Chinning

Chinning is the act of singing a song on a neutral syllable such as "loo", "la", or "doo". This valuable teaching strategy originated in the Maritime Provinces of Canada and as used to provide dance music when no instrument was available.(1)

Explanation of the term to your students:

When we sing "la" or "loo" to every sound that the words of a song make, we call that "chinning". Although it has nothing to do with our chin moving, the word is a very old one that describes singing without words. (1 p. 87)

Sample statements and activities by which to introduce chinning to your students:

1. "Let's sing the song again. Instead of singing the words, sing "doo" for every sound (syllable) in the song." (1 p. 87)

2. The teacher chins a song. "What did you notice about the way I performed the song that time?" Students describe and practice chinning the song.

3. Using a song that is known to the children, introduce a lesson with a secret song. "Listen as I sing a song." Teacher chins the song. "What did you notice?"
Teacher chins the song once more. "Raise your hand when you can name the song I am chinning."

Why and how it is used in education:

To neutralize the effect of vowels and consonants on melody so that elements of the song can be heard more clearly.

Let's sing "Old MacDonald". When we come to the words "Here a chick, there a chick, every where a chick, chick," chin on the syllable "pop" in place of the words." Students and teacher chin song. What did you notice about that chunk of the music?

To engage the students in careful focused study

To sharpen and hone listening skill for a whole song or parts of a song

To vary the practice of a particular song: "Let's go through the song once more by chinning it on 'doo". Then ask, "Angie, what syllable shall we use for chinning the song?"

To hear the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables in the English language

To hear the difference between stressed and unstressed syllables in the English Language

How would George Washington's name sound if we chinned it?

How would we chin Booker T. Washington's name?

What do you notice about the syllables in each of these names?

Do you hear one of the syllables more than the others?

In the English language some syllables are emphasized more than others. Where the emphasis is placed helps us determine the meaning of the language. (Click here to read an article about stress patterns in language written by Fleurette Sweeney)

Bibliography

1. Bennett P. D. & Bartholomew, D.R. (1997). SongWorks I: Singing in the education of children. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth