Does anyone know where I could look for a chorus program I could do with the 4th and 5th graders? Our chorus teacher has decided not to do a program with our students -she's split between 2 schools- I have voluntered to do one. Thanks.

[REB]

Lilly,

Hi. I teach K-6 music. I have been teaching music for 6, going on 7 years. Today is going to be my last day that I will be able to post here for a while, because my husband is taking the computer with him, as he is taking some classes, for 3 weeks, in another area of the state. So, I won't have a computer at home, but I'm going to try to check posts at school, if I can...sometimes they block forums and stuff.

I'm also split between two schools, and have been for two years now. Let me tell ya...Veteran's Day last year was a real hoot...classes in the am, a program mid-morning, a salad for lunch as I drove to the afternoon school, to teach a few classes, and then have a Veteran's Day program there...it was lots of work, but also lots of fun.

I'm not sure if you're looking for Veteran's Day stuff, or Christmas/Winter type stuff...but let me give you some places to check out online...

musick8.com - they sell lots of nice stuff for this age group. they have a magazine that they sell called musick8, and it has performance/accompaniment Cd's that they sell for each issue of the magazine, and you can buy these individually, without having to buy a whole year's subscription. each magazine is about $8, and each Cd is about $14. Also, they sell student reproduicble parts, and they're about $5, for each magazine. (You have to buy the magazine, though, to be able to buy the student repro. parts.)

I use these a lot with my students, and have NEVER been disappointed.

Also, on the musick8 site, they have an idea bank, and they also have a place where you can search past issues, and listen to snipets of songs, that are in each issue, this is how I find which magazine I want to buy, for my students. I buy a lot of these on my own, but last year I was at a school that also bought some of these for me, ones that I didn't already have.

Also...let me tell you some titles that I've done with 4-5 grades....for Spring I did a musical called "Possibilities" a few years ago...the script and the music was in about three magazines! it was really nice, not having to buy a separate script for a musical, as those can be very pricey.
Also...for Veteran's Day - I am working on one called "this is America" - this is a musical/play as well, and the script for the play is in one of the magazines, as well as some of the songs from the musical/play. I am doing from "This is America" the following songs: "Lights of Freedom", and having students read quotes by famous americans, that were listed as part of the script with This is America, and the songs"This is America", and "American Tears".
My students LOVE "American Tears" - and it's not that time consuming for the students to learn...even my 6th graders begged me to do it, but I let my 4-6 grade Chorus, which has mostly 4th graders, do it for this Veteran's Day, and I'm having a few solos in there as well, and there's hardly ever a dry eye when I have students sing this song. It's a real "tear jerker".

Also...for Christmas - if you like songs with a "funky" feel - (the students usually like stuff that's "cool" sounding...) "Winter in America" is a good one....also I've done "winter Walk",(it has a nice celtic feel to it) "Just One Candle" (and I taught the students sign language to this song), and there's a great song I did last year, with a gospel feel to it called "Peace on Earth"...it's awesome, and last year, I used a few solos for the verses, and had everyone sing the chorus section...it got rave reviews from parents. Also, last year, I taught my students a song called "Reach Out", and they loved this song, especially the 5th and 6th graders.

I also like lots of drama...hats, scarves, and streamers...this year I'm having the older students use streamers, and doing scarves with the younger ones.

I hope this helped....also there is an ARTS board here...it's under the title "ARts and Crafts".

REB

[Arlyss]

I agree this is a great resource!

Nearly EVERY song I did on both my programs, winter AND spring, were from Music K8. The kids DO love that stuff, AND, it's relatively easy to teach to a large group, especially on short notice. Additionally, you could buy, perhaps a copy of three or four of the older magazines, and have enough music to put together at least one program.

That said, if you're game, many of the arrangements have extra parts which add a second voice, or add instruments of some sort.

It is, as REB said, a superb resource.

[barich1978]

One thing you can do is order some of their song kits. They group several favorite songs in one book with a CD and you have an instant musical.

They also have musicals culled from their yearly issues - 5 per year - they will put a themed musical spread out amongst the 5 issues that year. They have 5-6 songs each, have dialogue and a background CD.

I typically will do one and add a few more songs to the concert to fill it out. They tend to be only about 25 minutes in length, so I add a couple to stretch it out, though the Dads in the crowd would like it shorter.

One time we would rehearse a show and it would take all period plus some to get through it. When we got to the show night, it ran like clockwork and finished in 15 minutes. Got many compliments from parents - go figure - short and sweet. Administrators didn't care for the short length though.

Has anyone ever videotaped the concerts to show at a later date on the local cable station?

Bruce