[HANASHIR:14385] Re: Kids' Songs

[Joy Newman <joyzee...>]

Hello!!!

First of all, I do not believe that using 50% secular music defeats the 
purpose of ANYTHING!!!  In a way it reminds me of the people who say that 
praying in English, or adding the women's names into the Amidah, defeats the 
purpose.  I am a music specialist at a Jewish day camp, and we do about 
50/50.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

What is "Jewish" music?  Is it music written by Jewish composers?  Music 
with the Hebrew lyrics?  Music about Jewish holidays/prayer?  Actual 
liturgy?  Music about Jewish values?  Jewish music is a very broad topic, 
and as we all know as musicians, we often have to pick a focus that is 
appropriate for our group.  For the most part, at camp, I choose to focus on 
Jewish values.  While there are many Jewish songs that really do a nice job 
of teaching things like respect, honoring one's parents, taking care of the 
environment, self-esteem, and whatnot, there are a lot of non-Jewish songs 
that do the same thing.  Morality is fairly universal. I love singing John 
Denver, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, James Taylor...  And the kids do too.  
Why should it matter if it's a Jewish song about family or Harry Chapin's 
"Cats in the Cradle", or Joni Mitchell's "The Circle Game"?

What are we teaching our children if we only use Jewish music?  Do we want 
to see our kids grow up isolated from the world (to exaggerate)??  I see 
camp as an opportunity to teach them the value of music in general, and to 
expose them to artists that they might not get the chance to sing in school. 
  It's about helping the campers to find the type of music that they enjoy, 
Jewish or not, and working with them to develope a life-long love for the 
artform.  I would much rather have a child be excited about coming to music 
because he enjoys singing Leaving on a Jet Plane, amidst the Bayom Hahu's, 
than not want to come at all.

I find the NIFTY chordsters (especially the one from 1991...I think...) very 
helpful.  However, these are just chordsters, with a wonderful mix of Jewish 
and non-Jewish camp songs, generally appropriate for 3rd grade and above.  
To my knowledge there isn't an accompanying CD/songbook with melody lines, 
but you should be able to obtain those items by the individual artists.

Also try "Wee Sing Silly Songs", by Pamela Con Beall and Susan Hagen Nipp, 
which is a collection of really cute secular interactive songs for kids, and 
any Peter Paul and Mary Songbook, like their campfire special edition (I'm 
not quite sure of the title).  Besides that, if you just need the chords, 
Shireinu (chordster), and even the Complete Shireinu which would provide the 
melody lines, have wonderful selections of popular folk music.  I actually 
almost only use the secular music that is published in Jewish 
songbooks/chordsters, because it's what I own.  What does that say about the 
role of "secular" music in Jewish lives??

As a last resort, and if you know a song but just need chords and are 
willing to use this type of website, try www.harmonycentral.com.  You can 
print, for free (I know, I know...I know....), the chords to zillions of 
songs.  The chords are posted by lay people, but honestly...I've never had a 
problem!!!

Good luck!!!!!  Working at a camp is an amazing experience, and I wish you 
all the best!

~smile always~
-Joy Newman
Rochester, NY

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