[HANASHIR:6753] Re: K-6 sunday school music

[Judy Ginsburgh <jerd...>]

I agree, Meris.  I would not typically bring non-Jewish music (especially
what is currently on the radio today) into a religious school setting.  Most
of what my two teens listen to would need to be censored anyway.

Several years back, an educator and performer named Ally Sheer from Miami
created a curriculum which was called something like "Rock and Roll and
Religion".  He had not only written his own MTVish songs about Jewish
things, but he put together a curriculum of songs that we all grew up with
to use as teaching lessons in the Jewish classroom.  It was brilliant and I
have implemented it many times with groups of teens.  For instance, he took
the Crosby, Stills and Nash song "Teach Your Children Well" and correlated
that to the V'ahavta.  There are many songs that can be compared to Torah
lessons or Jewish values.  Use your imagination.  Play the song, give out
lyric sheets, analyze the lyrics, make comparisons, find out what the
message is, have the kids write some songs of their ownon selected themes,
etc.

When I taught in one religious school on a regular basis, I used to tell the
kids -- we only sing Jewish songs here.  If you want to sing something you
are hearing on the radio, then translate it into Hebrew and I will be happy
to sing it with you.  No one ever did.  But it could happen.

Judy :)

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, award winning singer/music specialist
(jerd (at) centurytel(dot)net)
http://www.jewishentertainment.net/judy
Director:  Jewish Entertainment Resources -- we help you find Jewish talent!
http://www.jewishentertainment.net
Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year!
Past Conference Chair:  23rd Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education
(CAJE)
http://www.caje.org
Member: Children's Music Web --  http://www.childrensmusic.org
----- Original Message -----
From: Meris Ruzow <meris (at) nycap(dot)rr(dot)com>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 8:42 AM
Subject: [HANASHIR:6752] Re: K-6 sunday school music


> 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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