Ep. 4 - The Christmas & Chanukah Concert (Part 1)

Hello everyone and it’s so nice to have you here at the Welcome to Music Podcast, Episode 4. So, I’ve been teaching at a new school this year. It’s a small school with approx. 210 kids from Foundation to grade 6 – 5-11 years.

About 2 weeks ago, the principal told me about the school picnic on the 6th of December where he wants a 45 min concert and to have all of the kids performing 2 songs each. Let’s just say there are only 4 weeks to prepare! There are 4 cohorts and each group will do a Christmas song and one other song or dance.

Here was my thinking in keeping with my philosophy of giving the students an inclusive, successful, multi-modal and joyous experience BUT within a limited time frame.

So I’ve chosen 4 Christmas songs plus one other piece for each cohort that we have already learnt during the year, plus 2 songs for the choir. As the students have been studying the Polynesian culture this semester in cultural studies, I have chosen two pieces to fit this theme plus two Aboriginal songs learnt earlier in the year for NAIDOC week.

1. Foundation

’Santa Claus is Coming To Town’ and ‘Inanay’ (Aboriginal)

2. Years 1 & 2

’Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘Taba Naba’ (Aboriginal, Torres Strait Island)

3. Years 3 & 4

’Summer Wonderland’ and ‘Sasa Nukufetau’ body percussion and dance piece (Tuvalu – Polynesian)

4. Years 5 & 6

‘Aussie Jingle Bells’ and ‘Pupu Hinu Hinu’ (Hawaiian – Polynesian)

5. Choir (unauditioned years 2-6) – ‘Let’s Sing All Together’ and ‘Chanukah’

For Full Blog on this Episode Click HERE.