Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/144030
56 • The first part of the song can be a Solo, sung by Larry, but the children should join in singing the melody with Archibald from measure 37 to the end. This song offers a wonderful opportunity for true, beautiful singing by your preschoolers, so make sure they are secure in the words and melody so that they are able to both play their bells and sing at the same time. Oh, Where Is My Tinsel? – • This is the "fun song" of the musical. Everyone familiar with VeggieTales knows that Larry sings a Silly Songs with Larry in almost every DVD story, the most famous being, The Hairbrush Song. Oh, Where Is My Tinsel? is an adaptation of that song especially written to fit this Christmas musical, and we believe children are going to love it! Allow them to have fun with this song and encourage them to be excited and energized as they sing along with Larry. • Practice speaking the words to measures: 13-15, 18-20, 46-48, and 54-56. Explain that they must use their articulators (teeth, tongue and lips) to sing these words very clearly and very fast. Teach the song, and these passages in particular, in verses: Verse 1 asks, "Oh, where is my tinsel?"; Verse 2 answers, "Back there is my tinsel"; and Verse 3 combines all the verses with, "Oh, where? Back there, now here…..is my tinsel." Show the words with hand motions to help the children remember the words and the sequence in which they come in the song. • The melody in this song rises in thirds to a high G above the staff; this is intentional in the writing of the song in order to create the "operatic," dramatic effect that is stylistic of this Silly Song segment. This song presents an ideal opportunity for you to help the children explore all of their voices: Whisper voice; Speaking voice; Singing voice; and Shouting voice. Have them practice singing, speaking and sing/shouting the phrases in measures 13-15, 18-20, 46-48, and 54-56. Don't take this song too seriously; allow the children to sing it with the biggest, most dramatic voice they can produce. The Friendly Beasts – • Here's the "show stopper"! This adorable traditional carol offers an opportunity for your preschoolers to dress in animal costumes as they are staged in a nativity stable setting. Create costumes for a donkey, cow, sheep and dove, and allow these four characters to sing the solo verses that are written for each of these animals. Or, these solos could easily be sung by the entire group and simply acted out by the costumed characters. The costumes can be as elaborate or simple as your situation allows. Be sure to leave space in the face of each costume for the child to be able to sing freely and be heard. • This lovely carol allows for a beautiful moment of singing for your children. Rehearse good singing skills and pitch accuracy in this song, so that your children can shine as they present this simple message of Christmas. • If you have an accomplished guitarist, consider having this song accompanied by live acoustic guitar for a precious rendition. • Talk about the meaning of the word/Name, "Emmanuel" – God with us.