Christmas Archives - Donna & Andy

Deo / Sing Together / Winter, Winter

Andy Duinker — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:10:53 +0000

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Deo / Sing Together / Winter, Winter

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide or the Donna & Andy band track for Deo / Sing Together / Winter, Winter.

Piano + melody guide

Donna & Andy band - instrumental track

Part of a Song Collection

Deo 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 Deo (It's Christmas Time CD) from many streaming sites including:

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

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

Teacher Tips

To assist with successful presentation of the quickly moving lyrics in the B sections of this song, divide the ensemble into two parts. Sing bars 50-65 as call and response with one group singing the whole note “calls” and the remainder of the group singing the eighth-note responses.

Add body percussion

Include a clapping pattern/motion in the choruses to add visual interest to the performance.

NOTE: Donna has created a clapping pattern that works well with the song. Complete instructions for each lyric variation are included in the download.

Create your own clapping pattern/motion to enhance your performance.

Add scarves

Create visual excitement in your performance by adding scarves to your presentation.

Many vibrant colours add to the celebratory feel of the lyrics.
White scarves can be used to represent snow.

Create your own movement patterns.

When adding any type of “choreography”, create shape within the form of the piece

Begin the song without any movement
Add scarves or movement as the lyrics repeat to create momentum within the song.
Add scarves or other movement in the choruses or verses, but not both, to complement the contrasts between sections of the song.

Composer's Notes

Deo

A recurring theme in my composer’s notes is the fact that I would write a song because I needed repertoire for a school concert or other school event. This was the case for Deo, but there is also a back story that goes with this song.

As a young teacher putting together concert programs for my students, I enjoyed including an all-school finale for the ending of the concert. Particularly in schools with smaller populations, it was fun to have a large group of students singing together. At one point, I took a job at a larger school where I found out that Christmas concerts were historically long, drawn-out affairs. Because of this, parents were in the habit of leaving with their kids as soon as the class song had been sung. Here was the opportunity to use my all-school finale songs to their fullest advantage. In addition to having the great sound of all those combined voices, an all-school finale meant that all students were involved in the final song of the concert, so parents needed to stay!

Deo was written as the all-school finale for my first concert at this new school. I knew I needed something dramatic and worth waiting for. I also had to have something that was simple enough for the youngest students to sing while being musically interesting for the older students. The driving rhythm of Deo kept things exciting, the simple repetitive words in the opening chorus were easy to remember and more difficult words in the contrasting B section were handled by the older singers. In addition to these musical choices, I included simple hand clapping “choreography” which created visual interest and pizzazz.

The concert finale was a hit! Students loved singing Deo and the audience perceptibly gasped at the flashy ending of the song. That first Christmas concert finale became a tradition that I continued through my entire career – with new songs needing to be written in subsequent years, of course!

We recorded Deo on the Donna & Andy CD: It’s Christmas Time. We were delighted to be joined by a full choir and absolutely wonderful instrumentalists to create a smoking track for the recording. The instrumental track turned out to be a super accompaniment for use with young singers in schools.

The original Deo, with its more sacred lyrics, was included in the Christmas cantata I composed for my local church. This song has had quite a musical journey.

In subsequent years, as school concerts moved away from any reference to anything considered to be sacred, music teachers began asking me for lyric adaptations that were more generic. Those requests resulted in two variations for this song: Sing Together and Winter, Winter. In addition, the winter version of the song has a B section that is less busy lyrically and easier for younger singers, while still fitting with the original accompaniment. Deo has been around for a long time now and in a variety of forms!

You are invited

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

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

Send us your videos of Deo, Sing Together or Winter, Winter and perhaps we can post them here.

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It’s Christmas Time + It’s Winter Time

Andy Duinker — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:29:30 +0000

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It's Christmas Time

It's Winter Time

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for It's Christmas Time & It's Winter Time.

Part of a song collection

It's Christmas Time is one of 11 songs from the award-winning song collection It's Christmas Time. Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels in both French and English for singers age 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 146-page book provides the vocal score, full score and separate lyrics pages for 11 songs. Enjoy!

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

It's Christmas Time song collection is also available on Amazon.

Stream and purchase audio tracks

Stream or Purchase the It's Christmas Time tracks from many streaming sites including: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

Donna & Andy have yet to record It's Winter Time.

The It's Christmas Time CD and tracks (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental tracks - 22) are available for download or physical CD on this website.

Teaching Tips

Use this song to work on expressive singing.
Discuss the necessity of clear diction to present the text in the rapidly moving eighth note sections.
In a choral setting, use staggered breathing to accommodate the long, uninterrupted phrases indicated in the music.
Solo singers need to plan breathing spots that will satisfy the need to breathe while accommodating the flow of the phrases. Add breath marks to the score to assist with consistent practice.
When working on the long phrases, have singers move their hand in an arc to show the shape of the phrases.
Decide what to do during the instrumental verse. In addition to the option of including a solo instrument, this section can include gentle movement using scarves or humming the melody line.
If using an accompanist (rather than the recorded instrumental track) it is also acceptable to skip the instrumental section from rehearsal letter D – rehearsal letter E.

Colouring page - download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you listen to the song It's Christmas Time.

See more free colouring pages below

Composer's Notes

It's Christmas Time

I have been inspired to write many of my compositions to fill repertoire needs for my students throughout the school year. I wrote this song for one of the many, many school Christmas concerts I planned and presented with my elementary school students. It is a lot of work to put on a school concert with over 500 students, but it was one of my favourite things to do during my 35-year career as a music education specialist. The grade 4-5 elementary choir was the group that took on this challenging piece of music with its plethora of lyrics and quickly moving eighth note passages that required extra attention to diction. I am pleased to recall that they did a super job at the concert. As the years progressed, Christmas concerts often included more winter-themed songs to accommodate students who didn’t celebrate Christmas. New lyrics were created and “It’s Winter Time” found its way into concert rotation. I am always pleased to offer my teaching colleagues options so that my music is as versatile and useful as possible. Giving teachers the option to choose either Christmas or winter lyrics is one way to offer this versatility.

In 2006, when recording our Donna & Andy CD: It’s Christmas Time, my son Benjamin and Andy’s niece, Oriana played French horns for this song. These two young players did such a super job adding that magical horn sound to our recording. It has a special place in my heart as one of my favourite Christmas songs.

You're Invited

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

Send us your video of It's Christmas Time or It's Winter Time and perhaps we can post it here.

Free - download coloring pages for lots of Christmas Fun!

Free Download - 3 Christmas Coloring Pages

The post It’s Christmas Time + It’s Winter Time appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Get Up Christmas Mornin’

Andy Duinker — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:59:33 +0000

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Get Up Christmas Mornin'

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Get Up Christmas Mornin' & Get Up in the Mornin'.

Part of a song collection

The companion song to Get Up Christmas Mornin' is

Get Up in the Mornin' - and it 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 110-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)

Blue Skies and Pirates is also available on Amazon

Stream and purchase audio tracks

Stream or Purchase the Get Up in the Mornin' tracks from many streaming sites including: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

Donna & Andy have yet to record Get Up Christmas Mornin'.

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

Teacher Tips

Introduce the song

Initiate a discussion about Christmas memories.

Have the students ever written a letter to Santa?
What are things that students might do to get on the “nice list?”
What are things that students might do to get on the “naughty list?”
What time do students get up on Christmas morning?
Do students have to wait to get up until a specific time?
If they could only receive one gift, what would they want that gift to be?

Listen to the song or read the lyrics.

What is the message of this song? Don’t be grumpy and stay off the naughty list!
Is this good advice?

Expressive singing

Sing expressively to create a different presentation style for each of the verses.

Emphasize the lyrics by using:

dynamics
clear diction
facial movement
simple gestures

Improvisation

There are instrumental breaks between each verse (bars 29-40).

Have students use these instrumental bars to improvise using their own musical ideas.

Students may sing specific Christmasy words or sing scat syllables.

There is also the option to skip these bars (tracks are provided to accommodate both options).

Be a composer

Create your own verses for this song.

As a composer you will make musical decisions about the content of your song lyrics.

You may decide to sing about a gift you hope you receive, or perhaps you will sing about leaving Santa a snack.

Use the instrumental accompaniment tracks and sing your new lyrics.

Have fun composing!

Colouring page - download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you listen to the song Get Up in the Mornin'.

Composer's Notes

Get Up Christmas Mornin'

I was taking my son to a Scout Jamboree in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada. 14,000 Scouts from all over Canada were converging at a massive camp site for a week-long event. As we were heading to the camp on a bright and sunny day, the melody and the first verse of the song popped into my head. I started to sing as we walked from the parking lot to the central gathering location (it was quite a hike so I had some time!) My son has camped in some pretty uncomfortable weather conditions. He always had lots of stories to tell, but he really didn’t complain about the weather. He seemed to enjoy the challenge of surviving even rainy and snowy camping trips. He didn’t get that from his mother. I prefer to be protected from heat, cold, bugs and hard ground when I sleep. Despite my personal preference to avoid being involved in bad weather, I thought it made sense to include the advice not to be saucy to Mother Nature. At the end of the day, being grumpy doesn’t change the weather conditions but a good attitude can go a long way to improving the outlook of the situation.

A few years later, our Donna & Andy duo was invited to sing at a Christmas event. We were practicing some standard seasonal tunes when we started to change the lyrics of Get Up in the Mornin’ to fit in with getting up on Christmas morning. We sketched out alternate lyrics that worked for that concert and I include them with the original words so teachers can have an option for school and vocal studio Christmas concert presentations. The admonishment not to be grumpy or sassy also works in the context of staying off the naughty list!

You're Invited

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

Send us your video of Get Up Christmas Mornin' and perhaps we can post it here.

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O Little Town of Bethlehem

Andy Duinker — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:31:17 +0000

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O Little Town of Bethlehem

music by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio Sample

Listen to melody + accompaniment for O Little Town of Bethlehem as you follow along with the lyrics.

Composer's Notes

O Little Town of Bethlehem

I remember writing this melody. It was late at night and I was playing chord changes, just “noodling” and not really working on anything in particular. I have multiple tracks that I recorded during this session and when I listen to them in order, it is possible to hear how the song idea evolved until it reached its final form. It was certainly a process that became refined and molded through many repetitions.

The song’s plaintive, minor tonality seemed to me to require a serious topic for the song. I crafted lyrics about the weeping willow and the secrets it must hold in its branches and that cause the willow to weep. I don’t know what made me think to try the lyrics for O Little Town of Bethlehem with my melody. When I did so, I was delighted to discover that they fit with one minor lyric change. I like the words to this familiar Christmas carol but the melody by Lewis H. Redner has never been one of my favourites. Now, with my new melody I am happy to include O Little Town of Bethlehem as one of the Christmas songs I really enjoy playing and singing.

In addition to its use as a Christmas carol in unison, SSA and SATB arrangements and as the secular song “Willow” (words and music), my melody was edited for use as a Vocalise (a wordless vocal study) for inclusion in the Royal Conservatory of Music Voice Series, 2025 Edition (Vocalises 5). I also play this as an instrumental solo on my violin or on my accordion (see bonus tab below). That’s a lot of mileage for one song!

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

Send us your performance video - perhaps we might post it on this page!

Purchase option

O Little Town of Bethlehem (SSA) is also available through Full Voice Music

Bonus

O Little Town of Bethlehem uses the original melody from Donna's composition Willow. Enjoy this studio instrumental version of Willow from Donna's CD Musically Yours.

Send us your video of O Little Town of Bethlehem and perhaps we can post it here.

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Marching Music & Activities

Andy Duinker — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:21:03 +0000

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Marching Music & Activities

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

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

Marching songs - Audio

September March

January March

Teaching Tips

Discussion

Use Midnight March as a discussion starter.

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

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 performance video - we might be able to post it on this page!

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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Midnight March

Andy Duinker — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:04:40 +0000

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Midnight March

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

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

Teaching Tips

Discussion

Use Midnight March as a discussion starter.

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).

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.
As you listen to the song, move around the room keeping the beat by marching.
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.

Actions

Suggested actions are included in the PDF download.

Use the French translation, La marche de minuit to sing the song as a language study or a simple French song for a recital or concert.

Composer's Notes

Midnight March

I am always on the lookout for simple songs for my youngest students to sing. Kindergarten students have only a few short weeks of school before concert preparation begins. Often times this means they haven’t even discovered they have a singing voice, when suddenly they are being asked to sing in a group in front of a gym full of people. This can be daunting! The best plan of action is to choose songs with a melody that is easy for emerging singers to learn, simple repetitious words, and a few actions that help youngsters remember the words. Actions also give the audience a visually interesting performance.

At some point in my teaching career, I stumbled upon a song about toy soldiers. It had good “bones” but there were a few elements in the song that didn’t work the way I would have liked. I changed some lyrics, added some theatrical counting to begin and end the song and Midnight March was the result. Thanks to an unknown composer starting this song, I had a song that was a great addition to my concert. It became one of my favourite songs for young singers and I have included it several times over my teaching career, always with happy singers and great audience response.

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 performance video - we might be able to post it on this page!

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

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The Peace of Christmas

Andy Duinker — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:57:03 +0000

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The Peace of Christmas

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment + melody guide for The Peace of Christmas.

Arrangement details

Unison - Key of Eb

Download includes:

Vocal score
Lead sheet
Full score
Lyrics
Accompaniment track (piano only)
Accompaniment with melody guide
Bonus demo track – Treble unison choir (Singing in the key of F)

SSA - Key of G

Download includes:

Full score
Lead sheet
Lyrics
Accompaniment track (piano only)

SAB - Key of F

Download includes:

Full score
Lead sheet
Lyrics
Accompaniment track (piano only)
Bonus demo track – SAB Church Choir

Composer's Notes

I remember sitting in my elementary school music classroom writing this song. It was giving me trouble as I tried to fit my lyrics into 4/4 time. When I tried it in 3/4 meter, suddenly the words started falling into place.

Christmas can be such a magical time. People seem to be more willing to work on being loving and kind. We wish each other joy and peace and other wishes that are kind and generous. If only we could hold onto those feelings for the entire year!

My students sang this song as an all-school finale. It created goosebumps to hear over 400 young voices joining together in wishing everyone the “peace of Christmas”. Since that time, SSA and SAB arrangements have been created and, although the message seems simplistic, I think it is just as relevant for adults as it is for children. It would be my Christmas wish for all.

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 performance video - we might be able to post it on this page!

Send us your video of The Peace of Christmas and perhaps we can post it here.

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Waiting Patiently for Santa

Andy Duinker — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 20:30:34 +0000

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Waiting Patiently for Santa

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Waiting Patiently for Santa.

Part of a song collection

Waiting Patiently for Santa 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 Waiting Patiently for Santa (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

Expressive singing

Read the lyrics aloud to become familiar with the story being told in this song.

Singers will need to use clear diction, dynamics, breath energy and facial expression to tell this humorous story.

The lyrics “I’m waiting, waiting, waiting patiently” are easy to remember, but it can be challenging to sing these tongue-twisting words! Clear diction is very important in these sections. Use dynamic contrast to create an expressive presentation of the repeated words.

Staging suggestions

Students may dress in pajamas, slippers, etc. as if they are ready for bed on Christmas Eve.

Add visual props like a large clock set to 1:25, a plate of cookies, etc.

If there is access to a video screen, create a series of photos with students creating a visual “snapshot” of what is happening in the song. Project the photos on a large screen as the students sing the song.

Performance preparation

Waiting Patiently for Santa has a lot of lyrics, and no breath marks are indicated in the score. Explore the score to find natural breaks in the story – ends of sentences or commas, where it sounds natural to take a breath. Add breath marks in the score to assist with consistent practice of the spots you have chosen to include a breath.

Small groups and choirs have support between singers. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the use of staggered breathing to create continuity of phrases.

Composer's Notes

Waiting Patiently for Santa

I have always enjoyed a good story-telling song. Waiting Patiently for Santa has a musical theatre type of vibe to it. When creating the story for this song I had fun thinking about all the things a child might do while trying to wait patiently for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve. The fun of singing “waiting” multiple times in tongue twister style was challenging to sing but allowed for the chorus not to add to the overall “lyric load” of the song. I introduced this song to my grade 5 classes for the school Christmas concert. We all had a wonderful time with the story, the singing was exuberant– and it was a hit with the audience.

For my school concert, I accompanied my singers with a cheery and lighthearted piano accompaniment. When we (Donna & Andy) were creating a Christmas CD, Waiting Patiently for Santa was included as one of the songs. As I contemplated the CD accompaniment I decided to use a brass ensemble of French horn, trombone and tuba paired with the banjo. I have always enjoyed the banjo, and I thought it was a fun addition to the overall feel. The brass instruments gave the accompaniment a solid but jaunty foundation and the banjo added a bit of whimsy.

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 performance video - we might be able to post it on this page!

Send us your video of Waiting Patiently for Santa and perhaps we can post it here.

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Star Above

Andy Duinker — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:20:25 +0000

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Star Above

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

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

Part of a song collection

Star Above 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 Star Above (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

Discussion

Use Star Above as a discussion starter.

Discuss the meaning of the lyrics.

Expressive singing

Breath energy will be needed to support the long phrases in Star Above.

Discuss the places in the music where it makes sense to take a breath. Look for commas and ends of sentences and phrases for natural breathing spots. Sometimes a breath will need to be added quickly to ensure the long phrases can be managed.

Use dynamics and sensitive endings and beginnings of phrases to create an expressive performance.

Two-part singing

When singing Star Above as a two-part arrangement, be sure the melody line is the stronger part when harmony is added.

In the partner song section, when the melodies of Star Above and Great Big Stars are sung together, balance both melodies equally.

Extensions

French

Star Above has been adapted into French (Étoile du ciel). Older singers may enjoy learning both the English and the French versions as a language study.

Handbells

Details are provided in the PDF download describing how to achieve a “shimmering star” effect using handbells or metallophones.

Composer's Notes

Star Above is a reflective and personal song. It is heartfelt and serious with a strong message, although simply stated. When I discovered the American spiritual Great Big Stars in a music text book, I decided to insert it into my original song as a contrasting section. My students sang this two-song combination as a unison piece. One year when I was looking for a Christmas song for my choir to sing, the qualities of peace, hope, love and joy that are referenced in Star Above seemed to be a good fit so we changed “great big stars” to “Christmas star” and it became part of our Christmas repertoire.

We (Donna & Andy) included Star Above in the concert repertoire for our duo. It became a favourite song for us to sing and we recorded it on our Donna & Andy CD: It’s Christmas Time. In arranging the song for our mixed voices we determined that Andy would sing the opening original melody and I would sing the Great Big Stars section. When we started adding harmony, I realized that Great Big Stars would fit as a partner song with my melody with a few minor adjustments. The two songs became even more intertwined.

Star Above had its early beginnings with my school choirs and then it was recorded as a Donna & Andy song. It has continued its journey in the musical world by being included in the Royal Conservatory Voice Series as one of its exam pieces. It has been sung in many exams, music festivals, voice lessons and school concerts since its humble beginnings.

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

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Star Above concert performance - starts at 6:30

French version - Étoile du ciel

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

The post Star Above appeared first on Donna & Andy.

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!

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 performance video - we might be able to post it on this page!

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

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

The post Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good + Winter Time is Lots of Fun appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Christmas Archives - Donna & Andy

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Audio & Lyrics

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

Audio & Lyrics

Part of a song collection

Stream and purchase audio Tracks

Teacher Tips

Composer's Notes

You Are Invited