Pre Schoolers' music

Subject: Pre Schoolers' music
From: GUEST,Visitor
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 05:09 PM

For the past year I have been doing the Children's story hour at a local public library. I generally have a large format edition of a book to read, and bring my guitar and play music. With the story hour scheduled during regular school hours the audience is of pre-school age, mostly two and three year olds. Although I'd spent 20 years teaching ten year olds, my initial outings were a struggle, trying to remember the attention span and developmental stage of the tiny ones. I've adapted, adn things are successful, but I'm looking for new songs that are age-appropriate, preferrably with activities to go along with them, or could be adapted. I'll list the songs I use the most.

Put your finger in the air
Jenny Jenkins
Jump Down, Turn Around, Pick a Bale of Cotton
Hokey Pokey
I had a Cat, the Cat Pleased me
This Old Man

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: PoppaGator
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 05:10 PM

C-H-I-C-K-E-N, that's the way to spell chicken
~Mississippi John Hurt

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 05:45 PM

I have an LP "My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record" Tim Hart and Friends. Songs on that are:

Oh The Grand Old Duke Of York
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
Hey Diddle Diddle
Little Jack Horner
Little Miss Muffet
Little Bo Peep
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Old MacDonald had a Farm
There was an Old Woman Tossed up in a Basket
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Boys and Girls Come Out to Play
Nick Nack Paddy Wack
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Bobby Shaftoe
Hush-a-Bye Baby
Humpty Dumpty
Lavender's Blue (Dilly Dilly)
London Bridge is Falling Down
Oranges and Lemons
Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be

It really is an excellent LP for pre-school children and all words are provided.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 05:57 PM

You couldn't do much better than the music of Ella Jenkins. There's lots available, and she's made a career out of singing easy, singable, mostly traditional songs for very young children.

Dan

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:20 AM

I can't agree more with Dan

Barry

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:38 AM

Oh, I've got a four year old grandson who has kept me challenged in finding fun songs since he was a baby. Now, I go to his preschool and do much you do. One big hit the kids keep asking for, over and over, is Toe-Knee-Chest-Nut. The actions are, as you sing "Tony Chestnut Knows I Love you," touch each body part as you name it, i.e. toes, then knees, the chest, then head (for nut), then nose, then eyes, then do the sign language for "love you" which is hands in fists arms crossed over your chest, then point at the children.

There's one he used to do with his teacher at another school which we just called the drive-drive-drive song "driving in my car, I'm a movie star, driving in my car, avroom, vroom, vroom!". They sat on the floor pretending to drive while the teacher named off the things a "Hollywood star" would have and they would pretend to put on, or sometimes had the hats, etc. to use. Items included a hat, scarf, sunglasses, yapping poodle, and turning the radio on. I'll see if I can find it for you.

You also can't go wrong in checking in at KIDiddles.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 07:24 AM

Going to the Zoo (Tom Paxton) is good if you want to add activities afterwards.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 08:46 AM

The Wheels of the Bus Go Round & Round was one we used to sing when I was a toddler. In the next verse the horn on the bus goes honk-honk-honk (or hoot-hoot-hoot, depending on which side of the Atlantic said bus is on), the-doors-on-the-bus-go-in-&-out, the-driver-on-the-bus-says-10-cents/pence-please, the-people-on-the-bus-say-No-more-room... I think you get the idea! Can't remember the last line, but it was the same every time, something like Along/On the road to [pick a destination: scansion suggests a 2-syllable name stressed like Boston/London].

You can sing this to any nursery-rhyme ditty - ours was basically Here-We-Go-Round-The-Mulberry-Bush (itself another candidate) in a slightly different rhythm. Somebody try PM-ing Azizi - she has a treasure-trove of material which may well include some gems for tiny children.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:01 AM

Hello!!

I just saw this thread this morning and planned to post to it before I saw Bonnie's gracious compliment. Thanks, Bonnie!

Some of my favorite work experiences were visiting with pre-school children at schools,community centers, church groups, private birthday parties etc. Although I rarely have time to do these presentations or other cultural presentations with older children anymore, I'm still interested in learning new material and will be following this thread with great interest. I'm happy to share some songs that I found children liked. Also, my daughter teaches kindergarten for the Pittsburgh {Pennsylvania} Public School District. I told her about this thread this morning when I saw it on the front page and she reminded me of certain songs. She also shared some other songs that were new to me. These kindergarten songs may also "work" for older pre-school children. However, some songs for kindergarten age children {usually ages 5-6 years old} are too complicated for most older pre-school children. I'm specifically thinking of color recognition songs that are sung as part of a circle game with one person or more than one person in the middle...

First, here's some general comments about pre-school/kindergarten age songs:

I've found that pre-school and kindergarten children prefer easy to learn {repetitious} songs that include physical movements or sounds that they can do. This age group also likes to sing songs that they KNOW regardless of the season or the occassion. For instance, I usually started a singing session or a musical instrument demonstration session with this age group by leading the children {and hopefully their teachers and other adult staff} in singing "Jingle Bells". I did this regardless of whether it was Christmas time or not. For this song, I usually handed out bells that the children could shake in accompaniment to the song. Btw, when I collect the bells or the other instruments after the hands-on presentation, I carried around a big colorful bag and told the children to say goodbye to the instruments as they put them in the bag. Another familiar song that I would lead the children in singing was the first verse of "Happy Birthday To You". We'd sing this song regardless of whether it was someone's birthday or not...

With regard to "The Wheels On The Bus", here is the song that I usually sing and have heard children singing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area:

The wheels on the bus go round and round
round and round
round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
all through the town.

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep
beep, beep, beep
beep, beep, beep
all through the town.

The windshield wipers go swish, swish, swish
swish, swish, swish,
etc.

The driver on the bus goes move on back,
move on back move on back
etc

The baby on the bus goes waah! waah! waah!
waah! waah! waah!

repeat first verse.

**

I'll add more songs in my next posts to this thread.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: topical tom
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:13 AM

I would suggest Doc Watson's "Songs for Little Pickers":

http://www.emusic.com/album/Doc-Watson-Songs-for-Little-Pickers-MP3-Download/10942393.html

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:27 AM

Before I forget, I want to second {actually "third"} the recommendation made earlier in this thread for Ella Jenkins songs.

I also want to give a shout out to Raffi. In my opinion, most of Ella Jenkin's songs and most of Raffi's songs are too advanced for even older pre-school age children. I think they are better suited for kindergarten, first, and second grade children. However, I think that Ella Jenkins records and Raffi records are great for background listening for pre-school age children. That link to Raffi's records includes one song that my daughter reminded me about this morning that might work for older pre-school children:

The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be.

'Cause your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends.

The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be.

**

Another song that I found most older pre-school and kindergarten age children in my area know is The Itsy Bitsy Spider. The children like to incorporate hand motions while singing this song.

**

Heads,Shoulders, Knees, And Toes is a good song that helps teach and reinforce recognition of body parts. With older children, I taught a faster version "Head And Shoulders Baby 1,2,3" which I believe is on an Ella Jenkins recording.

Heads,Shoulders, Knees, And Toes

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.

[When singing this song, children point to the designated part of their body]

**

Soeaking of songs that are familiar to children, when pre-school children are transitioning from one activity to another in the classroom or at home, a good song to sing with them is Barney {The Purple Dinosaur}'s Clean Up song:

Clean up. Clean up.
Everybody everywhere.
Clean up. Clean up.
Everybody do your share.

**

Another song that pre-school children in my area are taught is
If You're Happy And You Know It

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
[clap clap]
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands
[clap clap]
If you're happy and you know it.
then your face will surely show it.
If you're happy and you know it clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet.
[stomp stomp]
etc.

If you're happy and you know it say "Hooray"
Hooray!
etc.

If you're happy and you know it do all three
[clap clap; stomp stomp, Hooray!]
etc.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:41 AM

There's also a good counting down song:

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and broke his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys, etc.

There is a video of kids doing it on the righthand side of Simple Songs

I found that link from The Top Fifty Kids Songs blog.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:43 AM

Here's topical tom's link:

http://www.emusic.com/album/Doc-Watson-Songs-for-Little-Pickers-MP3-Download/10942393.html

**

One song that I found many pre-school children like to sing is Sesame Street's C Is For Cookie

C is for cookie.
It's good enough for me.
C is for cookie.
It's good enough for me.
C is for cookie.
It's good enough for me.
Oh, cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C.

-snip-

My daughter teaches children the American Sign Language alphabet. Children in her classroom make the C sign when they are singing this song. Also, she changes the song to fit some other letters of the alphabet {with children suggesting some objects/items that begin with that letter}. For instance, "A" is for apple/it's good enough for me/etc" and "B" is for ball/it's good enough for me".

**

See this link for the song Where Is Thumpkin :
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/thumbkin.htm . That website has a midi {the tune is Frère Jacques)and performance instructions.

Here are the words to the first verse as given on that website:

Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin? (Hands behind back)
Here I am (Bring right hand out from behind back with thumb)
Here I am (Bring left hand out from behind back with thumb)
How are you today, sir? (Move right thumb as if talking)
I am fine, thank you (Move left thumb as if responding.)
Happy day (Clap)
Happy day (Clap)

-snip-

The words that I sing are slightly different:

Where is thumbkin?
Where is thumbkin? (Hands behind back)
Here I am (Bring right hand out from behind back with thumb)
Here I am (Bring left hand out from behind back with thumb)
How are you today, sir? (Move right thumb as if talking)
Very well, I thank you (Move left thumb as if responding.)
Run away. Go and play. {Move hands behind back again}

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:55 AM

When I was working in a public library I decided to try something new. I picked good poems from the children's poetry books and put them to music, using simple chords. My nephew and nieces loved those songs.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:56 AM

Given the way the world is, I believe that race is still a factor in which songs may be more appropriate for which groups of children, and which song leaders. With regard to the song "Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed", I'd be careful with that song in certain settings-for instance if you are White and teaching that song to a group of children who are Black {given stereotypes which have associated Black people with monkeys}.

When I used the "Five Little Monkeys" song in my singing sessions with children {which was rare}, I changed the word "monkeys" to "children". And as another example, as an African American, I personally don't like {and would recommend that folks not use} the children's song "Jump Down Turn Around Pick A Pale Of Cotton". Yes, I know, there is considerable disagreement about this, and we've had a long discussion about that song on one or more previous Mudcat threads...

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 11:12 AM

I'd also like to share two songs that my daughter taught me this morning. Both are days of the week songs. My daughter learned the first song from her girlfriend who learned it from her 4 year old pre-school age son. He learned it from his pre-school teacher:

Today Is Monday
[to the tune "Oh My Darling, Clementine"

Today is Monday.
Today is Monday.
Today is Monday
all day long.
All day long today is Monday
Today is Monday
all day long.

[use this pattern for the other days of the week, and end with this verse]

There are 7 days.
There are 7 days
There are 7 days
of the week.
Every week
there are 7 days
There are 7 days of the week.

-snip-

Here's the 2nd days of the week song that my daughter sings with her kindergarten class. She learned it from another teacher:

Days Of The Week

[tune: "The Addams Family" television show theme]

Days of the week [snap snap]*
Days of the week [snap snap]*
Days of the week
Days of the week
Days of the week
[snap snap]*

There's Sunday and there's Monday.
There's Tuesday and there's Wednesday.
There's Thursday and there's Friday.
And then there's Saturday.

Days of the week [snap snap]*
Days of the week [snap snap]*
Days of the week
Days of the week
Days of the week
[snap snap]*


* snap your fingers two times.

This song might also work for older pre-school children:

Enjoy!!

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 11:15 AM

Certainly it works to change it to children, but a lot of children do not see the connotations. To them it is simply about monkeys. If I told a class of 2-4 year olds we couldn't sing that song because we would be calling them and/or their Black or mixed race friends "monkeys" because of their ethnicity they would not understand it and we would be planting that seed of difference in their minds. To them, their friends are their friends, no colour seen and they'd want to be "monkeys," too! It reminds me of Craig Ferguson, on late night tv. He uses a lot of common endearments from Scotland calling his whole audience his "cheeky monkeys" and means nothing racist whatsoever.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 11:18 AM

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Look around Mudcat and you will find:

1. Mudcat Blue Bottle Special
2. Mudcatter black walnut's CD
3. African American Spirituals Permathread
4. Digital Tradition databese with keywords

Each potentially better than the last.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:05 PM

katlaughing, with regard to the "Five Little Monkeys" song [and book series], I was referring to the potential problems that rightly or wrongly, some parents/guardians might have with that song.
I would never introduce that song for that age group with an explanation that I was changing the words, let along why I was changing the words. I was thinking of the case of the White school teacher who lost her job because she read that children's book about kinky hair to a classroom of Black children and at least one parent found out about it and complained. I understand that people may disagree, but in my opinion, sometimes adults need to consider their race and the race of their audience in the selection of appropriate singing, reading, and video material for children. I think this is a matter of an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of trouble {or however that folk saying goes}.

**

Susan, I didn't mention songs such as the African American spirituals "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" and "This Little Light Of Mine" because I've found that schools [in my area anyway] have restrictions about teaching religious songs. That said, I agree that these songs are great for older pre-school/early elementary school age children {and others}.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:12 PM

Correction:

The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together the happier we'll be.

'Cause your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends.

The more we get together
the happier we'll be.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:23 PM

sometimes adults need to consider their race and the race of their audience in the selection of appropriate singing, reading, and video material for children

I don't think you'll get any arguments from most of us on that, Azizi.

In the classes I am thinking of, one of which includes an African American teacher and her two sons, it would have been embarrassing for her and the rest of us if I pointed out that I was changing the words, even if it wasn't in front of the children. It would be that fine line people walk in order to not offend by being too PC, i.e. "some of my best friends are [pick your ethnicity of choice] or not sensitive enough. I don't make a habit of singing that song with them, but I also know she and her kids do not think of it that way.

kat

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:38 PM

Another correction:


My daughter said that first days of the week song I posted is sung to the "Oh My Darling, Clementine" tune, but here's the correct words:

Today is Monday.
Today is Monday.
Today is Monday all day long.
All day long today is Monday.
Today is Monday all day long.

etc.


**

Here's another days of the week song that my daughter wants me to share that is sung to the "Oh My Darling, Clementine" tune:

There are Seven Days
[to the tune "Oh My Darling, Clementine"}

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
There are 7 days,
There are 7 days,
There are 7 days in the week.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: topical tom
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:47 PM

Thanks for the blue clicky, Azizi! Usually I can do it but other times it defeats me!

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 01:00 PM

I am really spacing. Did I think I made a mistake and then posted the same words to that "Today is Monday" song???

Duh.

**

Tom, no problemo.

:o)

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Mo the caller
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 06:21 PM

The wheels on the bus lends itself to all sorts of improvisation
The mums on the bus go chatter, chatter, chatter....
The dogs...go woof...
The....(whatever the children suggest...lions, pigs,)
Babies crying, Dads snoring, children laughing, etc.

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 06:53 PM

Open, shut them (open hands,fingers up,then fists)
Open, shut them,
Give a little CLAP!
Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Fold them in your lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them (fingers crawling up)
Right up to your chin,
Open wide your little mouth, but
DO NOT LET THEM IN! (rush hands behind back).

Subject: RE: Pre Schoolers' music
From: Jeanie
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 04:41 AM

Have a look - and a listen - to "The Singing Kettle" at The Singing Kettle for original and old songs, lots of audience participation and great fun. They come highly recommended, not just by me but by many others on Mudcat - they have been mentioned on other threads here in the past.

- jeanie