Das Kinderlied Festival: Book & CD

This collection reflects the actual landscape of modern German children's music rather than recycling familiar standards. The inclusion of 64 songs curated with input from kindermusik.de means you're drawing from working songwriters who understand what holds children's attention in real classrooms and performance spaces. The accompanying CD provides immediate, singable models that preserve each song's character while keeping ensemble cohesion manageable.

The collection moves fluidly between intimate, contemplative moments and exuberant ensemble energy. You'll encounter wordplay and humor that makes children laugh, gentle folk-influenced melodies alongside contemporary pop rhythms, and the unmistakable warmth of songs composed specifically for singing together rather than passive listening.

Early childhood educators and elementary music teachers working with children ages 3-8 in preschool, kindergarten, and primary school settings. Guitar-playing teachers and classroom musicians will find substantial material to draw from across a full school year or program season.

• Study the CD recordings first to absorb the rhythmic character and harmonic color of each song before teaching it to children. These arrangements carry specific stylistic markers that shape how the piece should sound.
• Use the movement and play suggestions printed alongside lyrics as scaffolds for engagement, not rigid choreography. Children often generate better ideas when they've already internalized the melody.
• Balance repertoire across the book's full range within rehearsals. Alternating between quiet lyrical pieces and high-energy songs prevents fatigue and maintains focus across a 45-minute session.
• Let the guitar accompaniments on the CD guide your own instrumental choices if you accompany live. Many pieces rely on specific harmonic voicings that anchor the melodic line.

Structure monthly theme programs by selecting songs across different styles and tempos from the book. Use the collection as your primary resource for seasonal performances, class assemblies, or family sing-along events, where the tonal variety ensures no child in the audience feels excluded from the mood of a given piece.

• Sight-reading simple melodic notation with guitar chord symbols
• Sustaining pitch and breath control in lyrical songs
• Responding to rhythmic and movement cues during ensemble singing
• Understanding and executing basic guitar accompaniment patterns
• Singing with clear diction in German language material