Favorite Songs for Elementary Choir

If you're looking for some song ideas to use with your elementary chorus, today I'm sharing some of my favorites! I've shared some of my favorite pop songs I've arranged for my elementary choirs in previous posts (look for that link below) so this post will focus on choral pieces.

I have taught elementary choir for many years in all different formats, age groups, schedules, and ability ranges, and I definitely have found some pieces that have been successful time and time again. Of course there are no magic songs that are perfect for every elementary choir, so you'll want to consider which ones of the list below are the best fit for the group you have from year to year, but these are all pieces I have done over the years and have worked well. 

I've split my list up into songs I've done for winter concerts and songs I've done for spring concerts, but keep in mind there are many songs on this list that would work any time of year and often, I have done them in multiple different times of year myself- in those cases I just added them to one or the other, so be sure to look through the whole list regardless of what time of year your program will be.

Winter Concert Songs

• "Winter Is Coming" from "Songs for the Winter" 
• "Here Comes the Snow" from "Songs for the Winter" 
• "Gong Xi" arr. Lily Lung Grant
• "A La Puerta del Cielo" arr. Ruth Elaine Schram (2-part)
• "Hot Chocolate" (from Polar Express) arr. Roger Emerson (2-part)
• "Sing" by Pinkzebra (2-part)
• "Catch a Falling Star" arr. Mac Huff
• "Hushabye, Nanita Nana" arr. Donnelly & Strid
• "Snow is Falling" by Ruth Elaine Schram (2-part)
• "Siyahamba" arr. Donald Moore (2-part)
• "Seasons of Love" (from Rent) arr. Mac Huff (2-part)
• "How Can I Keep from Singing?" by Greg Gilpin (2-part)
• "Artza Alinu" arr. Earlene Rentz (2-part)
• "Babethandaza" arr. Victor Johnson (SSA)
• "Whisper!" by Greg Gilpin (2-part)

Spring Concert Songs

• "I Bought Me a Cat" arr. Sally Albrecht (2-part)
• "Akatonbo" arr. Russell Robinson
• "Bonse Aba" arr. Victor Johnson (2-part)
• "I Love Chocolate!" by Mary Lynn Lightfoot
• "Get On Board" by Martin/ Williams
• "I Want to Rise" arr. Mark Weston (2-part)
• "J'entend le Moulin" arr. Dwyer/ Ellis (SA)
• "Salangadou" arr. Susan Brumfield
• "Cantar!" by Jay Althouse (2-part)
• "Sisi Ni Moja" by Jacob Narverud (SA)
• "Aya Ngena" arr. Ruth Morris Gray (SSA)
• "Kojo no Tsuki" arr. Audrey Snyder
• "Rhythm of Life" arr. John Leavitt (2-part)
• "Ukrainian River Song" by Roman Yakub

Keep in mind in many cases I make minor adjustments to the pieces to fit my needs, whether that's adjusting the lyrics, modifying the harmony parts, adjusting the arrangements, or making a section a solo. I've written more details about some specific ways I often modify songs in this post, and you're welcome to comment or email me if you have questions about any of the specific songs on this list.

I have been hesitant to share this list because I am not particularly thrilled with the identities represented in the list of arrangers and composers. I would love to hear suggestions from people who have found songs they love for elementary choirs by composers and arrangers that identify with underrepresented identities, particularly culture bearers from the global majority. I have, frankly, had an easier time finding representation in the modern songs I program for my elementary choirs and have admittedly put more energy into that effort than I have into the choral arrangements. To see my (ongoing) list of modern songs I've arranged for my elementary choirs, check out this post.

I also don't tend to program concerts with a specific theme most of the time, because I don't want to limit myself, but sometimes I stumble into a theme and when that happens it's pretty cool to see it come together! I've shared the songs I've programmed for 3 different themes (stars, rhythm, and self-identity) in this post.

Looking for more advice on teaching elementary chorus? You can search all of my posts on the topic, with everything from teaching strategies to warmups to rehearsal procedures, here.

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Indigenous American Resources for Music Teachers

As someone who did not grow up in North America and does not have any Native American heritage in my family, I have been on a constant learning journey for the last two decades since moving to the United States to learn more about Indigenous music, and appropriate ways for me, as an outsider, to share it with my students. I still have so very much to learn, but today I wanted to bring you along on my learning journey by sharing a few helpful resources I have found for non-Native people to find music and cultural information that is appropriate for us to share in our classrooms.

1. Culture Bearers

I know firsthand that this can feel like a frustrating answer when you hear people say to reach out to your local tribe/ nation for information and resources, but it's true: there is no substitute for connecting with local people and organizations that can directly advise you on songs and information from your local indigenous communities and what is permissible for you to share as an outsider, point you to people and resources you can use, and maybe even come in to share with your students themselves! It took me several years to even find connections myself but it is imperative that we make the effort to do so.

2. Pow Wow Information

One of the first thing I introduce my students to is pow wows and the dancing and music that happen in the pow wow traditions local to our area. The website www.powwows.com has a lot of helpful information and resources that are made for non-Native teachers and students, including a place to find a pow wow near you.

3. Songs and Lessons in Anishinaabemowin

Ojibwe.net is a website designed to preserve and spread the Algonquian language Anishinaabemowin. Songs and lessons designed to help people learn the language are available, including audio recordings, and these songs are appropriate for non-indigenous teachers to use in their classrooms.

4. Michelle McCauley

I have learned so much from all of Michelle McCauley's work over the years. You can find video lectures on how to use Native American music in elementary general music classrooms, how to handle Thanksgiving, and songs and dances on her YouTube channel, an ebook with accompanying music on F-flat books, and more resources online.

Of course there are so many more resources that I have learned from and have used in my teaching, but those are some highlights that, if you are a non-Native teacher seeking to incorporate music and lessons in your music classroom appropriately, are good places to start. As I said before I am very much a beginning learner in this area inviting you to join me on this important journey- please share ideas, thoughts, and resources in the comments so we can all continue to grow!

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Hispanic Heritage Month Elementary Playlist

This year for Latine / Hispanic Heritage Month I've been playing music by Latine / Hispanic musicians in the morning as students are entering school, and I ended up discovering a lot of new kid-friendly songs and artists in the process of my research to find songs to add to my playlist that are clean enough to play around the preschoolers but cool enough to avoid the 6th graders rolling their eyes when they come into school. All of these songs have fit the bill!

Whether you use this playlist as a whole or look through to find a new song or artist to feature in your lessons, I hope you find this playlist useful! I made sure the lyrics were appropriate for kids, but also tried to include broad representation of a variety of genres and artist's nationalities, a mix of traditional and modern, children's music and pop. Click below to access the playlist on Spotify or YouTube:

To learn more about how I recognize Latine / Hispanic Heritage Month in my classroom, and find links to culture bearers and resources I recommend, here is my blog post on how I recognize Latine / Hispanic Heritage Month in the music room.

I hope to continue adding more songs to this playlist as I discover more songs and artists and continue to expand my representation! Please share your recommendations in the comments so we can expand the list together.

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