[HANASHIR:16332] Re: dinosaur song

[deborah dolin <kibitz30...>]

Thank You Carol,
 
I agree.
I have been teaching a long time...and as I look through the "tot" music 
prek-first grade for example...there are plenty of songs that would classify 
themselves as inappropriate or non-authentic.  What about all the verses to I 
have a little dreydle that people make up?
Just asking....
 
I think the dinosaur song is cute and would fun for the kids to sing.  Thats 
it.  Its just a cute song.
 
I guess just like anything else...you don't like it...don't teach it.

Carol Boyd Leon <cbleon (at) hotmail(dot)com> wrote:
At the risk of presenting another point of view...

I believe The Dinosaur Song, as adapted to be a Shabbat song, is just as 
"legitimate" and worthy of being sung by our tiniest tots as are the many 
"classics" I teach them as well -- such songs as Mah Yafeh Hayom, Bim Bam, 
V'haeir Eneinu, etc.

The excitement surrounding Shabbat is there whether we're singing in English 
or in Hebrew, whether I use a dinosaur prop (who said anything about Barney? 
I use a little green dinosaur) or a golden plastic crown (for Shabbat 
HaMalkah) or a Moses puppet. They are as excited to hold a real kiddush cup 
as they are to hold the toy challah I use during "Shalom Shabbat Shalom" and 
love to march with huggable plush Torahs even as they understand I only read 
out of the "real" one.

And I firmly believe they are gaining an "accurate" understanding of Shabbat 
despite -- or perhaps, because of -- the age-appropriate songs and props I 
use. To me, it's not at all a commercialization of the celebration. The 
dinosaur is "selling" nothing except perhaps his love for the holiday.

Believe me, the kids I sing The Dinosaur Song with during the oneg Shabbat 
that follows Tot Shabbat -- and they range in age from 2 to 3rd grade, plus 
their parents -- are well aware there's no dinosaur that comes knocking at 
my door or anybody else's. But the idea that Shabbat is so wonderful that 
even a dinosaur would want to celebrate the holiday is the lesson that 
sticks with them.

I wouldn't expect a preschooler to leave a Shabbat adult service feeling 
especially inspired about Shabbat. Hopefully, that'll come in time when he 
or she is closer to adult age. A children's service and children's songs 
are just that -- designed to be understood and appreciated by children. And 
I, for one, appreciate the assistance I get from my little green dinosaur. 
:-)


Carol Boyd Leon
Songwriter/Cantorial Soloist/Music Educator
E-mail: CBLeon (at) hotmail(dot)com
Phone: 703-250-0554
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/CBoydLeon


----

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now