Classroom friendly music

[Ember]

I'm trying to put together a playlist of songs to use in the classroom, both upbeat and slower. So clean lyrics, appropriate subject matter, etc.. I know there's a ton out there, but now that I go to do it, darned if I can come up with many!

Suggestions, please!! (And thank you!)

 

[cornflake]

I'm trying to put together a playlist of songs to use in the classroom, both upbeat and slower. So clean lyrics, appropriate subject matter, etc.. I know there's a ton out there, but now that I go to do it, darned if I can come up with many!

Suggestions, please!! (And thank you!)

To use in the classroom for what? I'm not sure I get what you're after. Like for music class?

 

[Ember]

To use in the classroom for what? I'm not sure I get what you're after. Like for music class?

Sorry, should have been specific. No, I use music as a signal to get ready to change activities (kids must be seated and ready to go at the end of a song), to play during things like art, to have playing softly during centres (voices can't be louder than the music), etc. I have a disk I've been using, but it only has about 15 songs and I thought I could make a playlist on my iPhone to use with a wider variety of songs/music.

 

[cornflake]

Sorry, should have been specific. No, I use music as a signal to get ready to change activities (kids must be seated and ready to go at the end of a song), to play during things like art, to have playing softly during centres (voices can't be louder than the music), etc. I have a disk I've been using, but it only has about 15 songs and I thought I could make a playlist on my iPhone to use with a wider variety of songs/music.

If it's playing during art and during actual activities I'd use classical, nothing with lyrics, seems that'd be way distracting. Also, seems they're little so classical would really be my go-to.

 

[PollyannaMom]

When DS was little, I loved a CD called Beatles for Babies, that turned Beatles Songs into classical styles! That would be great for quiet time. There was also one one called "All You Need is Love" that had children singing Beatles songs. Looking that one up might give you some with lyrics that are appropriate.

I also have a whole set (5 volumes, I think) called Classic Disney. This has songs from Disney movies, both slow and upbeat, most with words, obviously kid-OK.

There are also the old Schoolhouse Rock Songs for transitions.

For art, I love classical too. Flight of the Bumblebee, maybe, and things from Fantasia are always good.

 

[Pikester]

The kids in the Kinder classes I've worked in love the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Their favorite was Wizards in Winter.

 

[happygirl]

Celebration Kool and the Gang.
Then there are of those Kip Bop CD

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

To protect yourself, I would not go with any popular music or even kids bop. Some parents even still have a problem with kids bop. My kids listen to whatever so I would not care, but I would hate for a parent to complain.

What I would do would be to get songs from movies that are rated g or maybe pg. Any disney moive songs would be ok. Alvin and the Chipmuncks have some cute songs on their cd.

How old are the kids? If you have middle school or high school, my suggestions may seem a little silly lol.

Let us know what you come up with.

 

[ORMom2Four]

DS9 surprised me one day by singing every word to the song, "Daydream Believer" by the Monkeys.

We only listen to country and pop music, so this came out of the blue, lol. Turns out his teacher plays it in the classroom (and he loves it!), so that would be one of my suggestions!

 

[Sandy51]

I teach middle school and when my students are doing quiet seat work, I always play music. I stick with movie soundtracks, such as Legends of the Fall, Jurassic Park, Dances with Wolves, and sometimes, Pirates of the Caribbean. I also like to play a Pachelbel Canon in D with ocean waves cd that I bought 20 years ago in Hawaii. I've had several former students tell me they remember listening to music in my room.




Sandy

 

[Nolcrest]

Curious George Movie Soundtrack. I also like to play Jim Brickman CD's in class.

 

[bethy]

I have ADHD and so does my fifth grade DD (diagnosed after *extensive* testing by a Neuropsych). I have no idea what I would have done if there had been music playing while I was trying to focus on schoolwork in the classroom. I know she would struggle significantly also.

Maybe for art or craft projects it would have worked OK . . .

Just FYI if any of your students seem to struggle with it. I do realize that for other students dead silence can be a problem. I am sure it's hard for teachers to balance all children's needs.

 

[KristaTX]

I suggest choosing some songs from the '60s/'70s/'80s or perhaps even older (e.g. pop standards, classical, Disney) as a way to expose them to something different from the current pop that they are exposed to in their everyday lives. That can be a lesson in itself, as a lot of kids are completely in the dark about music from the past.

I just made a CD for the kindergarten-aged daughter of some friends of ours. I love making mixed tapes/CD's for people and making them familiar with "old" stuff. Many years ago I made a cd of "love" songs for the son of some friends because that's what he wanted for his birthday. It must be 10 years later now, and they still listen to it .

Here are the songs I put on the most recent CD I made for the little girl:

Your Song - Elton John
At the Zoo - Simon & Garfunkel
Catch a Falling Star - Perry Como
Mango Tree- DoSul
Brand New Key - Melanie
Listen to the Land - Disney!!
Here Comes the Sun - Beatles
Up Up and Away - 5th Dimension
The Wind - Cat Stevens
Sing - The Carpenters
Good Morning Starshine - Oliver
I Don't Want to Live on the Moon - Ernie (the muppet)
I Say A Little Prayer - Dionne Warwick
The Rain Rain Rain Came Down Down Down - Disney
Rain on the Roof - Lovin' Spoonful
Rainbow Connection - The Muppets
Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head - BJ Thomas
Swinging on a Star - Bing Crosby
Windmills of Your Mind - Noel Harrison
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
Vincent - Don McLean
Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney
Falling Through a Cloud - East Wind (This and the next are Pre-Illuminations music from Epcot)
30 Year Jig - Vasen

 

[mjantz]

I play a lot of music from Renaissance Festival musicians. Some of my favorites are E Muzeki (all instrumental), Sarah Marie Mullen (harpist), Wine & Alchemy ('world' music. Be warned that some of the songs have lyrics & they're not all school appropriate), Cast in Bronze (instrumental bell music)

My kids loved E Muzeki. One of the songs was their clean up music.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My first instinct was John Phillips Sousa, but then you mentioned "quiet time", and that just wouldn't work

 

[christineann]

I taught 3 year old kindergarten for several years, and I played classical music as background music in my classroom. I wasn't sure the kids were listening at first, but after a while, the kids would stop talking and say, "Listen. This is my favorite part."

One parent asked me one day what I was playing, and when I told her, she replied, "My daughter doesn't like that." She was surprised when I told her that her daughter had asked me to play a Vivaldi tape the day before

I would definitely recommend classical music.

 

[clm10308]

When DS was little, I loved a CD called Beatles for Babies, that turned Beatles Songs into classical styles! That would be great for quiet time. There was also one one called "All You Need is Love" that had children singing Beatles songs. Looking that one up might give you some with lyrics that are appropriate.

I also have a whole set (5 volumes, I think) called Classic Disney. This has songs from Disney movies, both slow and upbeat, most with words, obviously kid-OK.

There are also the old Schoolhouse Rock Songs for transitions.

For art, I love classical too. Flight of the Bumblebee, maybe, and things from Fantasia are always good.

I was going to suggest the Beatles for Babies. I used to play that one for my kids nap time. I also like it in the car.

What age kids are you working with? Hap Palmer and the Baby Songs series of CD would be good for kinder and younger.

 

[wowsmom]

As the mother of two jazz trombonists (one in college, one in high school), I recommend some jazz music! There are about a zillion songs out there, both slower tempo and more upbeat. Also, maybe some big band music from the 40s.

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band is definitely worth checking out - they are one of my absolute favorites!

 

[I Love Pluto]

Please let me give you some advice. Recordings are made by educational companies - get one of these.

Reason: One parent did not like a teacher's choice of music, used for the same purpose you are thinking of. Parent was really out to get said teacher. Union had to get involved, etc. The teacher was told by the school lawyer that SHE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE CD FROM AN EDUCATIONAL COMPANY. This way, the parent could have issue with the educational company, not the teacher. Please be careful.

A word to the wise.......

 

[StephMK]

Please let me give you some advice. Recordings are made by educational companies - get one of these.

Reason: One parent did not like a teacher's choice of music, used for the same purpose you are thinking of. Parent was really out to get said teacher. Union had to get involved, etc. The teacher was told by the school lawyer that SHE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE CD FROM AN EDUCATIONAL COMPANY. This way, the parent could have issue with the educational company, not the teacher. Please be careful.

A word to the wise.......

That is great advice!


I saw this thread yesterday and still can't remember the name of the guy I was going to recommend. I was observing in a 1st grade room a few years ago & the teacher had the CUTEST morning song with hand movements and guitar playing. It was a guy and I think his last name was a household object but I cannot find or remember who it was. I keep hoping someone would mention him because I do think they were specifically for the classroom.