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How to Learn Songs in American Sign Language

Monday, September 21, 2009
Related Tags: asl | lyrics | so.salem | dvd | flickr.com
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Audio recording of your chosen song
  • Optional: Signed song on DVD, DVD player
  • Step 1:
    Choose the song you wish to learn in ASL. Songs with shorter musical interludes will be less awkward to perform.
  • Step 2:
    Write or print out the song lyrics on a piece of paper. This will be useful if you work with a deaf person to learn the ASL component.
  • Step 3:
    Find a fluent ASL user, preferably a deaf person, to teach you the song. If an ASL user is not available, you can learn the song from an existing DVD or website. (See Resources.) However, this may limit your song choice.
  • Step 4:
    Identify the signs you have been taught, so you learn their meaning independently of the song. Practice the song slowly until you have it memorized.
  • Step 5:
    Kids sign a song at a summer campContinue with regular practice until you are able to sign the full song along with the music, to the correct tempo. Practice will give you the confidence to perform the song in front of an audience.

Tips & Warnings

  • During the musical interlude, feel free to include body movements or signed words, although no lyrics are sung. Signing a song should be viewed as an interpretive performance. Contact your local deaf school for information on ASL users who might be willing to work with you. (See Resources.)
  • ASL grammar is different than that of spoken English. For this reason, it is not always possible to directly translate song lyrics to ASL. This is why an ASL user is the best resource to initially teach you the song in ASL.

Resources

Photo/Video Credit

Flickr.com: Phil Romans, Flickr.com: so.salem

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