Have you ever tried to explain the concept of legato using words and gotten blank stares in return? I am often comparing legato to spreading smooth peanut butter (not crunchy), a swan floating on the water, or simply saying “legato means smooth and connected”. But most kids need to learn in a way that is more movement oriented, and the rest of us probably would benefit too!
The paintbrush metaphor is something I learned in music education class in college. You ask the child “what kind of paint do you want to use?”, pick up an imaginary paintbrush, dip it in imaginary paint, and paint the phrase with a long brushstroke as they sing. Boom! You have a kinesthetic and visual representation of legato (and it’s fun). Each time they finish a phrase, show them to lift the paintbrush and tell them this is when they breath to get ready for the next phrase. The bonus is that this exercise also introduces (and very sneakily) the concept of phrases. I especially like this for the little singers who tend to breath in the middle of words. They’ll instinctually connect the ideas of legato and breath.
Once you’ve taught this concept, you can easily bring it back in future lessons. Maybe you can use a scarf or rhythm in bigger gestures to mix it up. It’s a great practice to introduce movement to help understand music better!
Natalie Baker, soprano 