[HANASHIR:6752] Re: K-6 sunday school music

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

I'm not trying to be smug or anything, but if you're teaching in a religious
school setting, shouldn't you be singing jewish songs?   There are plenty of
good middle school aged  songs out there by Jeff Klepper, Wally S.-Briskin,
Steve Dropkin, Mah Tovu which would bring forth LOTS of good discussion on
tikkun olam and a host of other subjects; especially now with the new year
coming there is a lot you can do.   Purchase the CD's for yourself, learn
them, decide what YOU like.   Teach with all seriousness the ones you decide
upon and then discuss.    Take out text and explore.   If purchasing the
music is a problem, you need to discuss with your administration/Board the
necessity for doing this; otherwise you can't do a good job.    You also
don't always have to sing!   You can do a 'directed listening' activity and
use groups like Safam an discuss immigration, Morranos, etc.   Purchase
their music as well!   You'll see that the units to be covered are very
important and worthwhile.   Kids like to listen too.    I feel it's
important to not always sing, but to allow them to HEAR the original
versions of how these composers intended their music to be heard.

Good luck!
Meris Ruzow
-----Original Message-----
From: Shirona <b(dot)s(dot)kaufman (at) worldnet(dot)att(dot)net>
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Friday, August 25, 2000 9:10 AM
Subject: [HANASHIR:6751] Re: K-6 sunday school music


>Jennifer - here's something that worked great for the older kids - 5 to 7
>graders:  try a song-sharing session, but - not  - the - Jewish -  stuff...
>
> These kids are very sophisticated musically, and they listen to what they
>consider "cool" and take great pride in their "taste" in music.  Have the
>kids take turns introducing their favorite songs and give a little
>presentation on the singer/group.  Then the kids can discuss what they
>like/dislike about that music in a serious fashion, and you can get them to
>discuss music in general.
>
>Then, once you get the children together and involved,  you can introduce
>cool, Jewish songs, and there is plenty of great new music out there.
>Realistically you can't expect the kids to get excited about silly childish
>songs in Hebrew - if you compare them to what they listen to at home.  Ask
>them what they like, and perhaps they even know great JEWISH songs that
they
>can share with the group... you never know... Good luck!!
>
>Shirona
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Yaffa14 (at) aol(dot)com <Yaffa14 (at) aol(dot)com>
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Date: Friday, August 25, 2000 2:54 AM
>Subject: [HANASHIR:6745] K-6 sunday school music
>
>
>>Allrighty,...
>>it is my third year teaching music at sunday school...I have taught the
k-3
>>the basic songs about colors, family, sing along song, etc...and as they
>have
>>grown they continue to sing and enjoy them...I've added in many songs that
>>I've learned at GUCI and through NFTY... but I need some new stuff...
>catchy
>>and easy to sing...
>>these children are getting bored, i feel, and i'm at a loss at what to
>do...
>>additionally, i have 4-6 graders in an 8 week rotation... my mother,
>director
>>of education, (convenient and also a difficulty at times) wants me to work
>>with them on a cantada of sorts or something a little more difficult than
>>hiney mah tov... however, these children hate being in music class... they
>>absolutely hate it... I've done sing downs, israeli dancing... yet they
>come
>>in each week and detest it....
>>any ideas on what to do??
>>
>>Many thanks,
>>one love,
>>Jennifer Gubitz
>>
>>
>
>
>

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