So you are ready to begin to teach your songs to your troop or group. Great! Here are some good tips that
can make this job a whole lot easier for you as well as for the girls. Many of these tips were taken from the Montachusett Girl
Scout Council's Program Aide Manuel.
Make sure that you know the song well. If you are teaching the song as a group, make sure that everyone in the group
knows the song well too.
Be enthusiastic! Even if you don't think you sing very well, showing that you are having fun will have a positive effect
on the girls' enthusiasm as well.
Make sure everyone knows what the title of the song is. If it is to a well-known tune, announce that as well.
Explain what will happen in the song. Is there a chorus? Is it a chant or a reapeating song?
Find out if a majority of the group knows the song. If you are in a multi-age setting, this is more apt to happen. Take
advantage of the girls that do know the song. If most of the girls know it, sing it through as a group, the ones that don't
will catch on!
If you have time constraints, teach the chorus of a song first. That way everyone will be able to join in. This works very
well if you are teaching one of the Girl Scout songs to a younger group of girls - "Change the World" or "On My Honor".
Break the song into pieces when teaching it. For example, teach it by stanza or phrase.
If the words are complicated, speak the section first, and have the girls also speak when they reapeat it.
After you sing/speak a section, have the girls repeat it. Then sing/speak it all together.
After you have learned two or three sections, put them all together into one large section.
Repetition is the key! Even though it may seem "boring", the girls learn much quicker after singing the song two or three times.
Try to get everyone involved. Older girls can be reluctant about singing - let them teach a song or encourage them to loudly
echo you. This helps the younger girls follow along.
Always encourage the girls. Never scold them or tell them they are doing it wrong.
Pick songs that are level appropriate.
Have fun! In A.V.A. tradition, singing is cool! Even rock stars sing!
