The Resting Tone is to tonal what beat is to rhythm.  It is the organizing force around which the melodic material orbits.  It is the home tone, the home base in the play of melody.  It is the underlying center around which tonality is defined.  The Resting Tone can be any pitch, as it is the relationship of pitches within a melody rather than an individual pitch that brings melody “home.”  Perceiving the Resting Tone is at the core of all tonal learning—a sense of tonality, a sense of “pitch,” tunefulness, competence with intervals, in-tune singing and playing, melodic reading and sight-reading—yet is generally overlooked in traditional music instruction.  Interestingly, the Resting Tone is very accessible for the young child.  Some infants naturally “coo” on the Resting Tone in response to CCS Tonal Activities, which are each designed with a well-defined Resting Tone.  Activities that reinforce Resting Tone are beneficial through all stages of music learning, as Resting Tone is apparent in all but the most obtuse music.

CCS Resting Tone Activities are designed to make the aural phenomenon of Resting Tone more tangible, providing opportunity for play with the Resting Tone.  They give voice, literally, to what is there in sound in the young child’s developing musical mind.  Each Resting Tone Activity is within one tonality, with each successive Resting Tone Activity in a different tonality.  The contrast strengthens the development of a sense of Resting Tone.  Resting Tone Activities are a big step in music learning, reinforcing the perception of Resting Tone, stimulating awareness of the Resting Tone, and encouraging the delivery of the Resting Tone.  CCS Resting Tone Activities provide a variety of suggestions for “Playing Music.”  The more that Resting Tone Activities become a regular part of musical play, the more your child will develop tonal skills.