As a professional songwriter, I’ve been working as an artist-in-residence writing songs with ages K-highschoolers since 1994. In many ways, it’s my very best work, in that the process empowers people of any age or background to find their own words, learn about literacy, and work as a team.

Here are a few tricks I use with the younger set (grades K-2). I do them every time we meet.
•    Wake up my guitar using a variety of sounds
•    Warm up.  Give them a song or music-related activity so that they can learn about your own creativity (or someone else’s) and apply it to their own process.
•    Keep ‘em jumping!  I developed a “A Shake Break.”  Every 10-15 minutes in a session- or whenever the process needs a shift, I get children to jump to their feet and shake.  I do it in a way that it’s still rhythmic, rhymes and is “musical”– which keeps them on track.

“I’m taking a shake break. Taking a shake break.
Taking a shake break NOW
I’m taking a shake break. Taking a shake break.
Taking a shake break HOW?
I’m taking a shake break. Taking a shake break.
Turning my brain around. (or any other rhyme you come up with—the more bizarre and spontaneous, the better)
I’m taking a shake break.
Taking a shake break and…sitting back down on the ground. (You would rhyme this with the line above).
ALL children love this and it’s remarkable what happens to their BRAINS after they have had this “break.”

•    Adults are not invited to this party. Sometimes, teachers or a visiting parent REALLY want to be part of the process.  I always remind them that this is their students’ work and instead, ask them how their students’ line sounds… does it make sense?  Does it need more work?
•    I encourage brainstorming—constantly. It helps every child find a voice, (and helps me help them craft a better song) and– the ideas are incredible.
•     I never choose the same person’s input. If someone is not attending, I purposely call on them.

Write on!