Dear Santa: Letters and Songs to the North Pole: Unison Choral Teacher's Handbook (Includes Reproducible Student Pages & Staging)

This handbook delivers a complete, performance-ready program with built-in flexibility. The mix of rhyming letter readings and unison songs keeps younger singers engaged and confident, while the reproducible student pages and staging suggestions eliminate the scramble to create supporting materials. Eight songs across 25 minutes of performance time is the sweet spot for elementary concert programming.

Anticipation and joy build throughout as different singers step forward to share their wishes in playful rhyme, then the whole choir joins in spirited, singable melodies. The program captures the excitement of the holiday season through a lens of personality and humor, with each letter-and-song pair moving the narrative gently forward toward its warm conclusion.

This resource is designed for elementary and middle school choirs in grades three and up who need a short, accessible holiday program with built-in narrative charm. Teachers will appreciate the complete package: ready-to-reproduce student materials, staging guidance, and eight unison songs that work for mixed-ability groups.

• Assign each letter to a different student reader before rehearsals begin; this builds investment in the narrative and ensures clear, expressive delivery during performance.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during rehearsals to lock in unison lines, then rehearse frequently without it so singers maintain confidence and intonation.
• Incorporate the staging suggestions early in the rehearsal process. Young singers perform better when they have physical movement to anchor their singing.
• Consider splitting the eight songs across two performances if your group is smaller or less experienced; this deepens preparation without oversinging.

Schedule this as your December concert finale or as the centerpiece of a holiday assembly; the 25-minute running time fits neatly into a larger program or stands alone as an engaging complete performance. This works especially well when you want a showcase that highlights individual singers while building community through ensemble singing.

• Unison singing with clear diction and phrase shaping
• Expressive reading and performance technique
• Rhythmic precision in eight different melodic settings
• Confidence performing as both soloists and ensemble members
• Coordination of movement, blocking, and singing