The Blog
Engaging, practical ideas, helpful tools, and creative
strategies to help you lead and teach with confidence
Singing is a full-body activity (source). And we know that movement is a valuable tool for helping children understand and engage with music.
This is why so many children’s choir directors and elementary music teachers teach songs and anthems with hand, arm, or body movement of some kind.
Sign language is a natural choice.
Fall is here, which means the return of Georgia football (Go Dawgs!), puffer vests, and apple everything (sorry, PSL).
It also means lots of repertoire planning and rehearsing for Christmas programs, musicals, and holiday concerts.
I recognize that some of you are in positions where you may be programming a holiday concert or program, whether that's a school or community setting or an interfaith musical celebration with area churches. If you're looking for choral music that touches on various Winter holidays and celebrations, I hope the list of anthems below is helpful to you.
Each year, I spend some time looking through the new choral releases: studying the scores and listening to recordings. Then, I curate my favorites for you here on the blog.
Today, I’m sharing six new anthem releases for unison/opt. 2-part choirs—several with optional instrumental parts, which creates opportunities to include other musicians, perhaps from your congregation. I’ll also tell you about a brand-new graded curriculum option for Fall 2022 (for those of you looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one resource) with a theme that really resonates in our world today.
I hope you find something you love for your children’s choir this year!
Games and musical activities are a fun and engaging way to introduce and reinforce new musical concepts and develop musical skills like listening, singing, expression, coordination, and internalizing a sense of steady beat.
Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite musical games and activities for elementary music classes, children's choirs, and elementary group classes.
Today, I’m sharing a collection of children’s choir anthems composed by women.
After all, March is Women’s History Month and over the years, it’s also become a time to celebrate women in music.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for your planning this year and seeking ways to include more diversity in the voices you share and represent, here are 36 children’s choir anthems written by women composers to help you get started.
Advent looks a little different this year, doesn’t it?
In the midst of a global pandemic, we know what it feels like to be a people walking in darkness, waiting for the light. We know what it feels like to hope for something and long for peace in the world.
This year, Advent takes on new meaning for us. But that doesn’t mean we have less to celebrate.
Whether you're gathering via Zoom or in person (6' apart), here's a fresh, creative resource you can use with your children's choir this season.
