Five Little Snowflakes/ Five Shiny Stars – Beginning with one snowflake, each verse adds another snowflake and a new action until ending with five snowflakes. The same melody is used with alternate lyrics to create the song, Five Shiny Stars.

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Jiggle Wiggle Freeze! – Although technically not a winter song, this freeze dance is so much fun no one will mind sneaking it into a winter-themed concert. With tongue twisty movement words and fun freeze dance poses, this song is sure to become a favourite!

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Jingle Bells Scarf Activity – This song is one of the top traditional songs and it is about sleigh riding, not holiday specific at all. By singing only part of the chorus and then adding scarf movement, this is a great song for concerts early in the year with beginning singers. It has great visual appeal for concerts and it is lots of fun!

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

See My Little Candle / See the Snowflakes Falling – Sharing a small candle can make a big difference in the world. This delicate song is super effective with the addition of small battery-operated candles. It works for Remembrance Day or Veterans Day programs as well as any time a song about peace is the order of the day. Alternate snowflake lyrics are also provided creating even more versatility.

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Winter A to Z – Using the familiar alphabet song/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star melody, 26 wintery items are presented in this song. You may be surprised at some of the items that are included!

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

These five winter concert songs for Kindergarten and grade 1 singers (ages 5-7) have simple but memorable melodies, and lyrics that are repetitious or very predictable, keeping the lyric load attainable. Instrumental sections are often included to accommodate movement in addition to singing. Adding a featured movement section is a great way to prepare a song with greater length without adding more lyrics. Finally, the songs in this collection are fun for the kids to sing and entertaining for the audience.

The download includes student vocal scores (with permission to print as many copies as required) or teachers may choose to teach the songs by rote. Lead sheets and piano scores are also provided. Lyric sheets are included and are a real time-saver for teachers who can quickly make copies to send home for students to practice. Finally, the inclusion of piano accompaniment tracks with and without melody guide are a great help for teachers who want to be able to direct the students rather than being busy at the piano during the performance.

The book also includes concert planning tips, drawing on Donna’s experience from planning many, many concerts during her 37 years as an elementary music specialist. This collection of songs is a valuable addition to the music repertoire library in kindergarten and grade music classrooms.

Download includes:

• Vocal scores
• Lead sheets
• Director/piano scores
• Lyrics
• Accompaniments – with melody guide
• Accompaniments – piano
• Teaching Tips

The post Winter Concert Songs for Children – Vol. 1 – Grades K-1 (ages 5-7) appeared first on Donna & Andy.

The jaunty melody is sung with swinging eighth notes and a few spicy accidentals to keep things interesting. A two-verse song is created by changing only one line of the lyrics for the repeat of the song, giving young singers a longer performance experience without adding the stress of learning a lot of lyrics. The melody falls within the one-octave range C4-C5, ideal for young singers.

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Download Includes:

• Vocal score
• Lead sheet
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment – with melody guide
• Accompaniment – piano
• Teaching Tips

The post Fluffy Flakes of Snow appeared first on Donna & Andy.

This lyrical 3/4 meter melody supports the mood of the song and could easily fit into the lullaby category. Singers who have ever had a pet will be able to draw on that experience as they use expressive singing to convey the story presented in My Hamster.

The melody of My Hamster is written within a range of B3-D5, with only one brief dip to the lower notes stretching young singers a bit beyond their most comfortable singing range. A harmony part is included with a range of A3-B4, intended for students with access to a lower range and who are independent singers able to sing an alto line. This song works equally well as a solo or duet and as a unison or 2-part choir selection.

Cross-curricular activities are included extending the focus into other subject areas beyond the music classroom or vocal studio.

Listen to the Donna & Andy performance track:

Listen to melody + accompaniment - SAMPLE:

Download Includes:

• Vocal score
• Lead sheet
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment – with melody guide
• Accompaniment – with melody guide (alto)
• Accompaniment – with melody guide (duet)
• Accompaniment – piano
• Donna & Andy band – instrumental track
• Donna & Andy – performance track
• Teaching tips
• Colouring page
• 19 Cross-curricular Activities

The post My Hamster appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Names are an important part of music class activities. Being able to address all students by their names creates contact and lets them feel connected. They also benefit from hearing the names of their classmates. It is amazing how many students only know the names of a few of their classmates depending on the learning configurations in their regular classroom. Small group classes in a vocal studio may have a combination of students who don’t attend the same school or who are in different classes. Learning each others’ names is a good way to build rapport and community.

This collection of singing games includes a variety of welcome songs and greeting songs for students in grades K-2, ages 5-9; and name-learning songs and name games for students in grades K-6, ages 5-11. The songs include age-appropriate music skills, and they have a variety of styles including movement-based songs, action songs, challenging rhythm patterns, and other fun elements that engage children and encourage participation.

Download Includes:

• Vocal scores / Lead sheets
• Game instructions
• Accompaniment tracks
• Teaching Tips
• Blog post (pdf)

The post Welcome Songs, Greeting Songs and Name-learning Songs & Games appeared first on Donna & Andy.

This cheery melody has a showtune feel created with a bouncy accompaniment. A contrasting legato section with shades of minor tonalities suits the more reflective nature of the lyrics before returning to the fun romp through more childhood escapades that somehow go wrong. The interval jumps in the melody are a fun way to highlight and study intervals of a 3rd, 4th, 5th and octave. The range of Best Friends is C4-C5, excellent for the developing  voices of young singers.

This song is an entertaining solo and is also suitable for small group ensembles and elementary choirs.

Listen to the Donna & Andy performance track:

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Download Includes:

• Vocal score
• Lead sheet
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment - with melody guide
• Accompaniment - piano
• Donna & Andy band – instrumental track
• Donna & Andy – performance track
• Teaching Tips and Strategies
• Colouring page

The post Best Friends appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Written in a range that spans from C4 – D5, the melody is written in a jaunty swing style that young singers enjoy. See You Later, Alligator may also be sung as a call and response, 2-part song. This is a simple and fun way to start working on part singing with young singers.

Two accompaniment options are available. A piano reduction is provided that supports the vocal line while helping the melody ‘swing’ along. A full band accompaniment is provided creating a fantastic concert performance with a professional backup band giving strong singer support.

Listen to the Donna & Andy performance track:

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Download Includes:

• Vocal score
• Lead Sheet
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment - with melody guide
• Accompaniment - piano
• Donna & Andy band – instrumental track
• Donna & Andy – performance track
• Teaching Tips and Strategies
• Colouring page

The post See You Later, Alligator appeared first on Donna & Andy.

The lyrical melody of this song is written with simple rhythms. It offers two options: unison/solo or 2-part treble/duet arrangement. Harmony parts include an alto line for two sections of the piece and a descant harmony line for the final chorus. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce and encourage part singing and sharing the harmony responsibilities between the two parts.

The melody of I Will Be There is written to lie comfortably within the vocal range of young singers. Added versatility is provided with arrangements available in the Key of F or the Key of E♭.

Listen to melody + accompaniment

Download includes:

• Vocal score
• Lead sheet
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment – piano
• Accompaniment – with melody guide (unison/solo)
• 2-part arrangement - Accompaniment with separate Soprano 1 and Soprano 2 melody guides
• Teaching Tips and strategies

The post I Will Be There appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Valentine Mystery is a 3-note song using the tone set s-m-l. It is short and simple to accommodate young developing singers (K-1). Students sing a short verse as a class before someone is selected to be the solo mystery singer.

Guess Who focuses on individual singing for students in grade 1-3. Within a narrow range of a fifth, students sing easily accessible do-mi-so and so-mi intervals as well as step-wise phrases incorporating s-f-m-r-d. The “game” includes passing a valentine like a hot potato with the last person singing “Guess who” (using a s-m interval) as a solo. Students love guessing who the mystery singer is.

Valentine Name Game – This individual singing/name-guessing game moves within a range of a sixth and step-wise motion throughout most of the song. The final bar is a s-m, individual response and the opportunity for students to guess the mystery singer. This is a fun activity for the students and a great chance for teachers to assess pitch-matching skills. An extension rhythm activity is included creating a challenge for students in upper elementary classes.

Be My Valentine contains a fun rhythmic challenge. The word “valentine” is spelled out and letters are eliminated one by one as multiple verses are sung. Students may choose which letters to eliminate for each verse, creating a different rhythmic challenge every time the song is sung! This song works well with students in grades 2-3 (and even grade 4. My older students also request it!)

I Got a Letter is written for upper elementary students. The minor key creates a rich tonality and a complex melody for the singing part of the game. The end of this game involves reading or echoing rhythmic patterns. Teachers can change the rhythm pattern focus to tailor this singing game to a variety of skill levels.

All five songs have alternate non-Valentine lyrics so these singing games can be introduced as part of a Valentine theme and continue being used throughout the year.

Download Includes:

• Valentine Mystery (song)
• Guess Who (song)
• Valentine Name Game (song)
• Bonus: Valentine Name Game - Rhythm Challenge
• Be My Valentine (song)
• I Got a Letter (song)
• Teaching Strategies

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

Instructions are provided explaining five different activities that use the materials in this rhythm activity package. Rhythm and Valentine chant templates are provided, facilitating easy activity preparation!

Download Includes:

• Rhythm activity instructions (five options)
• Valentine chant templates (8)
• Valentine rhythm templates (8)
• Blank Valentine template

The post Valentine Rhythm Activity appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Young singers enjoy the 3/4 meter of The Penguin Ball as the penguins waltz at the ball. The descriptive lyrics and imaginative story line make this a wonderful song for exploring expressive singing. The melody is created with many combinations of descending and ascending thirds. The melody stays within an octave, between C4-C5, which is an ideal range for young singers.

The Penguin Ball is a lovely solo for young singers or a great concert performance song for young elementary choirs.

The Penguin Ball is one of four penguin songs by Donna Rhodenizer. The other three songs in her penguin collection are: Pondering Penguins, Penguin Parade and I Wonder.

The Penguin Ball is included in the Royal Conservatory of Music Voice Series, 2019 Edition: Repertoire 1, List B : 20^th and 21^st century Repertoire.

Listen to the Donna & Andy performance track:

Listen to melody + accompaniment:

Download Includes:

• Vocal score
• Director/piano score
• Lyrics
• Accompaniment - with melody guide
• Accompaniment - piano
• Donna & Andy band - instrumental track
• Donna & Andy - performance track
• Teaching Tips and Strategies
• 13 Cross-curricular Activities
• Colouring page

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