“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”

— Maria Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential

One of my first experiences in Montessori pre-school was following my lead teacher and classmate to learn a long and lyrically complex chant about the three bears. And I found it wondrous how much three- and four-year-olds can learn and remember. Songs blend language and math, tune ears to listen to and be able to repeat sounds and strengthen memory. Singing together joins the individual to a group, yet never loses one’s individuality.

I make up songs and have done so since I was ten or eleven. I ‘taught’ pre-school as a Montessori guide for 24 years. We sang the The Alphabet Song backward: z,y,x,w,v,u,t. We clapped our hands and feet, clicked claves*, and shook shakers we made from paper towel rolls affixed with jingle bells. We sang, “Please, please, push in your chairs. (Fish can’t do it, and neither will bears).” Chairs were pushed in, and it was fun. 

*A clave is one of a pair of cylindrical hardwood sticks that are used as a percussion instrument.

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Matt Levin, Walking Man Songs (2014)

Arr./music: Matt; vocals: Tom Knight, Burchie Green on.soundcloud.com/NTsX