This is an October song that I enjoy every fall with young children. The tune is at this link. October, October, leaves orange, green, red, yellow, brown. October, the wind blows. Leaves falling down, down to the ground, leaves fall down to the ground. With its ¾ meter, this is…
Happy October! I’m dedicating some blog space to offering my favorite October songs this month. It’s fun to sing about fall, but really, Halloween songs just can’t be beat for all-around spooky fun. I recommend my Halloween Rhymes song for rhyming-word learning and howling all month long. You can download…
This September, I’m learning new things about monarch butterflies and singing my butterfly song. I’d always thought spring was the time to sing about butterflies, but actually, butterflies such as monarchs are very much a part of life and nature in the fall, too. Thanks to one of the teachers…
Following up on my previous post about singing with kids, I’m excited to share a list of my favorite “classic” songs to share with today’s children. Singing the classics gives children a sense of history and tradition; we ought to pass along the best of folk traditions to the next…
As another school year begins, let’s pause to consider one experience that’s almost certain to make school a better place: making music. Singing as a group is an awesome way to build school community and empower children to do good in the world. While I love it when classes sing…
As September draws closer, early education teachers everywhere are gathering their strategies to meet academic goals for our youngest kids. To prepare children for reading, traditional nursery rhymes remain a terrific tool. Sure, there are some you wouldn’t want to recite in today’s world, but many nursery songs and chants…
It’s spring! Here in New England, we have a beautiful sunshine-y day outside, daffodils are blooming and everyone’s frolicking and eating popsicles. I’m making a video of a spring song that I wrote with a Pre-K class a few years ago. I plan to post it on my Youtube Channel,…
Be a kindness rock star! The poster on the left by Karen Salmansohn provides my motto for behavior management for music specialists or teaching artists or any adult who visits classrooms. (Substitute teachers, there is a special place in Heaven for you.) One of the biggest challenges for any teacher…
I just made a new video of one of my favorite literacy songs, “Dr. Knickerbocker.” Find it now on my youtube channel, LizBuchananMusic, by clicking here. “Dr. Knickerbocker” is somewhat ubiquitous in kids’ music circles, having been featured on at least two children’s TV shows and in numerous books. It’s…
Memo to musicians under 40, of all musical styles and persuasions: Could you share your music with kids? Please? I’m reaching out especially to those of you who don’t look or sound like me, a white female of a certain age, who strums my acoustic guitar and sings folk-y type…
