Favorites from Pete Seeger

It is sad to say goodbye to Pete Seeger, who passed away yesterday at 94.  His music and stories for children are absolutely timeless, and we can help his legacy live on by sharing his work with children!

Here are four of my favorites that pop up every year - I hope you might take a moment to listen and, if you can, share.

Background Music

Just when I was beginning to feel uninspired by the regular rotation of classroom background music, Andrew Bird creates another beautiful instrumental album.

We'll be listening to this tomorrow as we print using plastic bags, create cave drawings for the big kid's learning night, and do jigsaw puzzles (this group is so into puzzles!).  It seems like the perfect autumn soundtrack for work and play.  We'll see what the kids think!

What, if anything, do you put on in the background in the classroom?  Kid music?  Elvis?  Classical?  Jazz?  I'd love to know!

Little Seed

I'm back in the swing of teaching in the garden, and I have found a lot of success using music.  I always love playing and singing Woody Guthrie songs with kids, and this is a sweet one that ties right into our conversations about seeds!

 

Little Seed

Words and Music by Woody Guthrie

Take my little hoe, dig a hole in the ground

Take my little seed and I plant it down;

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

We’ll all dance around and see my little seed grow.

CHORUS:

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

Let’s all dance around and see my little seed grow.

The rain it come and it washed my ground

I thought my little seed was going to drown

I waded and I splashed and I carried my seed

I planted it again on some higher ground.

Chorus

The sun got hot and my ground got dry.

I thought my little seed would burn and die.

I carried some water from a watering mill,

I said, “Little, you can drink your fill.”

Chorus

The snow it blowed and the wind it blew;

My little seed grew and it grew and it grew.

It grew up a cradle all soft inside;

And a baby was sleeping there covered over with vines.

Music and Games

There is something about old books that gets me, and I can't resist taking them home when they only cost 50 cents.

This book, Experiences in Music, came home with me from a thrift store in a very small town in the middle of Washington.  I feel that the preschool teaching repertoire can be a little stunted sometimes: we return to the same songs over and over again.  The classics are classic for good reason, of course.  But shaking things up, at a kid appropriate level, is important.  This book reminded me of a few songs that I had not sung with the children in a while (Frere Jacques, for example) and gave me some quick lessons in the development of singing in harmony.  That is not something we have (nor will likely) attempt, but the information is interesting nonetheless.

I came across a website months ago called Playtimes: A Century of Children's Games and Rhymes, and one song jumped out at me as one that the children might really enjoy called There Was A Lovely Princess.  

Digging a bit deeper, the motions to this playground game seem universal.  It is a circle or ring game, and the motions that the children use in the video are the same as the ones described here.  I can envision singing this song with the children, maybe using some picture cues to help us remember the words, and perhaps exploring the motions with a few children.  I have never been one for choreography with children, but this is more of a game than a performance.

I definitely recommend looking through the Playtimes website, and picking up cheap books whenever you can - you never know what discoveries might ensue.

Perpetual Melody Maker

I'm video happy - sorry!  I hope that as they next few weeks go along, I'll have more images and words from the classroom to share.  But inspiration keeps coming from all over the place, even Japan.



via Lullatone

Making Music Online

Late last spring, I introduced this Lullatone Raindrop Melody Maker into the classroom.  Some of the children found it interesting and tinkered around on it, but I never got the chance to bring it back in. 

Now I'm thinking about visiting it with this year's class, and perhaps this, the week before our spring break, is the right week to do some creative music making.

This site, Tone Matrix, is more controllable - you can make loops, but you can decide if you want the tones to be higher or lower, you can make chords or dissonance...it seems like it could be really interesting work for those children who are always at the piano with the headphones on, playing their three note compositions over and over again.  I think we would also be able to record the compositions using Audacity, a free recording program that we have installed on the computer.

Snore & Guzzle

I mentioned before that we were using Snore and Guzzle naptime radio hours during our rest time. As much as the whole idea of "rest time" is on the brink of complete reinvention in our classroom, those lovely mixes will be a staple.

I happened to put Snore and Guzzle into my google reader so I wouldn't miss the monthly update. My internet is moving at early nineties dial-up speeds right now, but I'm looking forward to hearing Radio Hour #16. The artists range from M. Ward to Danny and the Dreamers and Nina Simone and Bach; and it is described as "sounds good for ushering in hibernation". That sounds about par for the course here in rainy, windy, chilly Belgium.

It has 2 hours left to download here...I hope that your internet is working better wherever you are and you can make a cup of tea and enjoy the music!

Songs about our Moms

By Na and Ca. I captured this on video and pulled the sound out for a "single" -- each child took the lead on one song, and they performed both together.

My Mom Never Ever Sung Quiet

My Mama Said

I'm really looking forward to getting back into the classroom!

Making Music

Listen to this! Wow!

The music reminds me a little of the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack, which we have on in the background in the classroom quite often. I think all of these songs could be pretty inspriting for kids writing their own music -- simple sounds, creative "instruments". I've always wanted to do a music project with children...perhaps it will come around one day.

Come tomorrow for a song written and performed by two of my students!

Grizzly Bear + The Red Balloon

As is evident from yesterday, I love The Red Balloon, and I was so thrilled to come across this video at Uppercase Gallery a while back. It pairs one of my favorite songs of 2009 with footage from a beautiful, classic movie.



Grizzly Bear : Veckatimest

And if you're a music person, my brother writes about music over here -- its good reads!

music in transitions

When I moved to Seattle in 2004, the very first place I began working was as a substitute at the Hilltop Children's Center. I contacted them before I moved from New York, and I spent a few of my first days in Seattle working at this beautiful, Reggio inspired school.

I was thinking about one of my days at Hilltop on Monday when we were getting ready to end choice time. I said we would be done in 5 minutes...then in 2 minutes...then in 1 minute...then I asked the child with the job of bell ringer to "ring the bell". The bell rang, and, like some days, the blocks were kicked over, scarves were shoved onto the hat rack, and buckets and funnels were literally thrown into the water at the sensory table. More of a mess was created then when we were working.

So my thought is this (and I do have a point): Am I stressing them with all of the warnings and creating a clean up time explosion? I have this memory (which may be partially fictional because of my constant awe about how this EVER could have happened) of being at Hilltop during choice time/center time/free play/what have you, and the children took the cue from a piece of music to know when to clean up. It was a classical piece...a teacher turned it on with a few minutes left, and at a certain point in the piece, the children began to clean up and transition into the next activity.

Some children need the verbal warning, especially if transitions are difficult for them. We rest and eat in the classroom, so we need to make floor space and clear off the tables -- clean up has to happen. The verbal warnings and the bell work, but could using the music approach work and keep the room calm?

I found myself shuffling through my iPod on the bus home from work that day, thinking about what music would work. I'm intrigued. Is it a useful tool, or is it a Pavlovian signal?

Rain Rain Rain

For some reason, as I'm getting ready for the summer, I keep thinking about rain. Perhaps its because I grew up in New England, with really sticky, hot days that broke into thunderstorms that we loved to run around, wearing bathing suits and soggy sneakers.

The thunderstorm has left the classroom, but it is still raining quite a bit in Brussels!

This is fun. A few of the children really enjoyed making raindrop songs and loops -- and its a fun sound to hear coming from the corner of the classroom.

Maps!

and other map-like things.





















The concepts the children seemed to connect most with were:

• how do you get from one place to another?
• what is a map for?
• what do you see on the way to school?

The inspiration comes from observing the children with maps in the classroom, and from here. I was really struck by the dominoes, and how they looked like a trail or a road.

On an unrelated-to-the-classroom note, just the word "maps" makes me think of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Which in turn reminds me that Karen O wrote most of the soundtrack for Where The Wild Things Are. October cannot come soon enough.

keyboard magic

First, I couldn't find a keyboard. Then, I couldn't find heaphones. Then the headphone jack didn't fit into the hole thingy. Then the adapter didn't fit onto the headphone jack. Then I had no batteries.

But on Thursday, it all came together! Another teacher's keyboard, my headphones and adapter from home, and some batteries fresh out of the overnight charger. It was a beautiful day to just watch.

This one stayed for a long time, playing with her fingers, elbows, and chin, and experimenting with different note combinations and rhythms...



And this one swayed and nodded her head to her own beat.



I may spend the weekend on Belgian ebay searching for the perfect classroom keyboard.

Dancing Lessons

A little dance lesson for your Monday morning. Has anyone seen a full episode of Pancake Mountain? Perhaps you can find it on TV in the states or in Canada...

Tomorrow I'm going to start a weekly sharing of children's photography. I'll post one photograph each Tuesday. I hope that it might start some conversations about children's art and children with cameras. So please join in and let me know what you think!

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

This will be part of our week.



What's happening in your classroom?

Jump Up

Today is the last day of the winter break, and I have gotten myself so excited with all this music talk that we just might have to extend both morning and afternoon meeting tomorrow to fit in a little extra music!

But I do want to share one more favorite children's artist of mine... Dan Zanes. When I was in college, I worked at Books of Wonder in Manhattan, and we carried Dan Zanes' first album, Rocket Ship Beach, in a little pile on the counter. It was in a beautiful board book kind of packaging, and I bought it for myself, and then for everyone I knew under the age of eight. But I think it's great for all ages.

The second release from Dan Zanes and Friends was called Family Dance, and it has one of my favorite original songs from the group, Jump Up.

Jump up
Day is breaking
Jump up
Let's get shaking
I know you're lying down
Jump up
And we'll dance around



Since that first release in 2000, the band definitely took over New York and then the rest of the country quickly followed. They tour every year, playing family friendly venues on Saturday afternoons so the whole family can dance together! They include classic folk tunes on many of their records, exposing children to new sounds and languages. It is probably the most "kid-like" music of the artists I have been talking about, but I'm happy to include it in my music collection.

This coming week, I'll be talking about writing in the classroom, and hopefully giving you a peek into our current sewing project!

Rock Island Line

I was thinking about my aversion for recorded children's music yesterday. I do not think it is harsh to say I can't stand The Wiggles, but when I look through my own collection of music, there is music intended for an audience of children.

So I thought I'd share another favorite from Smithsonian Folkways.

Lead Belly Sings For Children is a definite classic, and a genre that children might not be exposed to often these days. And with 28 tracks, everyone is bound to have a favorite! Throughout history, countless artists have been inspired by the classic folk and blues played by Lead Belly.

And my favorite : Rock Island Line.

Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride,
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
If you want to ride, you got to ride it like you find it,
Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line.


Lead Belly - Rock Island Line

Enjoy!

Don't You Push Me Down

I have quite a low tolerance for recorded children's music. I do not want to be within miles of an album recorded by The Wiggles, or one of their many DVDs, for that matter. Although there is always music in the background at choice time in this classroom, there is a big range of genres and styles for the children to hear and experience.


But if I had to choose one children's album to listen to, even during my personal free time, it would be Nursery Days by Woody Guthrie. The lyrics are completely relevant to children's lives -- he was really able to put himself into a child's shoes. I have so many favorite songs on this album, but for children, I really really love Don't You Push Me Down. It's an anthem for playing nice, using your words, sharing, and fairness!

Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.
Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.

You can play with me,
You can take my hand,
We can skip together
Down to the pretzel stand.
You can wear my mommy's shoes,
You can wear my daddy's hat,
You can even get mad at me,
But don't you push me down.

Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.
Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.

You can play with me,
We can build a house,
You can take my ball,
And bounce it up and down.
You can take my skates,
And ride them all around,
You can even get mad at me,
But don't you push me down.

Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.
Don't you push me, push me, push me,
Don't you push me down.

You can play with me,
We can play all day,
You can use may use my dishes,
If you put them away.
You can feed me apples,
Oranges and plums,
You can even wash my face,
But don't you push me down.

Listen Here : Woody Guthrie: Don't You Push Me Down

Smithsonian Folkways is my mecca for music from other times, and from other places; and they have an amazing collection of Woody Guthrie's recordings.

I'll share more of my (and my students) favorites very soon.

Tegan, Sara, & Rufus Leaking

I heart Pancake Mountain, and you should, too.