READ, READ, READ books in the genre you want to write--picture book, middle grade, poetry, YA. Use the ones you love as "mentor texts," studying them to learn how they do it successfully. Then write, revise, receive critiques...REPEAT! 

2) Scour the most recent CHILDREN'S WRITER'S AND ILLUSTRATOR'S MARKET guide book, in print or digitally, to better understand the industry, your genre, the craft of writing, what editors and agents are looking for, how to find an agent, how to submit queries. It includes indexes by subject matter at the rear, full of publishing info. 

3) Join the SCBWI (pro organization for the children's publishing industry). Read the website thoroughly and find a local critique group via your region's chapter. SCBWI conferences offer great learning and networking, chances to meet agents and editors and to register in advance for a paid critique.

4) Regarding finding an agent, check out manuscript wish lists on twitter at #MSWL as well as www.manuscriptwishlist.com, where editors and agents show what they want in general. ​

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist full of songs and informational videos, as well as orchestral pieces perfect for little ears, and more!

Spotify playlist that Janna curated to accompany the book (mentioned in the interview.)

Pinterest board with teaching activities, other book and music recommendations, crafts, and more!

Guest Links and Giveaway

Janna's website


Janna's Instagram

Janna's Facebook

Janna's Goodreads 
​ (You can get purchase links for any of her books on this page)

Janna would love to visit your school virtually to do a presentation for BABY LET'S GO TO THE ORCHESTRA! If you're interested in a school visit with her, please simply leave a comment below, and you will automatically entered to win! 

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