Teaching Songs / Pedagogy Archives - Donna & Andy

What do you think the toys would do if they were allowed to wake up and play in the toy store when nobody was around?
What other toys do you think would want to join in the fun?
Would you like to sneak in the toy store to watch the toys playing?

Movement Activities

Discuss the musical style of a march.

Listen to a few examples of marches.

Play a variety of marches as students are entering and/or exiting music class. Encourage them to march along with the music.

Add dynamics to the marching by calling out dynamic changes: loud, soft, tiptoe, stomp, etc. Students will need to adjust their steps to generate the dynamic that has been called out.

Keep the Beat

Keep the beat by patsching (patting both hands with flat palms on the thighs).

Keep the beat using other body percussion i.e., tapping the shoulders, hot potato fists, tapping the end of your nose, bending the knees while standing in one spot, windshield wiper hands, tick tocking index fingers, etc.

Marches can be written in 2/4, 4/4 or 6/8 meter. Beat one will be stronger than the other beats. This is easiest to hear in 2/4 meter.

Find a march written in 2/4 meter.
Move around the room keeping the beat by marching as you listen to the song.
Take one shoe off. Start marching on beat one with the “shoe” foot and listen for the accented beat one that is created by stepping shoe, sock, shoe, sock.

Sing the song Deedle Deedle Dumpling

March with one shoe off and one shoe on. Begin marching on beat one with the “shoe” foot and listen for the accent on beat one.

The main character in this song (John) has gone to bed with one shoe off and one shoe on. Maybe he was so tired he fell asleep before he could take off the second shoe. Maybe he had been practicing marching and listening for the accented beat!

Composer's Notes

March Music & Activities

I love including marches with my elementary music classes. There is something about a cheery march that gets children moving to the beat, almost instinctively. I wanted a march for some "entering the classroom" music, so I started creating my own using my keyboard. My marches needed to be long enough to last while the students were entering the room and getting to their spots, but not too long so the children would lose interest.

I started amassing a number of these marches and I needed to give them names to keep track of them. September March was written at the beginning of the school year and the title made sense to me. However, as I thought about the title, it amused me to think that September March was created by combining two months of the year. I started labelling my marches with names of months and continued to create new songs until I had a set of 12. Now I have marches from January March through to December March. Not content to just have these amusing combinations, I have also given each march a secondary name that relates to the month that they represent, i.e. January March is subtitled Marshmallow March as a nod to all the snow we get at that time of year. The only month that doesn’t have a subtitle is my first composition, September March.

As I write these composer’s notes, only two of my marches have been introduced outside of my music room to date. However, at some point in time all twelve may be presented as a collection giving children and teachers lots of marching options.

Midnight March is a song I wrote about marching toy soldiers. It has its own composer’s story included at https://donnaandandy.com/product/midnight-march-song-by-donna-rhodenizer/

More Marching Songs

Sing songs written in marching style

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Teachers video

Play this for your students

Send us your videos of any of these Marching Songs and perhaps we can post them here.

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5 Halloween Songs

Andy Duinker — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:38:19 +0000

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5 Halloween Songs

by Donna Rhodenizer

Blog Post - 5 Halloween Songs

Learn more about Donna's most popular 5 Halloween Songs in this blog post.

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Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good + Winter Time is Lots of Fun

Andy Duinker — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 23:10:59 +0000

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Mister Santa, I've Been Good

+ Winter Time is Lots of Fun

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Mister Santa, I've Been Good or Winter Time is Lots of Fun.

Part of a song collection

Mister Santa, I've Been Good is one of 12 songs from the song collection "It's Christmas Time". Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students.

Purchase print copy from Amazon

Stream and purchase audio Tracks

Stream or Purchase Mister Santa, I've Been Good (It's Christmas Time CD) from many streaming sites including:

Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

The It's Christmas Time CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (20) are available for download or physical CD on this website.

Teacher Tips

This song has multiple versions all using the same melody:

Christmas – Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good
Winter – Winter Time is Lots of Fun
General rhythm activity – Rhythm Echo Song

The various options provide versatility and the opportunity to use this song in general classroom or vocal studio settings throughout the year. It can be helpful when a Christmas song is needed and the melody is already familiar to students because they have already heard it as part of the rhythm echo activity. Conversely, if students enjoy learning the Christmas version, the variants can be used at other times of the year, extending the use of the melody that has already been learned.

Actions

The short four-bar verses alternate with 4-bar instrumental sections. Add a clapping pattern during the instrumental section when using the song in a performance.

Included in the PDF download is a sample of the clapping sequence I used with my students.

NOTE: My grade 2 students loved the clapping pattern, but many classes of practice were required for everyone to master the sequence. The singing is the most important part of this song - make up your own rhythm sequence that works for you!

Accidentals

Look at the notes in the final bar of the song.

The flat that is added to the B and the natural that is added to the C change the feel and tonality of these final notes. Sing or play the final bar several times to get the pitches well established before singing the entire song.

Contrasting sections

Bars 21-24 act like a “bridge” in this piece of music. The bridge has slower, legato notes, creating a contrast to the jaunty, staccato notes of the melody in the verses. Pay close attention to the presentation of these four bars to be sure the legato notes are smooth and connected.

Also listen carefully to the notes in bar 24. They are moving toward a key change. The final two verses are one whole tone higher than the first two verses.

Expressive singing

The melody and accompaniment of the song are light and staccato (except for the bridge section which has a slower, legato feel). The overall mood of the piece is jaunty, confident and cheery, and it should sound like the singer is having fun!

Rhythm Echo Song

Use the Donna & Andy band instrumental track for Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good.

The teacher will sing the verses for the students (that could be fun!) and then clap rhythm patterns to be echoed during the instrumental verses.

Rhythm pattern options are provided to give examples, but teachers are encouraged to create their own rhythm combinations.

Either have the students echo what they hear, or use flash cards and have students read and clap the rhythms during the instrumental breaks.

Extension

French

Mister Santa, I've Been Good has been adapted into French (J'attends Père Noël). Singers may enjoy learning both the English and the French versions as a language study.

Composer's Notes

Mister Santa, I've Been Good + Winter Time is Lots of Fun

I am writing these composer’s notes for Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good more than 20 years after the song was written so I cannot say for sure what made me think of the lyrics. I do remember that the song was a hit with my students from the first year I introduced it. I have included it in multiple school Christmas concerts over the years.

A few years after it was written and performed by my students, we decided to include this song on a Donna & Andy Christmas recording: “It’s Christmas Time.” When I was writing the arrangements, I knew I wanted a cheery banjo sound included in the accompaniment track. I love the sound of the banjo and it always makes me smile. When we got to the recording studio and ran through some sample tracks, the banjo part was every bit as delightful as I had imagined it would be. The original song was only two verses, but the banjo part was so much fun, we decided the song needed to be longer. We planned for two double verses with a bridge and a key change in the middle. The way the recording process works, the instrumental tracks are recorded first and then vocals are added to that. We had back-to-back recording days booked, so we recorded the instrumental track on one afternoon and then we were scheduled to return the next day to record the vocal tracks. With a time deadline looming, I needed to write my two new verses for the next day!

I worked very hard to keep the song lyrics focused on the singer’s behaviour rather than letting the song get into a “gimme, gimme” song. It really was about having exemplary behaviour for the whole year. As I recall, I was still writing verses on the drive to the studio the next day. Somewhere I have a hefty envelope with many pages of verse ideas that I worked on in the short 24 hours between recording the instrumental bed tracks and recording the vocals. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but necessity may also drive a composer to finish a set of lyrics in time to get them recorded (which I did!).

Fast forward to 20 years later…I was searching through a notebook of song ideas and found lyrics I had created for a rhythm echo song using the melody of Mister Santa. I was excited to think that this fun melody would have a longer shelf life than the short Christmas season. Then I decided I should have more than just Christmas lyrics so I created non-Christmas, winter words. Suddenly there are several options to facilitate use of this jaunty melody throughout the year. You never know, one day there might be a summer version – that’s how a composer works sometimes!

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Send us your videos of Mister Santa I've Been Good

Winter Time is Lots Fun and perhaps we can post them here.

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27 New Singing Games for Young Singers

Andy Duinker — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 17:43:32 +0000

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New Singing Games

for Young Singers

by Donna Rhodenizer

Vol. 1 Grades K-1, ages 5-7

New Singing Games for Young Singers Vol. 1 Grades K-1, ages 5-7

Donna Rhodenizer has written twelve original singing games for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, singers ages 5-7. These songs focus on the early skill development of emerging singers including galloping, action songs, fast and slow, as well as songs with simple tone sets (mainly s-m-l combinations). Individual singing opportunities are built into many of the singing games. Students have the opportunity to work on discerning differences in pitch and pitch matching, leading to singing in tune with others. All of the singing games provide young singers with a play-based learning experience, inherent to their innate learning style and crucial to their skill development. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Vol. 2 Grades 2-3, ages 7-9

Donna Rhodenizer’s second volume of singing games focuses on singers in grades 2-3, ages 7-9. Eleven original singing games focus on providing practice for skills learned earlier and adding songs and skills with expanded tone sets and more complex rhythmic elements. Individual singing games are still a mainstay as students continue to hone their ability to sing in tune with others. Repetition is a key element of singing games, creating opportunity for internalizing musical concepts for labelling and practicing in future lessons. Games with movement, guessing games and even a few chasing options make these singing games interesting and motivating for students. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Vol. 3 Grades 4-5, ages 9-11

The third volume of Donna Rhodenizer’s singing games is created for singers in grades 4-5, ages 9-11. Ten original singing games delve into more complex musical elements such as minor tonalities, wider tone sets and complex rhythms. Singing games with individual responses include singing as well as rhythmic and melodic improvisation. Musical challenges for this age group are offered using a play-based learning style that creates a relaxed atmosphere for exploring and learning without pressure. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Print copies Available on Amazon

Print copies are available on Amazon.

Go to Donna's Amazon Author Page to purchase your print copy.

Also, click the "Follow" button to get notified when additional new books become available.

Composer's Notes

New Singing Games for Young Singers

My music classroom has been singing based from day one. Everything we did hinged on singing, and the best way to get kids to sing is to make it a game. Singing games were part of my music education courses and my approach was influenced by my training in the Kodaly teaching method, also founded on the use of singing games to teach concepts to children.

Over the years I have had certain singing games that I enjoyed sharing with my students. I knew they liked those particular games, it was exciting to play them, and they were motivated to participate. As time and political correctness became an issue in our classrooms, some of the singing games from decades (centuries?) ago began to come into question. Old singing games that were based on less than favourable past-times and ways of doing things began to be considered inappropriate and needed to be removed. Song context aside, the games that went with some of those songs were favourites of my students (and of mine as well) so I set about to create new songs that would fit the games that went with the old songs. I had collected quite a few singing games by the time I was chatting with Nikki Loney (Full Voice Music) about doing a question and answer online session with teachers about singing games. With my collection already started (sort of) it seemed like an opportune time to put together an official version of these songs.

What started out as a single collection across grade levels (K-5) started to get too large and unwieldy for a single book. We decided to split the book into K-2 and 3-5. Then THAT got too big so we revised and split the book into 3 volumes. Now there were not quite enough songs to make a reasonable sized book (in my estimation) so in addition to the songs I already had, I designed some new ones. Trying to figure out games that would work for each of the songs had us galloping, passing sticks to the beat, counting bars to match dance steps and having lots of fun! I also needed to think outside of my elementary classroom focus and create adaptations for singing games that could be used by private vocal teachers with small groups or just one student. That was a fun challenge!

I ended up writing six new songs in a week to insert into various age groupings. I was reminded of my days in the classroom when I needed songs for specific events and I ended up writing them. It was an intense, productive two weeks and I was exhausted but creatively energized by the whole process.

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When you have enjoyed doing these singing games with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

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New Singing Games - Vol. 1 - grade 1-2 (age 5-7)

New Singing Games - Vol. 2 - grade 2-3 (age 7-9)

Also found in New Singing Games - Vol. 1

Also found in New Singing Games - Vol. 3

New Singing Games - Vol. 3 - grade 4-5 (age 9-11)

More Singing Games

Send us your videos of these New Singing Games and perhaps we can post them here.

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Best Friends

Andy Duinker — Wed, 01 May 2024 19:43:21 +0000

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Best Friends

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Best Friends.

Part of a Song Collection

Best Friends is one of 12 songs from the award-winning song collection "Blue Skies and Pirates". Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 111-page book provides the vocal score, full score and separate lyrics pages for 12 songs. Enjoy!

Please note: audio tracks for the e-book version are sold separately. Print copies of the book include CD (24 tracks)

Stream and purchase Audio tracks

Stream or Purchase from many streaming sites including:

Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

The Blue Skies and Pirates CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (24) are available for download or physical CD on this website.

Teacher Tips

Introducing the song

Discuss with students some of the things they have done with friends.

Have they ever had to apologize to a friend?
What is the most fun activity students have done with a friend?
What is the scariest thing they have experienced with a friend?

Score Study

Use the opening phrases to highlight and discuss intervals: 3rd, 4th, 5th and octave.

Find other bars where there is an octave jump.

Find other bars where the interval of a fifth is used.

Expressive Singing

Read the lyrics aloud to become familiar with the story.

Decide which words will be emphasized to create an expressive performance.

There are a variety of emotions associated with the lyrics in this song. There are sections where the singer is remorseful, other sections where they are surprised and impressed, and still others where there must be sincere concern and apologies offered. Use expressive singing to convey all these feelings as part of the musical theatre/story-telling aspect of this song.

Decide which words will be emphasized to create an expressive performance.

The two opening verses are light and bouncy in a major key. The next section is legato and the lyrics are more reflective. The accompaniment in this contrasting section includes a few minor tonalities creating a different feel to the story. Sing the melody matching the contrasting musical treatments to create an interesting vocal performance.

Character Trait Education

Use Best Friends to discuss relationships, friendship, loyalty, empathy, and the art of apologizing.

Concert Suggestion

Create a thematic concert about friendship/community/togetherness and include more Donna Rhodenizer songs.

For "Littles" (Grades K-1)

For "Middles" (grades 2-3)

For "Bigs" (grades 4-6)

All-school finale

Colouring Page - Download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you listen to the song Best Friends.

Composer's Notes

Best Friends

I grew up in a small rural community with a population of less than 200 people. Fortunately for me, next door to our house was a family with seven children, the youngest of whom was my best friend. She was a year younger than I was, but once we were old enough to play together we were together at her house or at mine, kicking about on our family farm, or riding our bicycles in her dad’s paved store yard. The scenarios used in Best Friends are drawn from real events that occurred as our two families grew up together. The only “poetic license” I manipulated was the verse about the bees. Although we didn’t encounter swarms of bees, there were other injuries that resulted during our adventures. We also didn’t end up at the emergency department for many of the scrapes we received. Farm kids are often tough and the nearest emergency department was a 40-minute drive away. The bull turned out to be a curious steer, and no real threat to us. The mud was actually a hole in a barn floor (with a drop to the basement below) and my best friend’s brother taunted my older sister that she couldn’t jump over the hole. She assured him she could and she jumped. Unfortunately he was right and she was wrong and she landed on the concrete floor one floor below. Fortunately there were no injuries! I consider myself to have had an idyllic childhood. We worked hard on the farm but we also found time to play. There were swings my dad tied to large branches of oak and maple trees along the edge of our lawn. We rode bikes, played “Kick the Can”, had a few croquet tournaments, climbed trees, made forts, combed the ditches for glass pop bottles that could be returned to the store for 5 cents each, and a brook where we played even though our parents had told us not to play there. Best friends made all those activities that much more fun and it was worth every scrape, every adventure and every apology!

You Are Invited

When you have enjoyed singing this song and doing the activities with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Please send us your performing video - we might be able to post it on this page!

Send us your video of Best Friends and perhaps we can post it here on this page.

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Umbrellas

Andy Duinker — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:46:08 +0000

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Umbrellas

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Umbrellas.

Teacher Tips

Introducing the song

Discus:

who likes to play in the rain, in puddles, or to walk with an umbrella in the rain?
Who has an umbrella, a raincoat or rain boots? How do these things add to the enjoyment of being outside in the rain?
Who looks forward to a rainy day?

Expressive singing

Read the lyrics aloud. Decide which words need to be accentuated to sing expressively and convey the sentiment of the song.

Score study

Using the printed music, read and/or clap the rhythm.
Find bars/phrases that use the same melodic pattern. The overall form of the song is ABAC.
Follow the printed music as the teacher sings the song. Can you see the notes ascending, descending and repeating?
Use your hand to show the shape of the ascending, descending and repeated notes of the song as the teacher sings. Can students sing the song and show the shape of the note movement at the same time? (Hint: wait to try this until the song is well internalized.)
There is an accidental added in this song. Discuss how the accidental affects the notes in bar 9.

Performance suggestions

Adding an umbrella as a prop is a lovely way to add visual interest to a performance. Bring the open umbrella to the stage and then place it next to the singer(s). The umbrella adds colour but the singer is free to concentrate on the performance. Include Umbrellas in a weather-themed concert presentation.

Additional weather-related songs by Donna Rhodenizer:

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs

Five Little Snowflakes

I’d Rather Be a Bear

Sing an Umbrella warm-up

An umbrella warm-up exercise (with a printable student worksheet) is included.

Download and print this student worksheet separately.

Composer's Notes

Umbrellas

I was asked to write a song for young singers. The melody needed to be simple, both rhythmically and melodically and I could choose any topic I wished. Sometimes having a wide-open set of options can be daunting! However, I know that when my grandchildren visit me, they love to go outside with an umbrella and enjoy the rainy day. I crafted my song while thinking about how lovely rain is when the right gear is available. I like walking in the rain with an umbrella, and adding a pair of rubber boots means there are also puddles to explore. (Boots and puddles are included in a different rainy day song!) I enjoy the smell of rain as it waters the plants in my garden. I also like the sound of rain on the roof of my house. All in all, umbrellas, raincoats and rubber boots mean that a rainy day can be enjoyed as an exciting adventure.

You Are Invited

When you have enjoyed singing this song with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Please send us your performing video - we might be able to post it on this page!

Send us your video of Umbrellas and perhaps we can post it here.

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It’s Raining Cats and Dogs

Andy Duinker — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:53:27 +0000

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It's Raining Cats and Dogs

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for It's Raining Cats and Dogs.

Teacher Tips

Add actions to the song to help students remember the lyrics and to create visual interest in the concert setting.

Students love being able to “meow and woof” the lyrics of the second verse. Soloists may also be assigned the meow and woof sections to show off their “theatrical talents”.

Use the rhythm cards provided with It’s Raining Cats and Dogs for rhythm activities.

Review simple quarter note/eighth note rhythm combinations
Have students use the rhythm cards to create their own rhythm combinations. They are composing!
Have students listen to a rhythm that is being clapped and then use the rhythm cards to create the rhythm.
Combine students in small groups to create longer rhythm combinations. Have them write their compositions on a piece of paper and share them with others in the class. Put all the group compositions together in one BIG class composition. Clap the rhythms that have been created, or read them using rhythm duration syllables. For a bit of cat and dog fun, read the rhythms using meows and woofs.

Expressive Singing

Follow the markings in It’s Raining Cats and Dogs and sing expressively.

The mood of this song is optimistic. The singer is hoping to find lots of cats and dogs AND be able to keep the ones that are collected!

Many instructions in music scores are written in Italian and German. These are standard music terms used in music created by composers around the world regardless of the language they normally speak.

Students will need to understand the following Italian instructions:

molto rit. – slowing down a lot (molto = much)
rit. – gradually slow down
a tempo – back to the original tempo (at tempo)
Fermata – hold or pause. The length of the pause is up to the performer, but a standard length for the hold is twice the value of the note with the fermata. (You may discuss how a “pause” in a song about dogs and cats with “paws” is a funny play on words!)

Encourage solo singers to add theatrical flair in bar 25, where you see the instruction to “sigh” during the rest (use the extra quarter beat created by the fermata). This can be a tired or loving sigh, or any emotion you wish to convey; or it can even be a theatrical “meow” or “woof”. The singer may add their own interpretation as they wish.

For fun, sing the whole song using only “woof” or “meow” and/or use a variety of woof/meow combinations.

Props and Presentation

Students may wish to add a few props to add visual interest to their performance. Some suggestions are:

Hold an empty box while singing, or place it on the floor as a visual prop.
Hold a toy dog or cat during the performance. (A prop can also be a helpful “security item” for a shy singer to hold onto for support if they are nervous about performing.)
Use face paint to create dog and cat faces for your group performance.
Add a few colourful umbrellas for a “splash” of colour.

Add actions to the song to enhance the concert or recital presentation. A list of suggested actions is included on page 10 of the PDF document.

Additional Music Activities

Keep the beat

explore steady beat
discuss rit., a tempo and fermata
conducting (silent beat keeping)

Rhythm reading

Clap, tap and say the rhythms for the whole song

Composing with simple rhythm elements (quarter notes/rests and eighth notes)

Have students compose their own original rhythm patterns
Use fun printable rhythm element cards (provided in the PDF document)
Read, tap, and play the simple rhythms created by the students
Combine 4-beat rhythms to create longer songs
Create rounds and canons with student rhythm patterns

Practice and reinforce understanding of rhythm patterns

Use “call and response” activities:

Use the rhythm patterns created by the students
Clap or play patterns, reading from flash cards
Clap or play patterns by ear
Create call and response “conversations”

Cross-curricular Extensions

Create a rain circle

Explore the science of the rain cycle

Read weather and rain-related books

Read along with Donna It's Raining, It's Pouring

Sing other Donna Rhodenizer songs featuring cats and dogs

Computer Cat (Computer Cat CD)

Cool Bob (Computer Cat CD)

I Got a Sister (but I wanted a dog) (Blue Skies and Pirates CD)

Pretty Itty Bitty Kitty Unicorn (tongue twister warm-up) Full Voice Music

Sing other Donna Rhodenizer songs about the weather

Splashing in the Puddles (Computer Cat CD)

Get up in the Mornin' (Blue Skies and Pirates CD)

Composer's Notes

It's Raining Cats and Dogs

There are many phrases that we use in our conversations that could be confusing to those who take us literally. Phrases like, “I have a frog in my throat,” or “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse,” might need some explaining! “It’s raining cats and dogs” is one of those expressions and it stuck in my imagination as worth investigating with my composer’s point of view. If one takes this phrase literally, and if one also likes cats and dogs, this might seem to be a perfect opportunity to bypass the usual parental permission to get a pet; just go outside with a box and scoop up what you want!

I jotted down the idea for the opening phrase and repeated it (that makes it easy to learn!) and the melody followed quickly. The rest of the song worked its way along with melody and lyrics coming together. Many times natural accents of the language of the lyrics dictate how the melody will go and in turn, the melody line starts to define how many syllables will fit into the phrase. The second verse I wrote expanded a bit on cat and dog characteristics: their fur and claws, their tails and paws. By repeating the last section of the song, it allowed me to write a complete verse without so many words for a young singer to learn.

I knew my students were going to LOVE singing this song when I thought of adding the verse where they get to meow and woof for the lyrics. I inserted this as a second verse and suddenly I had a three-verse song! When I introduced the song, my students had a great time debating the merits of cats and dogs. There were very stalwart fans on both sides of the fence and some who couldn’t decide and put some of both in their imaginary box. We added actions, we sang the meows and woofs with great theatrical affectation, and the premiere performance (at our school spring concert) was a hit with our delighted audience.

I have not yet written any songs about the frogs and the horses I mentioned earlier, but you never know when inspiration is going to arrive, and when it does I will “strike while the iron is hot” and get a song written!

You Are Invited

When you have enjoyed singing this song and doing the activities with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Send us your video of It's Raining Cats and Dogs and perhaps we can post it here.

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5 Valentine Singing Games

Andy Duinker — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:07:39 +0000

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5 Valentine Singing Games

by Donna Rhodenizer

Teacher Notes

Use singing games to create a play-based environment for students to explore using their singing voices.

Individual responses assist students developing pitch matching and singing in tune with others.

Singing games encourage multiple repetitions, an important factor in skill development.

When asking for individual responses: Model the pitch for their response, but allow the student to sing their response at whatever pitch is comfortable for them. After confidence and trust is established, the teacher may ask if a child can move their voice to match a pitch. If the pitch is matched, congratulate their effort. If not, ask the class which pitch was higher and which was lower. Without any judgement, the different pitches are labeled. This teaches students to listen for differences and gives them the vocabulary they need to label what they are hearing. The student who has responded should not feel any pressure or anxiety with this process, and the game continues.

Use fun singing games as a “treat” at the end of a music class. Singing games are a fun way of reviewing concepts that have been learned, or preparing new ones that have not yet been isolated and labeled.

See More Valentine Resources

Have a look at Valentine Rhythm Activity for young singers.

More Tunes about Friendship and Love

More February repertoire suggestions - Songs about friends and love.

Review, free Download or Print!

Enjoy!

Composer's Notes

Donna’s childhood valentine memories include making her own valentines to give to her friends, and remembering the spicy flavour of cinnamon hearts. Donna still loves the taste of cinnamon and she loves the fact that Valentine messages and hearts can create an opportunity for her students to develop their composing skills. Donna is enthusiastic about promoting creative manipulation of music elements (composing!) with students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Her personal composing efforts have resulted in well over 500 songs written for solo voice, choir, handbell, recorder, violin and piano.

You Are Invited

When you have enjoyed playing these singing games with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Send us your videos of these Valentine songs and perhaps we can post them here.

The post 5 Valentine Singing Games appeared first on Donna & Andy.

The Penguin Ball

Andy Duinker — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 23:33:22 +0000

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The Penguin Ball

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for The Penguin Ball

Note:

Donna & Andy recorded tracks include the 16-bar instrumental verse.

Piano accompaniment tracks do not include an instrumental verse.

Part of a Song Collection

The Penguin Ball is one of 12 songs from the award-winning song collection "Computer Cat". Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 93-page book provides the vocal score, full score and separate lyrics pages for 12 songs. Enjoy!

Please note: audio tracks for the e-book version are sold separately. Print copies of the book include CD (24 tracks)

MORE Penguin Songs

Here are 3 more penguin songs for fun singing in your home school, classroom, vocal studio or choir.

Purchase all Four Penguin Songs together and save 25%

Stream and Purchase Audio Tracks

Stream or Purchase from many streaming sites including:

Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

Get The Penguin Ball on the Computer Cat CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (24) - available for download or physical CD on this website.

13 cross-curricular activities

13 Cross-curricular activities are provided in the PDF download extending the focus of this song to other subject areas including:

Fine arts: music, visual art, drama, dance
Language arts
Math
Technology

Teaching Tips

Expressive singing

Read the lyrics aloud to discover the descriptive words that will be highlighted as you explore the art of expressive singing.
Discuss how to use clear consonants and rounded vowels to sing the words expressively.
Use dynamics to create the mood changes that occur in the story of the song.

Teach 3/4 meter

Step on beat one of every measure to experience the swaying, waltz feel of 3/4 meter.
Practice a 3-beat conducting pattern as you listen to the song, or divide the class with some students conducting while others sing. Switch groups.
Add colourful scarves, moving them on beat one of each bar for kinesthetic and visual reinforcement of the swaying movement of 3/4 time.

Explore musical phrases

Discover how many phrases are in the opening chorus.
Have the children move one hand in a rainbow shape to show the shape of each phrase as they listen to the song.

Create a penguin “unit”

Sing all four of Donna’s penguin songs: The Penguin Ball, I Wonder, Penguin Parade and Pondering Penguins.
Create a presentation for invited guests (family members, administrators, another class)
Add costumes.
Share penguin facts between each song.

Colouring Page - Download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you listen to the song The Penguin Ball.

Composer's Notes

I wrote The Penguin Ball after a request from a teacher at my school who was doing a penguin unit with her students. She asked me for a penguin song and I didn’t know any, so I wrote my own! When her students came to my music class they told me lots of penguin facts to give me ideas for my songs. I discovered that penguins are amazing creatures. The conditions in which they live and the way they survive, live, and raise their babies are all fascinating.

With all the facts I discovered, I had enough ideas to write four penguin songs! The Penguin Ball is an imaginative depiction of how penguins might spend their moonlit evenings. How romantic to waltz together at the “Penguin Ball”. I can see those penguins sadly saying goodnight as they waddle home to go to sleep.

You Are Invited

You are invited to send us your performance of The Penguin Ball.

Maybe your video will be featured here on this page.

When you have enjoyed practicing and performing this song with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Send us your video of The Penguin Ball and perhaps we can post it here.

The post The Penguin Ball appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Swamp Friends

Andy Duinker — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 21:50:17 +0000

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Swamp Friends

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Teaching Tips

Because Swamp Friends is a simple song to sing, it can be used in conjunction with other music skills.

Add a rhythmic ostinato
- Use a phrase from the song (e.g. sticky frog tongues) or create your own! I like the rhythm that is created by saying “Moose and frogs” (half note + quarter note + dotted half note).
Add an instrument that plays on certain words in the song
- Play an instrumental sound every time you sing the names of creatures or animals.
- Have students follow the vocal score and play their instrument on all the half notes in the song (or play in all the rests, or choose another rhythmic element to highlight).
Keep the beat
- Have the students step on beat one of every bar. Swamp Friends is written in 3/4 meter so this will assist students in feeling the swaying feel of the song.
- An instrument may also be used to play on beat one of each bar.

Additional detailed Teaching Tips and Strategies available in the download.

Composer's Notes

Swamp Friends

I grew up on a farm where I often pulled on my rubber boots and headed outdoors to explore. There was a swamp with cattails and lots of frogs that would sing their frog songs in the spring. A small brook ran through the cattle pasture. It was always a great place to poke about, pulling out sticks or breaking up ice to assist the bubbling water to get on its merry way. Although it wasn’t very deep, we were not supposed to be playing in the brook (sorry Mom!), but it was great fun! I didn’t see a moose until I was an adult, but I can imagine one standing in the swamp and dealing with those frogs.

I was playing with the words “butterflies, dragonflies and fireflies” trying to figure out a song about these flying creatures. As I thought about this combination of “neighbours” living in the swamp, I got to thinking about what happens when the flying creatures get caught by the frogs who also live in the swamp. As sometimes happens as I mull over an idea, the idea of adding a moose popped into my head. Who knows why these inspirations arrive in the brain? In any case, I decided to add a moose to the neighbourhood. Then I couldn’t resist adding a bit of humour as the moose dealt with those sticky frog tongues. The idea made me laugh and I expect that young singers will also be amused by the imagery of this song. It was fun trying to fit the whole story, the set up of the humour, and the final “punch line” all within a short 32-bar song.

You Are invited

You are invited to send us your performance of Swamp Friends.

Maybe your video will be featured here on this page.

When you have enjoyed practicing and performing this song with your students - please drop by again and leave a review on this page. Thanks!

Send us your video of Swamp Friends and perhaps we can post it here.

The post Swamp Friends appeared first on Donna & Andy.

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Vol. 2 Grades 2-3, ages 7-9

Vol. 3 Grades 4-5, ages 9-11

Print copies Available on Amazon

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New Singing Games - Vol. 2 - grade 2-3 (age 7-9)

New Singing Games - Vol. 3 - grade 4-5 (age 9-11)

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Composer's Notes

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The Penguin Ball

Audio & Lyrics

Part of a Song Collection

MORE Penguin Songs

Stream and Purchase Audio Tracks

13 cross-curricular activities

Teaching Tips

Colouring Page - Download

Composer's Notes

You Are Invited

Swamp Friends

Swamp Friends

Audio & Lyrics

Teaching Tips

Composer's Notes

You Are invited