March is Music in Our Schools Month. It’s the time that we demonstrate the powerful effect of music in the lives of our students. What better way to mark this month then to sing and ring about our art. Children will remember the songs that we teach them throughout their lives. Be it a catchy tune, silly lyrics or an engaging movement, the music that we teach will impact our students in different ways, but the end results are the same – lifelong memories.
As teachers of music, we hope to instill an appreciation, love or passion for music into our students. We do this best by actively involving them in the music-making process allowing them to be creative as they go and encouraging them to connect their experiences to the world around them. We also know that music will stimulate the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social growth of our students affecting their lives in so many ways.
We balance our choice of lessons and repertoire to broaden our students – classical, folk, world and nonsense songs fill our teaching space – all to provide our students with a varying wealth of repertoire. Along with our singing, we introduce drums and other percussion, recorders, Orff instruments, ukuleles, Boomwhackers®, KidsPlay® bells and handchimes all in effort for our students to find their voice. In the end, our hope is for well-rounded young musicians leading to accomplished adults who are kinder, gentler and welcoming.
How often do we stop and sing about it? Music, that is. During this month, we have an opportunity to sum up all that we offer with songs that praise our beloved art. Words that express how wonderful music is that our students will remember for a lifetime.
Share the joy of music with some of the following ChimeWorks lesson plans that will allow your students to sing and ring about it! All of the lesson are available for immediate purchase and digital download. Once copy at $2.29 will bring the gift of music to all of your classes. Click the title of each lesson to find it in the store.
Merrily, Merrily Greet The Morn
- Use: Secular
- Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
- Type: Ostinati
- Canon: Yes
- Topic: Music, Nature
- Language: English
- Origin: England
Merrily, Merrily Greet The Morn is an English Folk song published in 1917 in the book, 55 Songs and Choruses for Community Singing. The song’s words and horn-like music represent hunting scenes in England.
- Use: Secular
- Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
- Type: Chords
- Chords: 3
- Topic: Music
- Language:English
- Origin: Germany
Music Alone Shall Live is a German folk song in three-art round or canon form
- Use: Secular
- Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
- Type: Chords
- Chords: 2
- Canon: Yes
- Topic: Music
- Language: English
- Origin: America
The three-part round or canon, O Music, Sweet Music, is attributed to Lowell Mason, an American hymn writer. This piece uses two chords and is a wonderful introduction into chiming and singing together.
- Use: Secular
- Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
- Type: Ostinati
- Canon: Yes
- Topic: General, Music
- Language: English
- Origin: Unknown
Sing Together is a folk song of unknown origin. It is a three-part canon or round.
- Use: Secular
- Level: K – 2, 3 – 6
- Type: Ostinati
- Canon: Yes
- Topic: Classical, Music
- Language: Italian
- Origin: Germany
Viva La Musica was written in the17th century by German composer, Michael Praetorius. The Italian text translates to long live music!