All About Music Songs!: Book & Enhanced CD

This collection understands that young students absorb musical vocabulary fastest when they sing it. Rather than relying on worksheets or explanations, Burrows and arranger Tim Hayden let the music itself teach; the lyrics naturally reinforce what kids hear. The included lesson plans and masterwork listening suggestions turn each song into a complete teaching moment, so you're not scrambling to supplement or justify why you're teaching these concepts.

Clever and playful without being condescending. The melodies are genuinely singable and memorable; kids leave humming "Gimme That Syncopation" because the tune earned it, not because it's catchy fluff. There's a lightness here that makes learning feel like discovery rather than instruction.

General music teachers and classroom music specialists working with grades 2-6. This collection works equally well as a curriculum anchor, a concert piece, or a tool for reinforcing concepts students encounter in repertoire they're learning. Unison voicing keeps it accessible for whole-class singing without requiring part divisions.

• Lean into the character of each song. "The Articulation Tango" invites rhythmic precision and clarity, while "Tempo Time Machine" benefits from clear energy shifts that mirror the lyrical content.
• Use the enhanced CD to model interpretation and phrasing before students learn their parts. Hearing the song sung well first makes the learning process faster and more confident.
• Connect the lyrics directly to real music you're reading in class. When students encounter a fermata in an actual piece, remind them of what they learned in "The Fermata Song."

Weave individual songs throughout the year as you introduce or review concepts, using Burrows' suggested listening to expand students' exposure to masterworks. Alternatively, program the collection as a standalone concert set that demonstrates how fundamental musical thinking sounds when sung together, offering parents a clear snapshot of what their children are learning.

• Identifying and defining musical terminology through melody and lyrics
• Recognizing treble and bass clef note names on the staff
• Understanding dynamic markings and their expressive effect
• Distinguishing articulation types (staccato, legato, and others)
• Reading and performing syncopated rhythms
• Interpreting tempo markings and adjusting phrasing accordingly
• Differentiating melody and harmony by ear and in notation