Even though there is no snow on the ground outside, we'll be singing lots of winter-themed songs! Songs about snowmen and also a fun song about drinking "Hot Chocolate" after playing in the snow. We'll also talk about our winter gear (hats, gloves, coats, and boots) while singing the "Hokey Pokey".

We will continue to sing our major scale (you and your kiddo can listen to a funky trumpet playing a major scale and other patterns HERE). We will sing a minor wintry song called "Snowflakes Are Falling" that has a very strong pull to DO which is the tonic or base note of the scale. At the end of the month we'll start learning "Hot Cross Buns" using our solfege notes!

"Slumberjack" by The Okee Dokee Brothers and "The North Wind" by Elizabeth Mitchell are two of my favorite winter season songs that have a strong beat to them. We'll listen, sing, and play along with our rhythm instruments. We'll also talk about how different songs can have fast beat (allegro) or slow beat (largo). While listening to the fast William Tell Overture we'll gallop around the room!

Since it's been a few weeks since we've seen each other, we'll sing a preschool favorite "The More We Get Together" and remember our music class friends' names. We take time each class to feel some calm with music: "Nice Warm Blanket" gives kids a moment to give themselves a big hug with their arms giving kids some sensory input (try this one at bedtime!) and "Light a Candle" is a great song that can trick kids into taking some breaths to help regulate their bodies. I use this song often with my students and my own children!

Now that we are officially enjoying the winter season we will talk a bit about how the year has four seasons. We'll do this while listening to excerpts from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". We'll go skating with paper plates and color them while listening to a great classical skating song  from "Swan Lake". The instrument we're focusing on is the trumpet and we'll notice the quickly playing trumpets in the William Tell Overture. Check out more classical songs featuring the trumpet on January's Playlist!