Do You Hear What I Hear??

Today in my medical fragile classrooms I sang the traditional Christmas song "Do You Hear What I Hear?"  As I sang the song, "Ms. Shae style,"  I introduced different sounding instruments to my students. First singing "Do you hear what I hear?  I repeated this several times while I played the selected  instrument.  As I walked from student to student I looked to see if the students were tracking the sounds, and if they were able to focus on the instruments.  I then sang, "A bell, a bell, do your hear the bell. Do you hear the bell as I play... now let me hear Megan play."    The students LOVED this activity and love when I put their names in the song we are singing.   I was able to introduce the following instruments in one session; wind chimes, bells, castanets, finger cymbals, drum, tambourine, triangle, cabasa (I did change the words during this verse to feel and rolled the cabasa up an down the students arms and legs) and a vibrotone.  The students and the teacher loved the activity so much I may just have to pull this one out at other times of the year.

 After the session I shared with the teacher how she could change up the words even more to say do you see what I see, what I feel etc.

 Later in the day, I tweaked the activity a little more and used the song to facilitate choice making.  I started out with "Do you hear what I hear?" A bell a bell, who wants to play the bell? Who will play the bell for me? Who will play the bell for me?"  I then had the student play the instrument one time and put it under his/her chair and fold their hands.  We repeated this until everyone had an instrument.  Once everyone had an instrument I accompanied the students on my guitar as we played through a medley of carols. 

 I wish I could take full credit for the idea but I can't.   I recently purchased a book called Sensational Songs and Activities by Amy Kalas, MM, MT-BC and one of her song suggestions was my springboard for this suggestion.  Her ebook is packed full of great ideas to help jump start your creativity!!  You can check out her blog and her book @ www.WHmusictherapy.com

I do hope you have a wonderful day!!