pre-school songs

[Rachelle Mingail Shubert <shubert...>]

>I'm looking for resources for pre-school songs (for ages 18 mos - 4 years).

I teach weekly music classes (comprised of both Jewish and secular music)
at the pre-school affiliated with our temple.  When I give professional
development classes in music education to pre-school teachers I always
advise short, simple, repetitive songs with few verses and preferably some
kind of movement which corresponds.

I start each session with "Good Morning, Boker Tov" by Elaine Serling (who
has a Tara book and recording) and "Shalom Yeladim, Shalom" (trad.melody).
 I end each session with "Shalom Chaverim" (using the word "Yeladim").

The kids enjoy singing "Mah Yafe Hayom" and "Bim Bam"  with hand movements
and a big "Hey!" which is shouted and clapped.) "Shabbat Kodesh" from
Velvel Pasternak's songs for children, effectively teaches about Fri. night
at the table.  

>From Manginot, check out:  "Stir the Soup" by Gladys Gewirtz,  "Challah in
the Oven" (a take-off on a Raffi song), "Keshet (Rainbow)", a song by Judy
Caplan Ginsburgh which teaches Hebrew vocabulary, "This is Very Good", by
Jeff Klepper, and Debbie Friedman's "Alef Bet Song". There is a wealth of
material to be found in this book which I haven't gotten to yet.  

During the mid-point of the class I sometimes sing parts of Debbie
Friedman's "Laila Tov, Good Night" (from her "Shiron L'Gan/Songs With
Wheels" recording/book) while they pretend to sleep.  I follow it with a
secular pre-school song in which they must wake up, jump up and hop like a
bunny.  They want this again and again and in each repetition I sing
another part of "Laila Tov/Good Night". Trad. songs like "David Melech
Yisrael" and other dance songs are great for making parades down the hall,
or marching bands with rhythm instruments.  (Take care to choose among the
quieter instruments.) 

There is a wealth of material available from Tara.  If you have specific
questions, please feel free to e-mail me at my address.

Rachelle



Rachelle Mingail Shubert
CONCERTS 
    CLASSES 
         CONSULTING
61 Lucerne Avenue
Pointe Claire, Quebec
Canada H9R 2V1

E-mail: shubert (at) total(dot)net
Voice:  (514) 697-7647