Music Makers

My boys love to shake things and make as much noise as possible.  When we lived in Nebraska, we attended a wonderful program called Music Makers.  It was a great way to get energy out (especially in the winter) and it’s something we have started doing with a small group of friends here in Minnesota.  I thought I would start sharing what we’re doing every month in case you want to do something similar at home, or want to organize a group of your own.  I cannot take full credit for any of this… dear Laurel Weber designed the class.  I have simply modified some of it.

Five Parts To The Music Maker Class:

1. Carpet Time- Place carpet squares in a circle.  Child sits on the carpet with the parent behind them. These songs remain the same from month to month except for the Rhythm Stick activity.
2. Singing Time- Put carpets away and have little chairs placed in front of big chairs.  Children sit in the small chairs; Parent in the big chair.
3. Marching Time- Put away chairs. Gather musical instruments (bells, shakers, etc) and march in a circle.
4. Moving Time- Put away musical instruments and follow various instructions.
5. Wind Down Time- Read 2 books on a large blanket (pick 2 books that fit that month’s theme). Sing Goodbye song when finished.

Supplies Needed For Each Child:

1. Puppet (if you don’t have one, the dollar store usually has some in stock).
2. Rhythm Sticks.
3. Finger play figures- vary by month depending on songs/theme.
4. Glove- the cheap stretchy kind to adhere finger play onto.

The class lasts about an hour and we meet once a week.  Each month, we have a different theme.  It usually has to do with the season or holiday.  This month (November) it’s Fall & Thanksgiving.  Here is a small sampling of songs we’re doing this month.  If you want all the songs, click on the download at the end of this post.  Songs are sung without a CD or accompaniment (unless otherwise noted).

CARPET TIME

Opening Song – “The More We Sing Together”
Welcome to music makers
Hello, hello, hello
We’d like to welcome __________
Hello, hello, hello
*continue until all children have been welcomed

“What Do We Do?”
What do we do when we come to sing, come to sing, come to sing?
What do we do when we come to sing, when we come to music makers?
We like to say hi to all our friends, all our friends, all our friends.
We like to say hi to all our friends when we come to music makers.
We like to sing and clap our hands, clap our hands, clap our hands.
We like to sing and clap our hands when we come to music makers.
We like to march in a marching band, marching band, marching band.
We like to march in a marching band when we come to music makers.
We like to dance and move around, move around, move around.
We like to dance and move around when we come to music makers.
We like to sit for a story time, story time, story time.
We like to sit for a story time when we come to music makers.

PUPPETS:  “When I Sing La, La, La” (purchase song by Janeen Brady and play on CD)
When I sing la, la, la  -  Then you sing la, la, la
If I change la, la, la  -  Can you change la, la, la
When it’s high la, la, la  -  You sing high la, la, la
When it’s low la, la, la  -  Then you go la, la, la
Hear a scale la, la, la, la, la  -  Sing a scale la, la, la, la, la
Coming down la, la, la, la, la  –  Sing it down la, la, la, la, la
When I skip la, la, la  -  Then you skip la, la, la
Add a trill la, la, la, la, la  -  If you will la, la, la, la, la
When its loud la, la, la  -  You go loud la, la, la
Here’s a trick la, la, la  –  Sing it quick la, la, la
When its fast la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la  -  You go fast la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
When its slow la, la  – Then you go la, la.
*Have children follow along with their puppets to the music.  i.e.  Sing LOUD when prompted, Add a TRILL when prompted, etc.

RHYTHM STICKS: “Beat The Drum” (Sung to: “Row your boat”)
Beat beat beat the drum (tap sticks)                     Cut, cut, cut the logs (rub sticks)
Beat it loud and clear                                               make them long and short
To tell brave Indians everywhere                          To help the Pilgrims build a house
that hunting time is near.                                       A warm and friendly fort

SINGING TIME

Falling Leaves (Sung To: Twinkle Twinkle)
Falling falling falling leaves,
Mother Nature did you sneeze? (ACHOO!)
Red ones, yellow ones, orange and brown.
Big ones, little ones on the ground.
Falling falling falling leaves,
Mother Nature did you sneeze? (ACHOO!)

“If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re thankful and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it,
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

Repeat with:

If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout, “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

 

Turkey Trot (Sung to: “Farmer In The Dell”)
Do the turkey hop,
do the turkey run
Do the turkey gobble
Oh its a lot of fun!

Now flap your wings,
like the turkeys do
run from the farmer
before she catches you.

This month, for Finger Plays, you’ll need one large turkey on a stick and five little turkeys for the glove song.  Laminate the figures and put velcro on the back and they will adhere to the stretchy glove.

STICK SONGS:  “Mr. Turkey” (Sung to: “Frere Jaques”)
Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey
Run away, run away
If you are not careful,
You will be a mouthful,
Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day

GLOVE SONGS: “Five Fat Turkeys are We”
Five fat turkeys are we.
We slept all night in a tree.
When the cook came around,
We couldn’t be found,
And that’s why we’re here you see.

MARCHING TIME

“The Parade Came Marching” (play on CD)

MOVEMENT TIME

“Goin’ on a Hayride” from 1-2-3-Boo! – pull children on towels (play on CD).  The kids love this one and it’s a great workout for the parent!

“Tommy Turkey” from Music with Mar Digital – (follow actions to song i.e. dance, shake your tail feather, flap your wings, etc.) (play on CD)

“New Friends” Rhyme
Two Pilgrims fish in the morn (pretend to fish)
Two Indians help them plant corn. (pretend to plant)
The Indians bring the vegetables; the Pilgrims bring the meat.
(walk around pretending to carry food)
Four new friends sit down together to enjoy a Thanksgiving treat. (sit down on the ground and you’re ready for Wind Down Time)

WIND DOWN TIME

Read 2 books and then sing Goodbye Song.

Goodbye Song
Goodbye _________, Goodbye __________, Goodbye __________
We’re glad you came today.
Goodbye _________, Goodbye __________, Goodbye __________
We’re glad you came today.
*continue until all children have been given a Goodbye

To download the entire November program, click below.

For other months, click here.