Music K-8 Music Sampler Podcast

What if Mozart had written "Joy To The World," or if Beethoven had arranged "Angels We Have Heard On High," or if Haydn had composed "Jingle Bells"? Other arrangements include Vivaldi's take on "Silent Night," Bach's version of "Away In A Manger," and Pachelbel's "The First Noël." These six arrangements for bells with orchestral accompaniment will have your players feeling like they are part of a symphony!

Group percussion playing is a great way for young students to learn to play in an ensemble and read rhythms with precision. For years, rhythm sticks were a good start, but bucket bands provide even more fun and can motivate your classes in a special way. Songs from this collection include: Ukrainian Bell Carol, Pat-A-Pan, The Holly And The Ivy, While By My Sheep, Mary Had A Baby, and Fum Fum Fum.

Capture the spirit of the season, as well as the attention of your students and audiences alike, with these eight glorious songs. It includes: Glo-glo-glorious!; Here We Come A-Caroling; Christmas Jubilation; Santa's Getting Fit For Christmas; Candy Cane Lane; Christmas Tree, What Will You Be...; Like Diamonds In The Night; and Have A Happy, Happy Holiday.

Whether they are common pets like cats, dogs, or birds, or more uncommon ones like lizards, horses, or ducks, the fact remains: We love our pets! In order to be inclusive of all of your singers, even the very youngest, we have made this song pretty easy. The verse repeats exactly, as does the chorus, and the bridge is simple and short. Plus, it's all in unison. The style is also fun and familiar – sort of a retro-ish pop feel with a bit of a Latin undercurrent.

The recording builds beautifully from just a piano and soloist to a three-part harmony backed by a full orchestra. If you'd rather, the whole piece can be performed in unison, or you can use just parts one and two. "Never Stop Learning" is ideal for a graduation or moving-on ceremony, but would be a great addition to almost any program. By the end, your audience may be clapping and joining in!

"Wild Mountain Thyme," sometimes known as "Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?" is a popular traditional song of Scottish origin. It's a wonderful tune that has been arranged many times. In this version, a penny whistle and fiddle kick off a rather laid back 2-beat accompaniment. On the recording, each verse adds new folk instruments, a mandolin here, a banjo there, to the foundational drums, bass, folk guitar, and piano.

The American flag is a very important and very recognizable symbol of our country, so this song helps to explain why it looks the way it does and the symbolism behind it. It is a stirring, patriotic piece that evokes the pride and honor we have for our flag and country. Whether you use it in a flag ceremony, or just in the classroom, it's a great cross curricular piece. (from Music K-8, Vol. 24, No. 5)

This song has a pop flavor to it with some elements of folk music that feel natural, as in "nature." Appropriate for an animal song, we think. It's also delightfully upbeat and catchy, especially at the chorus. You'll note some neat and quirky rhythms there, which enhance the pop styling and give it a contagious energy.

The song, "Unsung Heroes" pays tribute to the heroes who don't always get the recognition they deserve. It's a poignant tribute to let them know that what they do means a lot to each and every one of us.

If you're looking for a truly majestic, patriotic piece to honor your veterans, heroes, or any other patriots in your community, this tune is perfect. Despite its length and seeming complexity, it is actually very simple. The melody of the verses and choruses repeat almost exactly. The song uses a classic building format - starting gently, then gradually building to full orchestra. A color guard or flag bearers could enter during the introduction to add drama to the piece.

We have created a new setting of this classic especially developed for young choirs. It is in a lower key, and is arranged for two treble voices. It runs about four minutes, with the optional prologue.

Teresa's beautiful song is strong programming any time of year, whether for holiday performances or for any time you want expressive music. A child wishes for a song that would fill the world with peace. A miracle. Beginning with a solo, transitioning to unison and 2-part, and then returning to a solo, this song has great impact.

This song was designed to be a huge Christmas piece, yet without specific reference to Christmas. A regal horn section invites your attention with heralding trumpets and a full complement of brass, winds, strings, and percussion that keeps up the enthusiasm throughout. There are three vocal parts (parts 2 and 3 are optional) with part 3 written in the bass clef for your lower, changing, or changed voices.

This collection features six favorite pieces from six of classical music's greatest composers - Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Using the diatonic bells, the tunes are in settings that are designed to feature young bell players. And of course, these arrangements will work with any type of pitched percussion instruments, such as Boomwhackers.

Rhythm sticks provide a great way for young students to have an active performance experience and learn to read rhythms. This great new collection includes: Carol Of The Drum, O Christmas Tree, Sing We Now Of Christmas, What Child Is This?, Good King Wenceslas, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

This collection brings you nine of our finest works, together in one place, an outstanding value that you will use for years to come. It includes: The Star-Spangled Banner, Allegiance Rap, America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee), Declaration, Yankee Doodle, Taps Prologue/Taps, We The People, Battle Hymn For Gettysburg, and America The Beautiful.

Recorder Bytes are a captivating new teaching resource by Dan Thieman that will help your students practice their recorders more effectively. Recorder Bytes utilize interactive, projectable PDFs with embedded audio that help teach music your students are learning by using a controlled, methodical approach, all while keeping it fun for them. Use them as a stand alone teaching resource, or in tandem with popular methods like Recorder Karate.

This continuation has a lot more music and fully orchestrated accompaniments. The songs are in order of increasing difficulty, divided into logical sections, including 9 Black Belt Degrees. Like the first volume, the songs are designed to be played and tested with the belt reward system. Songlist: The Wedding March, Old Joe Clark, On Top of Old Smoky, Can Can, America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee), Polly Wolly Doodle, I've Been Working On The Railroad, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Buffalo Gals, Aura Lee, Home On The Range, Rocky Mountain, Renaissance Dance, New World Symphony, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, Jingle Bells, We Three Kings, and Shalom Chaverim.

This classroom-tested, carefully planned recorder method incorporates a positive reward system in which students receive colored "karate belts" (not included) to hang from their recorders for each progressively more difficult tune.

We have created the first in a series of collections that will provide carefully selected and arranged music appropriate to each Recorder Karate belt level and for those spaces between levels where new music can fill special needs for reinforcement, for reward belts, or even for special "in-between" belts.