Songs
Songs
Music adds a fun dimension to any storytime. You may wish to use prerecorded music. I often use children’s music recordings to create an inviting environment in the room while the children are getting settled at the beginning, or while they are preparing to leave at the end.
You may also want to make your own music, that is, sing songs, with or without accompaniment. Don’t worry if you don’t carry a tune very well--nobody seems to mind. Like rhymes and fingerplays, I use songs to add variety to the program, stimulate involvement, stretch and get rid of wiggles after we’ve been sitting for a while, and generally refocus attention. Many of the rhymes and fingerplay sites include songs, so these are good places to begin looking for ideas. However, there are sites which focus on the songs alone. They supply words, and some even allow you to listen to the tunes. This is a great help if you’ve forgotten a melody, or simply want to learn some new songs.
Here are great sites which focus primarily on children’s songs:
Dreamhouse:
Nursery: Bookcase: Songs
This alphabetical list of children’s songs includes
many nursery rhymes. Only the words to the songs are presented.
Judy
and David’s Online Songbook - Welcome
This is a lengthy alphabetical listing of songs
and their lyrics. Many include coloring sheets which may be printed and
descriptions for actions. Sound clips are available for four of the songs.
KIDiddles
Musical Mouseum
Songs are indexed alphabetically and by subject.
The categories are: traditional, lullabies, get busy, learning, silly,
food, animal, nature, inspiration, around the world, new composition, Halloween,
Christmas. The site search engine can be used to find a song if you only
know a few of the lyrics. Music is included for many of the songs. If you
can’t find the song even after searching the site, you can email KIDiddles
with a request.
Kids
Songs~Children’s Music and songs~Lyrics~Lullabies~Nursery Rhymes~Midi Files
Children’s music is divided into the following categories:
Children’s Fun Songs, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies, Patriotic/Folk/Traditional
Songs, Sing-a-long To All The Family Favorite Song!, Inspirational/Christian~Sunday
School Songs, Holiday Songs For Children, Disney~Muppet~Sesame Street,
Broadway~Shows~Winnie The Pooh, and Television Theme Songs~Cartoons. A
lengthy alphabetical listing of songs is included in each category. Music
and lyrics are included for each of the songs.
KidzSing
Garden of Song
Songs are divided into the following categories:
Nursery Rhymes, Just For Fun Songs, Holiday Songs — Chanukah, Holiday Songs
— Christmas, Traditional Folk Songs, and Folk Song Sing Along. The number
of songs varies by category and listing is alphabetical within category.
Music and lyrics are included for each of the songs.
Songs
for Use in the EFL or ESL Classroom
As a resource for ESL/EFL teachers, the EFL Playhouse
presents its list of songs. Along with each song is an indication of the
concepts taught by the song, the words to the song and a sound recording.
Pathfinder prepared June 23, 2000 by Terry Rabideau
Please send suggestions and comments to rabideau@advinc.com