SongWorks I: Singing in the Education of
Children written by Drs. Peggy Bennett of Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Douglas Bartholomew
of Montana State University, (1997), 378 pages,
ISBN 0-534-51327-1 published by Wadsworth

Much more than collections of suggested song activities, SongWorks I captures the essence of singing in the education of children. Based on the premise that singing is the most natural and effective way to teach music at the elementary level, this text shows pre- and in-service teachers how to create engaging, purposeful music experiences for children.

Through the examples of real classroom teaching experiences laced throughout the text, Bennett and Bartholomew, both former elementary school music teachers, show teachers how to lead and interact with children during music activities. These examples inspire instructors with a “can-do” attitude toward music.

SongWorks I includes:

• Over 80 scenarios of elementary classroom experiences that illustrate teaching practices and prepare teachers for singing with their students
  
  
• More than 40 folk songs and 95 accompanying games that have been classroom- and time-tested throughout the country
  
  
• Activities that provide real-life illustrations of how to interact, play, think, and develop listening skills within the context of singing
  
  
• A principles approach that encourages teachers to structure curricula and classroom choices around their own teaching principles and experiences
  
  
• Reflective questions and scenarios that draw the reader into classroom contexts in which pedagogical issues and dilemmas can be examined

SongWorks II: Singing from Sound to Symbol
written by Drs. Peggy Bennett of Oberlin
Conservatory of Music and Douglas Bartholomew of Montana State University, (1999), 359 pages ISBN
0-534-51328-X published by Wadsworth

This methods text for the music specialist focuses on teaching children the sounds of music (singing) and the symbols of music (reading and writing music notation.) With over 75 mini-lessons, this text offers general principles and specific ways to teach elements of rhythm, melody, and structure and help children learn to read, write, and enjoy music. The text addresses the four major challenges of teaching music: (1) how to translate the aural sense of music into visual and kinesthetic experiences for young children, (2) how to organize musical sounds, (3) how to explore the patterns of music in temporal rather than static contexts, and (4) how to engage the students as performers of the music studied through singing, moving, and playing classroom instruments.

This text includes:

• Over 70 study songs selected for the richness of their musical content and their folksong traditions.
  
  
• CD available covering all the songs used in the text.
  
  
• Central chapters on rhythm, melody, and structure include information on theory and notation; terminology; challenges and scenarios; mini-lessons and key strategies.
  
  
• Over 75 mini-lessons offer specific and general ways that teachers can lead students through a flexible sequence of song study. These lessons can be combined with additional musical materials and activities for complete lesson plans.
  
  
• Complete song scores of all the songs used in the mini-lessons or as the subject of a particular technique. Each song is accompanied by suggested study patterns for song analysis.
   
• Over 75 illustrations of fundamentals and techniques, many of them reproducible for the teacher’s convenience.

Playing with the Classics 1: Music Masterworks
for Children by Peggy D. Bennett, (2011), 75 pages, ISBN-10: 0-7390-8168-3 ISBN-13:
978-0-7390-8168-6, Alfred Music Publishing

RhymePlay: Playing with Children and Mother
Goose written by Dr. Peggy Bennett, (2010), 94
pages, ISBN 0-7390-6146-1, Alfred Music
Publishing

Charming the senses of young children is key to the spirit of RhymePlay. The simplicity and musical lilt of Mother Goose rhymes engages and enchants children as they play with language, dexterity and imagination. Accompanying the delightful rhymes are wonderfully photographed fingerplay movements, ready for immediate use. Reproducible Picture Cards enhance the lessons, making it easy to prepare and have students actively engaged in the lesson.

Designed for the early childhood classroom, RhymePlay includes a wealth of energizing and imaginative activities, focusing on building children’s organizational, expressive, and memory skills. “Storymaking” and “Playlets” allow children to develop expressiveness and understanding as they actively explore the imaginary world of the rhymes “ReadingPlay” exercises lead children toward literacy.

Each of the charming finger plays and activities in RhymePlay will captivate and enchant children while developing their senses, minds, and social skills.

Song Play: A collection of playful songs for
ages 4 through 7 written by eight Montana
educators (2 classroom, 6 music). Compiled and
edited by Dr. Peggy Bennett. (1999), 84 pages,
ISBN 9780634011573, published by Hal Leonard

Singing and playing provide a wonderful environment in which children can grow and develop. The songplays in this creative music resource will engage children ages 4-7 in playful, nurturing experiences as they sing simple folksongs, while learning to:

• Respond to each other
  
  
• Focus on attention and listening skills
  
  
• Use their imagination to describe ideas and actions

This book includes a “coaching” CD with helpful musical prompts, song demonstrations in various keys by an adult solo voice for use in preparing each lesson. The songs included are A-Hunting We Will Go, Come and Follow Me, Farmer in the Dell, The More We Get Together, Hot Cross Buns, London Bridge, Mary’s Wearing Her Red Dress, Shake Those Fingers Down, and more.

This book is ideal for all teacher of young children, both classroom teachers and music specialists. Each songplay section includes a detailed step-by-step teaching process, opportunities for cross-curricular connections and a listing of recommended literature readings. The well-designed layout makes lesson planning a breeze!

Recorder EdVentures: Teaching Recorder in
the Classroom by Marilyn Winter (1999), 244
pages - published by Marilyn Winter

Recorder EdVentures - USD 35.00 (S&H $3.00)
Contact: M. Winter wintermf@aol.com

For some music teachers, recorders are little more than a required activity for fourth grade students and a primary recruitment setting for junior high school band. As you absorb the ideas in Record EdVentures, however, you begin to see new possibilities: recorder-playing can be an integral part of music study process; recorders can be instruments for beautiful music-making; recorders can be the affordable, accessible, portable, hands-on instruments that student can purchase for "making music their own.

In Recorder EdVentures, Marilyn has crafted a book that is unique, pioneering, and substantive. For those who teach recorders, let me warm you: this book may forever change our attitudes about the role and importance of recorders in your classroom... and in the musical lives of your students. - Dr. Peggy Bennett, Ph.D. (Oberlin Conservatory of Music)

This book features:

• Student friendly approach to reading music notation
  
  
• Ways to achieve aesthetically pleasing tone production
  
  
• “Sure fire” approaches to tonguing
  
  
• “Ringing-in”/playing in tune activities
  
  
• Ideas for Native American Studies
  
  
• Seat assignment activities
  
  
• 35 song scores
  
  
• 11 form books
  
  
• Assessment tools
  
  
• Arranging songs
  
  
• Improvising