Aug 13, 2024 | Puppets, Felts & Other Visuals and Props
Our puppet friends are ready to lead festive lessons! Pitch matching holiday treats, playing jingle bells, leading the sleigh ride, going over the river and through the woods, and the special guest to hear if the concert songs are ready!
Here’s Cocoa the Horse with Lynn for reminders of their favorites.
And don’t forget Donnie the Donkey can also lead and eat treats!
Loudly sings the donkey on Thanksgiving Day, if you do not feed him, this is what he’ll say “Hee-Haw, hee-haw, hee-haw hee haw hee haw!
Books and puppets mentioned are in the shop, use this coupon code HOLIDAYTEACHERS for 10% off. Music Rhapsody Members, this gives you an additional 10% off your year round discounts.
Save The Dates For This Unique Professional Development Opportunity!
Redondo Beach, CA – June 26-28
Immerse yourself in singing, moving, playing and creating early childhood and elementary lessons from an active Orff approach.
Enjoy our amazing location! Just fly into LAX and it’s a 20-25 minute cab ride down the coast to our beautiful beach hotel. You will have all you need and want right there!
Also at SMU in Dallas, TX – June 13-15! Click here to be the first to know when registration opens. Online training is also available anytime!
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Creative Moves for Oktoberfest!
Here’s some ideas for your classes to make up their own moves during Oktoberfest!
Get creative with claps, slaps, taps and flaps! Perhaps shapes, even wooden spoons and cuicas!
If you haven’t seen this month’s mini workshop, download it here. More resources, curriculum, training, and puppet fun here.
Aug 13, 2024 | Theme Concerts
Holiday Singalong – Choosing songs for maximum participation of youngest to oldest
Looking for that emotional connection with your audience and students? Consider a singalong! When looking for an easy multi-generational song to end your holiday program, here’s a few things to consider.
- Repetition! The more repetition of the lyrics, the more participation – especially from your youngest singers and your audience! (I’m thinking of those 2 year olds and 80+)
- Well Known Songs – We love what we know – Like an old friend coming back!
- Easy Range An octave or less
- Has a refrain or chorus Something to sing after the children sing their rehearsed line or verse
Here’s some lyrics from the easiest choices
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine,
Let it shine!
FELIZ NAVIDAD (Sing-A-Long Lyrics)
Feliz Navidad.
Feliz Navidad.
Feliz Navidad.
Prospero ano y Felicidad.
(Repeat)
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas (3 times)
From the bottom of my heart.
Repeat first section
IT’S A SMALL WORLD/Jingle Bells
Children:
It’s a world of laughter, A world of tears
It’s a world of hopes, And a world of fears
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all.
Children and Audience
It’s a small world after all (3 times)
It’s a small, small world
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way
Oh what fun, it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh HEY!
(Repeat Jingle bells)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
And a happy new year!
Deck the Halls
Kids: Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Audience and Kids: Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la (Kids add silly movement)
(continue same form below)
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
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Aug 13, 2024 | Music Teaching Videos
Here’s a successful way to introduce layers of parts to young musicians. Take a peek and see why this engaging approach results in more musical and exciting lessons.
This Mini Workshop shows how to
- Easily add one, two or even four Orff parts to a song for young players
- Present in an engaging way through a character, story, even true scientific facts
- Adjust the level of parts to simplify or challenge certain players or groups
- Use the instruments you have including easy to make homemade instruments
Goodie Pack includes
- Lynn Kleiner’s Mini Workshop Video Presentation
- PowerPoints from the workshop (music, orchestrations, classroom activities, teaching visuals)
- Recording
- Additional Videos include children’s performance, kindergarten playshop
I used Larry the Lobster for the example but I’ve also found it magical for so many other “stories” and characters.
- A few are the mole, vole and owl
- The cat and mouse
- The gardner and the critters
- And more!
Curriculum and mini workshops are included in Music Rhapsody Membership. Want to upgrade? We can apply your Music Box membership fee to your upgrade. Click here for more information about memberships.
Aug 13, 2024 | Activities
Making a rain stick is easy and a bouquet of flowers (rainbow streamers!) is quick and simple! Here’s how easy the streamers are to make:
Gather your old, frayed scarves. This is the only thing you need!
1. Pull on both sides of the tear on your used fraying scarves to make the strips of fabric.
2. Line up the long narrow strips of fabric in assorted colors.
3. Knot the strips on one end (this is what the children “hide” in their hands).
At the end of this video, you see us using the streamers to Carmina Burana, activity from my book/CD Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move.
Here’s a video playlist of activities that are enhanced by the use of rainsticks and rainbow streamers. The first video is how to make the rainstick.
Here are two more songs that are great with rainbow streamers:
