Music Makers: May

It's May so that means new songs for the little ones! This will be the last month for Music Makers (we don't meet as a group in the summer).   If you’re interested in learning more about the program, start here.  This post will tell you all about the basic layout and structure of the group.  We will resume again in the Fall when school starts back up.  The theme this month is Summer & Bugs.

Here’s a sampling of songs that we’re singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“TAP YOUR STICKS” (sung to: “Frere Jacques”)
Tap your sticks.
Tap your sticks.
One, two, three.
One, two, three.

Can you tap your sticks,
Can your tap your sticks,
Just like me,
Just like me?

Tap your sticks,
Tap your sticks,
Way up high,
Way up high.

No-w, bend down,
No-w, bend down,
Tap the ground.
Tap the ground.

THEME SONGS:

Eentsy, Weentsy Spider
The eentsy, weentsy spider went up the water-spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the eentsy, weentsy spider went up the spout again.


Repeat… The great big spider
The rock and roll spider
“Flutter, Flutter Butterfly” (sung to: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Floating in the summer sky.
Floating by for all to see,
Floating by so merrily.
Flutter, flutter, butterfly,
Floating in the summer sky.

“Baby Bumblebee”
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee,
Ouch! It stung me!

I'm squishing up the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm squishing up a baby bumblebee,
Ooh! It's yucky!

I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Won't my mommy be so proud of me,
I'm wiping off the baby bumblebee,
Now my mommy won't be mad at me!



STICK SONGS:

There's A Beetle on the Floor (sung to: If You're Happy and You Know it)
There's a beetle on the floor, on the floor
There's a beetle on the floor, on the floor
Who could ask for anything more
than a beetle on the floor?
There's a beetle on the floor on the floor.

There's a beetle on my shoe, on my shoe
There's a beetle on my shoe, on my shoe
Oh, I donʼt know what to do,
thereʼs a beetle on my shoe.
There's a beetle on my shoe on my shoe.

Repeat with:
Knee- Heʼs as big as he can be. Just look over here and see
Hip- Oh, I think Iʼm gonna flip. I got a beetle on my hip
Tummy- Oh, it isnʼt very funny, thereʼs a beetle on my tummy
Neck-Oh I'm gonna be a wreck! I've got a beetle on my neck
Face - Oh, what a big disgrace! I've got a beetle on my face
Head –Oh, the beetles on my head I want to hide up in my bed
"But he jumps off"
There's a beetle on the floor on the floor (repeat first verse)

“Mr. Sun”
Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me

Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Hiding behind a tree. . .

These little children are asking you
To please come out so we can play with you

Oh Mister Sun, Sun,
Mister Golden Sun,
Please shine down on…
Please shine down on…
Please shine down on me.

MOVEMENT TIME:

Can You Move With Me? (sung to: "Do Your Ears Hang Low")
Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?

Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?

To download the entire May program, click below.



For other month programs, click here.

Music Makers: April

April is right around the corner.  Crazy, right?  A new month means new songs for Music Makers.  Yay!  If you’re new to the program, it’s a music group I do with a few of my friends and their infants and toddlers.  If you’re interested in learning more, start here.  This post will tell you all about the basic layout and structure of the group.  The theme this month is Spring & Easter.

Here’s a sampling of songs that we’re singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“Hickory Dickory Dock” – instead of rhythm sticks this month, have the leader bring along a shaker and triangle to keep the rhythm of the clock
Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock. (child with rattle shakes it)
The clock struck one, (child with triangle strikes it)
The mouse ran down! (child with rattle shakes it)
Hickory Dickory Dock.

THEME SONGS:

“In the Leafy Treetops”
In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning.
Theyʼre first to see the sun.
They must tell everyone.
In the leafy treetops the birds sing good morning.
In my pretty garden the flowers are nodding.
How do you do today?
How do you do they say.
In my pretty garden the flowers are nodding.

“Look for Colors” (sung to: "Are You Sleeping")
Look for (yellow), look for (yellow)
On your clothes, on your clothes
If youʼre wearing (yellow),
(Wiggle like Jell-O)
I found (yellow), I found (yellow)
Repeat with: Red…put your finger on your head
Purple…spin in a circle
Green…find a place to lean
White…close your eyes goodnight
Brown…make your face frown
Pink…give your friend a wink
Blue…hold up number two
Black…clap behind your back

“Flowers in the Spring” (sung to: "Farmer in the Dell")
Flowers in the spring,
Flowers in the spring,
Hi, ho! Oh, yes I know,
There are flowers in the spring.
They stretch, grow and bloom.
They stretch, grow and bloom.
Hi, ho! Oh, yes I know,
They stretch, grow, and bloom.

“Raindrops” (sung to: Skip to my Lou)
Raindrops, raindrops falling down, (hold hands high, flutter fingers)
Pitter, patter on the ground (tap fingers on knees)
Softly, softly do they sound, (finger to lips)
April raindrops all around! (hold hands high, flutter fingers)



GLOVE SONGS:

“My Easter Basket” (sung to: A Tisket a Tasket)
A tisket, a tasket
I have an Easter basket.
Come and put an egg inside
My pretty purple basket.
A basket, a basket
I have an Easter basket
Come and put an egg inside
My pretty Easter basket

“Five Little Easter Eggs”
Five little Easter eggs, lovely colors wore,
Mother ate the blue one, then there were four.
Four little Easter eggs, two and two you see,
Daddy ate the green one, then there were three.
Three little Easter eggs, before I knew,
Sister at the yellow one, then there were two.
Two little Easter eggs, Oh, what fun!
Brother ate the red one, then there was one.
One little Easter egg, see me run!
I ate the last one, then there was none

MOVEMENT TIME:

“Letʼs Go Fly a Kite”
Each child gets a plastic bag kite and runs through the gym while the music plays.

“Ring Around the Rosies”
Ring around the rosies
A pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down
A ring of springtime flowers
Made from April showers
Tulips, buttercups,
We all pop up!

To download the entire April program, click below.

For other month programs, click here.

Music Makers: March

Tomorrow March will be here!  Which means spring is right around the corner, right?  It also means we're starting new songs for Music Makers.  If you're new to the program, it's a music group I do with a few of my friends and their infants and toddlers.  If you're interested in learning more, start here.  This will tell you all about the basic layout and structure of the group.  The theme this month is Animals.

Here's a sampling of songs that we're singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“My Poor Stick is Tapping”
My poor stick is tapping, I can’t make it stop
My poor stick is tapping, I can’t make it stop
Oh, help me mama, I can’t make it stop
My poor stick is tapping, I can’t make it stop.
STOP!
*repeat with rubbing, rolling & walking

THEME SONGS:

“Tiny Tim”
I have a little turtle, his name is Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim
He drank up all the water he ate up all the soap
And then my little turtle had a bubble in his throat.
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble, bubble, bubble,
Bubble,……bubble,……POP!

“Farm Sounds” (sung to: “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The cow in the barn goes moo, moo, moo
Moo, moo, moo.  Moo, moo, moo
The cow in the barn goes moo, moo, moo.
All around the farm

Continue with: The pig in the pen goes oink, oink, oink…..
The hens in the coop go cluck, cluck, cluck…..
The rooster on the fence goes cock-a-doodle-doo…..
The ducks on the pond go quack, quack, quack…..
The lambs on the hill go baa, baa, baa….
The bunnies in the hutch go (silently wiggle your nose)…..

“The Little Skunk’s Hole” (sung to: “Turkey in the Straw!”)
Oh, I stuck my head in a little skunk’s hole
And the little skunk said “well bless my soul
Take it out, take it out, take it out, remove it!”

Well I didn’t take it out and the little skunk said
“If you don’t take it out, you’ll wish you had
Take it out, take it out, psssst! I removed it!”



STICK SONG: (use only one set of sticks-- have little ones be your helpers)


“Fiddle-I-Fee”
Bought me a cat and the cat pleased me,
I fed my cat under yonder tree.
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.

Bought me a hen and the hen pleased me,
I fed my hen under yonder tree.
Hen goes chimmey-chuck, chimmey chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.

Bought me a duck and the duck pleased me,
I fed my duck under yonder tree.
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmey-chuck, chimmey-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.

Continue with: Goose goes hissy, hissy
Sheep goes baa, baa
Cow goes moo, moo
Horse goes neigh, neigh
Dog goes bow-wow, bow-wow

GLOVE SONGS:

“Five Little Speckled Frogs”
Five little speckled frogs,
Sitting on a speckled log,
Eating the most delicious bugs.
Yum, yum.
One jumped into the pool,
Where he was nice and cool,
Then there were four speckled frogs,
Glub, glub.
Sing down to 0 frogs, last line is “Now there are no speckled frogs  G-L-U-B (deep voice)

“Three Little Monkeys”
Three little monkeys swinging in a tree
Teasing Mr. Alligator can’t catch me!
Along came Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be.
SNAP!
Repeat with “two little monkeys …, one…”

MOVEMENT TIME:

“Monkey See Monkey Do”
A little monkey likes to do
Just the same as you and you;
When you sit up very tall,
Monkey sits up very tall;
When you pretend to throw a ball,
Monkey pretends to throw a ball;
When you try to touch your toes,
Monkey tries to touch his toes;
When you move your little nose,
Monkey moves his little nose;
When you jump up in the air,
Monkey jumps up in the air;
When you sit down on the floor,
Monkey sits down on the floor.

To download the entire March program, click below.

For other month programs, click here.

Music Makers: February

Hard to believe it's February already!  And you know what that means... we need lovey, dovey songs for the little ones!  Yes, that's right!  The theme this month for Music Makers is Valentine's Day, Love and Family.  If the Music Maker program is new to you, check out this introductory post for the basic structure of the group.

Here are some of the songs we're singing this month:

RHYTHYM STICKS:

“If Youʼre Happy and You Know It”
If youʼre happy and you know it tap your sticks
If youʼre happy and you know it tap your sticks
If youʼre happy and you know it then your face will surely show it
If youʼre happy and you know it tap your sticks
*Repeat with: roll your sticks, rub your sticks, walk your sticks

THEME SONGS:

“With My Family” (sung to: "The Muffin Man")
Tell me what you like to do
Like to do, like to do
Tell me what you like to do
With your family.
_______likes to play with toys
Play with toys, play with toys
_______likes to play with toys
With his family.
(ask children what they like to do with their family...fill in blanks)

H-E-A-R-T (sung to: "Bingo")
There is a shape and it means love,
and heart is its name-o
H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T, H-E-A-R-T
And Heart is its name-o!

"Five Little Valentines"
Five little valentines were having a race
The first little valentine was frilly with lace (hold up one finger)
The second little valentine had a funny face (hold up two fingers)
The third little valentine said, "I love you" (hold up three fingers)
The fourth little valentine said, "I do too" (hold up four fingers)
The fifth little valentine was sly as a fox (hold up five fingers)
He ran the fastest to the valentine box (make five fingers run behind back)



GLOVE SONG:

"I Made Three Valentines Today"
I made three valentines today,
I'll give them all away.
The one for Mommy is red.
The one for Daddy is blue.
It's really pretty, too!
And here's a big one just for you.

MOVEMENT TIME:

"Will You Be My Valentine?" (sung to “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
(Leader walks around the group and hands a child a valentine)
Who will be my valentine, valentine, valentine?
Who will be my valentine on Valentineʼs Day?
(Childʼs name) will be my valentine, valentine, valentine.
(Childʼs name) will be my valentine on Valentineʼs Day.
(Child named will hand the valentine to a new child)

To download the entire February program, click below.

For other month programs, click here.

Music Makers: January

It's January so that means new songs for your wee ones.  If the music maker program is new to you, check out this introductory post for the basic structure of the group.  For the month of January, our theme is winter.  Think sledding and snowmen and all the fun that comes with snow.

Here is a sampling of some of the music this month:


RHYTHYM STICKS:

“The Drum” song (sung to ‘This Old Man’)
Got your sticks?  Yessiree!
Tap your sticks now just for me.
With a tap, tap, tappy,
Tappy-tap-tum
Music time is so much fun.
**repeat with rub, walk, roll

THEME SONGS:

“What is the Weather” (sung to “Up on the Housetop”)
What is the weather like today?
Can we even go out to play?
Sunny, cloudy, rainy, wind?
Maybe today we’ll have to stay in!
Oh, oh, oh!  Does the wind blow?
Oh, oh, oh!  Does the wind blow?
What is the weather like today?
What does the weatherman have to say?

“The Mittens on My Hand” (sung to “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The mittens on my hands help keep me warm,
Keep me warm, keep me warm.
The mittens on my hands help keep me warm,
All winter long.

Repeat with: The hat on my head will cover my ears.
The scarf around my neck is long and soft.
The boots on my feet go “crunch, crunch, crunch”

“10 Little Snowmen” (sung to: "Ten Little Indians")
One little, two little, three little snowmen;
Four little, five little, six little snowmen;
Seven little, eight little, nine little snowmen;
Ten little snowmen melt away.



STICK SONG:

“The Chubby Little Snowman”
The chubby little snowman,
Had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny,
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny,
Looking for his lunch,
Ate that snowman’s carrot nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch.



GLOVE SONG:
“Wear a Snowflake” (sung to “Allowetta”)
Wear a snowflake
Anywhere a snowflake
Wear a snowflake
Anywhere at all.
Can you wear it on your ________
I can wear it on my ________
On my ___, On my ___
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Wear a snowflake
Anywhere a snowflake
Wear a snowflake
Anywhere at all.

MOVEMENT TIME:

Dance Around The Snowman (Sung to: "Mulberry Bush")
This is the way we dance around,
Dance around,
Dance around.
This is the way we dance around,
Our snowman in the morning.

Repeat with:
*skip around
*twirl around
*crawl around
*hop around
*spin around
*gallop around
*sneak around
*tip toe around

To download the entire January program, click below.
For other month programs, click here.

Music Makers: December

Last month I shared a fun music program called Music Makers that I lead with a few friends and our children (birth-5).  We get together once a week for about an hour to sing songs about the upcoming holiday or season.  Toddlers love all the different activities and by the end of the month they look forward to the different songs.  I know Caden sure loves it! If you want the nitty gritty details of our Music Maker class (how it's structured, supplies needed, etc) visit this introductory post.  The structure remains the same for each month, but the songs change after the greeting songs.

Here are a few songs we are singing for the month of December:

RHYTHYM STICKS: “Can You Tap Your Sticks With Me? (Sung to: “London Bridge”)
Can you tap your sticks with me,
sticks with me, sticks with me,
Can you tap your sticks with me,
It’s as easy as can be.
* repeat with roll your sticks, rub your sticks, walk your sticks

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish
you a Merry Christmas, And a Happy New Year.
Now let's all do a little clapping, (have children clap hands) Now let's all
do a little clapping, Now let's all do a little clapping, And spread
Christmas cheer !
Now let's all do a little jumping (have children jump) Now let's all do a
little jumping, Now let's all do a little jumping, And spread Christmas cheer!
Now let's all do a little waving (have children wave) Now let's all do a
little waving, Now let's all do a little waving, And spread Christmas cheer !
Repeat Chorus.

“Where is Santa?” (Sung to: “Are you Sleeping?”)
Where is Santa? Where is Santa? (hands behind back)
Here I am! Here I am! (arms out in front making a belly shape!)
Merry, Merry Christmas! Merry, Merry, Christmas!
(keep arms up through the rest of the song!)
Ho! Ho! Ho!, Ho! Ho! Ho!

“Away in a Manger”
Away in a manger no crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus lays down his sweet head.
The stars in the heavens, looked down where he lay.
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.



This month for finger plays, you'll need five little ornaments.

GLOVE SONG: “Five Little Ornaments on the Christmas Tree”
Five little ornaments on the tree.
One fell off and broke in three,
Mama called Santa and Santa said
“No more ornaments falling off the tree!”
Repeat with four, three, two and one
No more ornaments falling off the tree,
So…Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

"Ring Around the Snowman" (Sung to: Ring Around the Rosie”)
Ring around the snowman,
A pocket full of snow,
Snowflakes, snowflakes,
We all fall down!


"Santa Hat"
_____’s wearing the hat
What do you think of that?
Take it off and pass it to _____
After last child, “Take it off and put it away.”

To download the entire December program, click below.



For other months, click here.

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.