Archive for the ‘Expert Info – First Hand’ Category
- In: Art of Singing a Song | Cabaret | Case for Singable Books | Expert Info - First Hand | Girl Scout Song | Heartfelt Musings | Lyrics | Out of the Mouths of Babes | Poetry | Power of Music | Quotes of Note | Sing Along Tracks | Sing Books with Emily Sing-Along Materials | Singable Book Title | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Song History | Written by ELEG
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Horse Sang a Song, Song
Words by Eloise Pauline Gleichenhaus
Tune by Eloise’s Mom
Illustrated by Eloise Pauline Gleichenhaus
Sing along with Eloise’s Mom Emily, here:
https://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/horse-sang-a-song-song
To view or print this poem poster, click here:
HORSE SANG A SONG SONG EPG POSTER 2013
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Eloise’s handwritten poem:
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THE HORSE SANG A SONG, SONG
Words by Eloise Pauline Gleichenhaus
Tune by Eloise’s Mom
Sing along with Eloise’s Mom Emily, here:
https://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/horse-sang-a-song-song
I saw a brown horse.
She sang a song.
A horse of course.
I sang along.
The horse was pretty.
She combed her hair.
The horse was witty.
She not care.
I saw a brown horse.
She sang a song.
A horse of course.
I sang along.
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Related Posts
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LITTLE SONGS, A NOTEBOOK OF SWEET LITTLE SONGS (MOSTLY SINGABLE POETRY) FOR TO SING WHEN YOUR BRAIN FEELS FUZZY
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/little-songs-a-notebook-of-sweet-little-songs-mostly-singable-poetry-for-to-sing-when-your-brain-feels-fuzzy/
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PINTEREST
FAVORITE SINGABLES ON PINTEREST
Of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of choices, this list on Pinterest displays the top blockbuster favorite Singable Picture Books that we warble together at Sing Books visits:
http://pinterest.com/singbooksemily/
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POETRY SINGABLE POETRY IN COMPILATIONS
An list of singable poems from compilations of poetry for children
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/singable-poetry-a-list-of-poems-that-can-be-sung-from-illustrated-compilations-of-poetry-and-singable-picture-books/
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POETRY, SINGABLE POETRY IN INDIVIDUALLY ILLUSTRATED SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
A list of individually illustrated poems that have been set to music and can be sung
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/poems-individually-illustrated-spb/
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SONGS BY EMILY
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/songs-by-emily/
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GALLERY OF KIDS ARTWORK FOR SBWE
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/praise-portraits-from-friends-of-sbwe/
My friend Doug posted this article on his Facebook page:
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Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle During ‘Idol’
http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/why-harry-connick-jr-couldnt-sit-idle-during-idol
It makes a great point that’s been on my mind ever since Idol started. I didn’t watch this year, so have no idea who is singing. What I’ve enjoyed so much in previous years is watching a bunch of young kids follow their hearts and dreams to do something they love and to participate in an artistic pursuit.
And it IS a vocal competition.
BUT…
I believe that true art comes from knowledge of the subject and Harry Connick Jr. is right to hold their feet to the fire in Songs from the Great American Songbook. It is important to me as a performer to feel worthy of being listened to…and not just vocally. The “worth” comes from knowing what I am singing, what I am singing about, the song history, the words, the music, the composer and lyricist. I want to know and understand why the song was written, when, and for what reason. And I want to know and understand my own reason for singing the song, what do I personally think it means, what is my vision and perspective. What am I trying to say. What experiences in my life come to play in the song. What does it remind me of and what experiences come along which change or contribute to my experience of the song. What do I have to share and contribute?
This whole blog is about exploring the REASON for singing, to support my effort in being worthy of singing these songs.
Someone said, “Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.”
There is so much more to the art of sharing songs than just standing up and sounding good.
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The Art of Crafting a Song for Performance
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The Art of Singing and Crafting a Song for Performance: Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet
This worksheet details my process for crafting a song for performance.
For Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet, click here:
Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet
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Related Posts
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GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Singable Picture Books of the Great American Songbook and Michael Feinstein’s Foundation for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/american-songbook-singable-picture-books-and-michael-feinsteins-foundation-for-the-preservation-of-the-great-american-songbook/
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INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
Singing is Good for You
Posted on: April 24, 2013
My friend “Liked” Vocal Yoga’s comment on Facebook, which said:
SINGING DETOXIFIES THE BODY
There are three ways to eliminate toxins from the body: perspiration, going to the bathroom and exhalation. Singing is physiologically delaying exhalation (extending the breath so we can sing). By slowing down the outflow of breath, the lymphatic system is stimulated, the capillaries and alveolar sacs of the lungs are stimulated and more toxins are released. Singing also improves the immune system and releases endorphins. A study at the University of Southern California reported higher levels of immune system proteins in the saliva of choristers after performing a complex piece of music.
http://www.vocalyoga.com
I cannot scientifically confirm these claims, but as a person who sings for and with others nearly every day, I call tell you from the bottom of my heart that singing makes me feel great.
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Related Posts
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INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
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WHOLE CHILD
Teaching the Whole Child…music and the experience of live performance are important
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/teaching-the-whole-child-music-and-the-experience-of-live-performance-are-important/
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WHY TEACH MUSIC
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/why-teach-music/
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Ten Great Reasons to Sing (by Dr. Jean)
Dr. Jean, who has a great website about the benefits of music in the classroom, has posted TEN great reasons to sing and some great quotes praising the power of music. Read it all here:
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2009/06_Jun/pg01.html
Brown Baby Reads, a Website and Database Committed to Literacy for African American Children
Posted on: March 24, 2013
My friend recently sent me a link to this wonderful website and organization which is “committed to celebrating and encouraging literacy in African-American children.” But children of any color or background can certainly benefit of inspiration and learning by reading and enjoying these fantastic books!
Link the BROWN BABY READS website:
http://brownbabyreads.com/
Once registering with the site, you get access to the large searchable African American Children’s Book database (which includes a large selection of books with a musical theme).
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Related Posts
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AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
A list of Singable Picture Books that celebrate February is African American History Month
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/singable-picture-books-celebrating-african-american-history-month/
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BLUES, THE BLUES
The Blues in Illustrated and Otherwise Musically Related Picture Books (yet another list inspired by Nikki)
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TOLERANCE AND COMPASSION
Singable Picture Books Celebrating Tolerance and Compassion (another list inspired by Nikki)
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/singable-picture-books-celebrating-tolerance-and-compassion-another-list-inspired-by-nikki/
Classic Children’s Songs, a Remarkable CD Collects Musical Settings of Many Illustrated Classic Poems for Children
Posted on: March 20, 2013
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Classic Children’s Songs
Produced by Just Accord Music, 2006
This remarkable CD includes musical settings of many classic children’s poems, many of which have been illustrated in compilations of children’s poetry or individually illustrated books, including (listed in alphabetical order, not by track order),
| track | title | poet | composer |
| 24 | Bilbo’s Last Song | JRR Tolkien | Donald Swann |
| 11 | Buckingham Palace | AA Milne | Harold Fraser-Simson |
| 7 | Dream-song | Walter de la Mare | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| 13 | Duck and the Kangaroo, The | Edward Lear | Victor Hely-Hutchinson |
| 27 | Duck’s Ditty | Kenneth Grahame | Barbara Reynolds |
| 19 | Engineer, The | AA Milne | Harold Fraser-Simson |
| 30 | Five Eyes | Walter de la Mare | Cecil Armstrong Gibbs |
| 9 | Full Moon | Walter de la Mare | Herbert Howells |
| 20 | Granny | Spike Milligan | Mervyn Dale |
| 12 | Hello Jolly Guardsman | Spike Milligan | Mervyn Dale |
| 3 | Henry King | Hilaire Belloc | Liza Lehmann |
| 32 | How Doth the Little Crocodile | Lewis Carroll | Harold Fraser-Simson |
| 8 | Lady Who Loved a Pig, The | Traditional | Arr. By Celius Dougherty |
| 23 | Lamplighter, The | RL Stevenson | Malcolm Williamson |
| 10 | Malice at Buckingham Palace | Spike Milligan | Mervyn Dale |
| 15 | Merrow Down | Rudyard Kippling | Edward German |
| 29 | Mr Majeika’s Song | Humphrey Carpenter | Chris de Souza |
| 18 | Mr. Kartoffel | James Reeves | Betty Roe |
| 2 | My Bed is a Boat | RL Stevenson | Malcom Williamson |
| 17 | My Boy Jack | Rudyard Kippling | Betty Roe |
| 31 | Namarie | JRR Tolkien | Donald Swann |
| 16 | Of All the Tribe of Tegumai | Rudyard Kippling | Edward German |
| 1 | Owl and the Pussycat, The | Edward Lear | Victor Hely-Hutchinson |
| 6 | Pancake Tuesday | Eleanor Farjeon | Andrew Carter |
| 21 | Poor Henry | Walter de la Mare | Lennox Berkeley |
| 4 | Singing | RL Stevenson | Howard Blake |
| 26 | Slow March | Lyman Brewster | Charles Ives |
| 22 | Smuggler’s Song, A | Rudyard Kippling | Christopher Le Fleming |
| 14 | Sweet Isabel | Marjory Fleming | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| 25 | Swing, The | RL Stevenson | Ronald Stevenson |
| 33 | Theodore or The Pirate King | John Masefield | Lord Berners |
| 28 | Tit for Tat | Walter de la Mare | Benjamin Britten |
| 5 | Vespers | AA Milne | Harold Fraser-Simson |
| 34 | When the Golden Day is Done | RL Stevenson | Ronald Stevenson |
| 35 | Wynken, Blynken, and Nod | Eugene Field | Arthur Somervell |
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Texts for the poems that are sung on the CD found at this link:
http://www.justaccordmusic.com/texts/childhoodsongs.htm
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Classic Children’s Songs, a Remarkable CD Collects Musical Settings of Many Illustrated Classic Poems for Children
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/classic-childrens-songs-a-remarkable-cd-collects-musical-settings-of-many-illustrated-classic-poems-for-children/
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A. A. MILNE
Almost all Pooh and Poetry by A. A. Milne and Illustrated by E. H. Shepard is Singable!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/a-few-favorite-singable-books-the-world-of-a-a-milne/
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CHILD’S GARDEN OF VERSES
Most Robert Louis Stevenson’s book of poetry for children have been set to music
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/a-childs-garden-of-verses-singable-poems-by-robert-louis-stevenson/
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
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EDWARD LEAR
A list of books with musical settings of, and illustrating Singable Picture Book versions of, Edward Lear’s poems:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/singable-picture-book-spotlight-1302011-edward-lear-and-william-mathias-learsongs/
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ILLUSTRATED SONGBOOKS AND COLLECTIONS (COMPILATIONS) OF CHILDREN’S SONGS WITH MUSIC
This list is populated by books that compile printed music and illustrations for children’s songs
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/illustrated-collections-of-childrens-songs-with-music/
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POETRY SINGABLE POETRY IN COMPILATIONS
An list of singable poems from compilations of poetry for children
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/singable-poetry-a-list-of-poems-that-can-be-sung-from-illustrated-compilations-of-poetry-and-singable-picture-books/
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POETRY, SINGABLE POETRY IN INDIVIDUALLY ILLUSTRATED SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
A list of individually illustrated poems that have been set to music and can be sung
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/poems-individually-illustrated-spb/
Two Blues to Make People Happy
Posted on: March 13, 2013
I stumbled over the same idea twice in two completely different places this week.
I’m studying up for an event that I’m getting to participate in early this coming June. The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation is hosting their annual Tinner Hill Blues Festival and I’m honored to have been asked to share Singable Blues related picture books with children at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library in Falls Church, VA. We worked out the song/book list from my existing repertoire, but I am interested in learning more and finding new Singable Picture Books to suit this delightful subject.
This was on my mind when…
On Monday, I got to visit Ms. Campbell’s class and we enjoyed I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog. Two things about the song confuse the kids a little. When the Big Blue Frog is said to have “Rhythm and a PhD,” kids generally want to know what a PhD is. Great to know they are paying attention enough to ask about that! If I were smart (and I plan to get smart any day now) I’d remember to give them a brief explanation of terms before hand). They also want to know about the PHROG. They’ll speak up and want to know what that’s all about. I tell them how in the crazy English Language, PH makes an F sound, and how I think that the reason the songwriter put that into the song is because it gives a second example of how the singer (or narrator of the story) is willing to look at things in a different way. She falls in love with a Big Blue Frog (to which one of the children responded, “and how many people do you know who fall in love with Big Blue Frogs?”) and she spells “frog” PHROG.
The same child said, “Also, I think it’s just to be funny. Sometimes people make things up just to make people happy.” From a child in Kindergarten!
The next day I was searching around for Blues Related Singable Picture Books and stumbled on a video featuring the late night talk show host and comic Conan teaching a group of school children about The Blues and working with these first graders to write a Blues song. Hilarity results, but he begins by telling them the purpose of the Blues as a musical art form, ”Now, here’s what we do. To write the Blues, you write about something that’s making you unhappy. And by singing about something that makes you unhappy, it makes you feel better…”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7f26d-AIrM
Interesting that in two musical Blues, we get examples of how the existence of it makes us happy! I also like how, though I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog is not traditionally a Blues song, it does fit Conan’s definition in that the song deals with a subject that is painful for some (interracial couples not feeling welcome in their communities) in a way that has the potential to be humorous and to make people happy.
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I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog
Words and Music by Leslie Braunstein
Performed by Peter Paul & Mary
Illustrated by Joshua S. Brunet
ISBN 978-1-936140-37-4
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Related Posts
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THE BLUES, in Illustrated and Otherwise Musically Related Picture Books (yet another list inspired by Nikki)
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Singable Picture Books Celebrating Tolerance and Compassion (another list inspired by Nikki)
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/singable-picture-books-celebrating-tolerance-and-compassion-another-list-inspired-by-nikki/
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AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
A list of Singable Picture Books that celebrate February is African American History Month
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/singable-picture-books-celebrating-african-american-history-month/
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MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr.
A list of SPBs celebrating the life, legacy and January 16 National Holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/singable-picture-books-honoring-the-legacy-of-dr-martin-luther-king-jr/
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PETER YARROW SONGBOOK
A list of the Singable Picture Books from the Peter Yarrow Songbook series:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/the-case-for-singing-with-children-from-peter-yarrow/
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The Folk Process and Peter Yarrow’s Songbook Series
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/the-folk-process/
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Peter Yarrow Songbook Series, the Importance of Singing for Others and the Folk Process
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/the-case-for-singing-with-children-from-peter-yarrow/
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FUNNY SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
That’s Hilarious! A List of Singable Picture Books that’ll Crack You Up!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/thats-hilarious-a-list-of-singable-picture-books-thatll-crack-you-up/
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TWO BLUES TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/two-blues-to-make-people-happy/
The Songs We Sang 2/25 – 3/5, 2013
Posted on: March 10, 2013
- In: Art of Singing a Song | Cabaret | Case for Singable Books | Expert Info - First Hand | Heartfelt Musings | Nursery Rhymes and Mother Goose | Poetry | Power of Music | SBWE in Person | SBWE Sing-Along Program for Classrooms and Families | Sing Books with Emily - the Cabaret | Sing Books with Emily Sing-Along Materials | Singable Book Title | Singable Poem | Singable Poetry | Songs We Sang | Written by ELEG
- Leave a Comment
This post includes song we sang over two school weeks, even if THIS school week consisted only of Monday and Tuesday, shortened by Parent-Teacher Conferences and the unscheduled day off yesterday thanks to the snowstorm, which, in DC and Arlington amounted to only wet slush.
In the last two weeks, I got to visit (once or twice in the case of visits scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays) the classes of Mr. Grasso (2), Ms. Campbell (K), Ms. Morgan (K), Ms. Everett (K), Ms. Mason (K), Ms. Allen (2), Ms. Howard (2), Mr. Mitchell (K) and Ms. Shorter (K).
We enjoyed singing songs from the following list, organized in alphabetical order:
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All God’s Critters
Words and Music by Bill Staines
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2009
ISBN 987-0-689-86959-4
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Amoeba Hop
Words and Music by Christine Lavin
Illustrated by Betsy Franco Feeney
This book features a study of amoeba life, printed music and a live recording of “Amoeba Hop” by the amazingly hilarious and talented singer/songwriter
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We also used the American Sign Language Alphabet when we sang A-You’re Adorable
A-You’re Adorable
Words and Music by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise and Sidney Lippman
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
This item is for classroom, home, or library use only.
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The Big Bell and the Little Bell
Words and Music by Martin Kalmanoff
Illustrated by Alastair Graham
(This book is packaged with a CD with two recordings of the song!)
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Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Tedd Arnold
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C’mon an Swing in My Tree (The Sunflowers)
Words and Music by Michael Taylor Fontaine
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
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Don’t Laugh at Me
Words and Music by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin
Afterword by Peter Yarrow
Illustrated by Glin Dibley
This book features printed music and a sing-along CD.
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Grandma’s Feather Bed (John Denver’s)
Words and Music by Jim Connor
Adapted and Illustrated by Christopher Canyon
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I’m a Manatee
Words by John Lithgow
Music by Bill Elliott
Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
(This book includes a vocal and instrumental track on a sing-along CD as well as a printed music…TERRIFIC!!)
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I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog
Words and Music by Leslie Braunstein
Performed by Peter Paul & Mary
Illustrated by Joshua S. Brunet
ISBN 978-1-936140-37-4
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Inch by Inch (The Garden Song)
Words and Music by David Mallett
Illustrated by Ora Eitan
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Late for School
Words and Music by Steve Martin
Illustrated by C.F. Payne
Published by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group, New York, 2010
ISBN 978-044-6-55702-3
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The Marvelous Toy
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
Illustrated by Steve Cox
(This book is a far and away favorite with the Kindergarten set. It comes with a wonderful CD that has Tom Paxton singing on one track with a separate instrumental track, including a clearly played melody line, so you can sing solo…a wonderful edition!)
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Over the Rainbow
Words and Music by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Illustrated by Eric Puybaret
Published by Imagine Publishing Inc.
ISBN 978-1-936140-00-8
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The Owl and the Pussycat
Words by Edward Lear
Musical Settings by Various Artists
Illustrated by James Marshall
(The poem has been set to music a few times. But, for a tune to sing along, I suggest the “Owl and the Pussycat,” vocal track by Lorraine Nelson Wolf on her album “Come Follow Me,” Track 16)
Sing “O&P” along with Emily: http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/o-p-eleg-061909
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Puff the Magic Dragon
Words and Music by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton
Illustrated by Eric Puybaret
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Rhode Island is Famous for You
Words by Howard Dietz
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Book Assembled by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
This book is for home and classroom use only.
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The Swing
Poem by Robert Lewis Stevenson
Traditional Tune
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Originally Published in A Child’s Garden of Verses
ISBN 978-1897476482
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Words by Jack Norworth
Music by Albert Von Tilzer
Illustrated by Amiko Hirao
Performed by Carly Simon
This edition gets a GOLD STAR for including the FULL song (both verses and chorus) and a fabulous recording of Carly Simon and her delightful arrangement she made for Ken Burn’s documentary Baseball.
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United States State Capitals Song
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
If you are interested in a copy of this book, please email: SingBooksWithEmily.att.net, or lave a comment to this post.
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Who is on the United States Money Song
Sing to the Tune of the Can-Can
Words by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Pictures Coordinated by Emily Leatha Everson Gleichenhaus
Hear the song and sing-along with Emily at this link:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/who-is-on-the-us-money-song
If you are interested in a copy of this book, please email: SingBooksWithEmily.att.net, or leave a comment to this post.
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Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Poem by Eugene Field
Music by Various Artists (Including Carly and Lucy Simon)
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
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Yankee Doodle (A Song from the American Revolution)
Traditional Words and Tune
Illustrated by Todd Ouren
(This book features printed music, a page of song history, and activity ideas)
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Yellow Submarine (Sing-A-Song Storybook)
Words and Music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Illustrated by Cathy Holly
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Post Script:
I look over this list and my heart swells with delight that these songs are being kept alive, not just by my singing them, but knowing, too, that the kids are taking these songs into their hearts and will someday share them with others.
These songs are a common thread. We share these songs with each other and all the people who sang them before us. In doing this, we participate in our musical heritage and artistic culture. And, these songs connect us to people in the past and all those yet to come. What joy it is to be part of, to paraphrase the song from The Lion King, the Circle of Song.
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Related Posts
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
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POETRY SINGABLE POETRY IN COMPILATIONS
An list of singable poems from compilations of poetry for children
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/singable-poetry-a-list-of-poems-that-can-be-sung-from-illustrated-compilations-of-poetry-and-singable-picture-books/
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POETRY, SINGABLE POETRY IN INDIVIDUALLY ILLUSTRATED SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
A list of individually illustrated poems that have been set to music and can be sung
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/poems-individually-illustrated-spb/
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BASEBALL SONGS
The Singable Picture Books of Baseball
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/the-singable-picture-books-of-baseball/
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FOURTH OF JULY AND OTHER HOLIDAYS CELEBRATING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND HER CITIZENS AND HISTORY
A list of Patriotic Singable Picture Books
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/a-patriotic-list-of-singable-books-for-july-4th/
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FUNNY SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
That’s Hilarious! A List of Singable Picture Books that’ll Crack You Up!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/24/thats-hilarious-a-list-of-singable-picture-books-thatll-crack-you-up/
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SUNDAY SCHOOL SONGS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/sunday-school-songs-in-singable-picture-books/
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SING-ALONG RESOURCES AND PRINTABLE MATERIALS
This is the place to find Print Materials Created by Emily, Service Providers, Vendors, Audio and Video to help you SING-ALONG!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/sing-along-resources-2/
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SINGABLE ART ON PINTEREST
this list on Pinterest displays images of Singable Art, works of art that are about songs, support a song, or the subject of a song:
http://pinterest.com/singbooksemily/
Each time I sing the song Don’t Laugh at Me, I am more and more convinced about the importance, relevance and vitality of its message and I am inspired by the beautiful way it is constructed. The song conveys it’s meaning not just in the words, but the sound of the music and the feelings that combination inspires. I can see it on the faces of the children as I sing to them. Some of the older children, I have noticed, resist the message at first, but it is interesting to watch the music break through the resistance. Younger children seem to plug into the music immediately. It is amazing to watch empathy and compassion kick in.
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Don’t Laugh at Me
Words and Music by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin
Afterword by Peter Yarrow
Illustrated by Glin Dibley
This book features printed music and a sing-along CD.
I’ve only just begun singing this song in the last couple of days. I got teary and choked up in the first class, but have been able to find a place where it is possible to sing the song and experience and share the emotion at the same time. Finding that line of emotional involvement and detachment while simultaneously sharing the message is the central challenge of this beautiful song.
I start out by telling the children that there are different ways to classify and experience the songs we sing. I sincerely hope all the songs are equally enjoyable, but we sing some of the songs just because they are great songs that are fun to sing. Some of the songs have historical or factual information in them that can help us learn and remember. Some songs represent a particular time in history or an aspect of our artistic culture. And some songs are important because they help us understand each other in ways that may otherwise be difficult to articulate.
Don’t Laugh at Me is one of those important songs. Don’t Laugh at Me is an important song because it reminds us to remember the feelings and dignity of others, not matter what. It reminds us that empathy and compassion for others is one of the most important aspects of a civilized society.
Personally, I feel that each person has a mission to fulfill in this life and, no matter what that mission is, that mission cannot be fully achieved without embracing empathy and compassion for others. Don’t Laugh at Me embodies those profound ideas is such a simple, sweet and lovely way. The song is accessible and beautiful and I am so glad to be able to share it with anyone who will listen.
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Related Posts
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
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PETER YARROW SONGBOOK
A list of the Singable Picture Books from the Peter Yarrow Songbook series:
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/the-case-for-singing-with-children-from-peter-yarrow/
Videos Reveal Some of the Benefits of Teaching with Songs (including stickiness)
Posted on: March 1, 2013
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A tidbit about the benefits of Teaching with Songs (with Devon Thagard):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ipFmddFi8
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Another little tidbit about the benefit of teaching with songs, in particular regarding “song stickiness” (sounds kinda gross, but it’s really very wonderful!)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zthUzh0daww
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Related Posts
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
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INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
