Tonnye Fletcher
  • WELCOME
  • About
  • PBJamz
  • Snippets
  • The WordSmithery
  • Tonnye Speaks
  • Tonnye Writes
  • Tonnye Reads
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Bio/Press kit
  • WELCOME
  • About
  • PBJamz
  • Snippets
  • The WordSmithery
  • Tonnye Speaks
  • Tonnye Writes
  • Tonnye Reads
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Bio/Press kit

Spotlighting
picture books (PB)
with
musical hooks (Jamz)

Picture

PBJamz!

Logo by Allison Strick
Sign up below for PBJamz updates and a periodic newsletter (monthly or less)
​

Series Finale THIS IS MUSIC: VOICE with Rekha Rajan

11/8/2023

4 Comments

 
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

Picture
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
​

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
​

  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
​

  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
​

  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!
​

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

Picture
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

Picture
Rekha's website
Twitter/X
Instagram
​

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!

4 Comments
Shaunda Wenger link
11/10/2023 08:45:01 pm

Congratulations, Rehka! I love the message - your voice is an instrument! Sharing and all best wishes!

Reply
Fallon Farokhi link
11/17/2023 10:44:42 am

Music and storytelling go hand in hand! I have a variety of musical instruments in my school library which delight all whenever they are integrated into the book. Thanks for these tips and writing prompts!

Reply
Jeanne Mullins link
11/17/2023 02:49:28 pm

As a writer and a speech-language pathologist, the notion of voice is near and dear to me. And anyone who uses the phrase "vocal cords" in a sentence; especially in a children's book, is a kindred spirit. You have created a beautiful series.

Reply
Diane McBee
11/30/2023 02:51:58 pm

A friend once told me that as an early childhood teacher I had a song for everything and every situation. I don't sing, play an instrument, or have any training, but she was right. I carry music in my heart. Thank you for sharing how important music. Rehka, I love board books and your book is a gift for children.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    PBJamz

    This page is the official space for PBJamz -- multimedia Jamorama celebrating all things PB (picture books) and Jamz (music), although we'll indulge in the other PBJ snacks where appropriate :-). Join us each Thursday for new content connecting picture books and music!

    Archives

    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly