Rhythm All Around: CD Kit (Book & CD)

Albrecht's gift for writing lyrics that make children genuinely curious about sound sets this collection apart from typical classroom song collections. The themed approach—from door knocking to kitchen rhythms—gives students a framework for understanding rhythm as something alive in their everyday world rather than abstract notation on a page. The reproducible format and built-in instrumentation suggestions make this immediately teachable without requiring additional prep.

Playful and full of discovery. These songs celebrate the sounds children already hear around them, then transform those everyday rhythms into music. The humor in the lyrics and the permission to make sounds in a singing context create an environment where rhythm feels like play rather than work.

General music teachers and elementary classroom teachers working with grades K-5 who want to build rhythmic awareness through song and sound exploration. This collection works equally well for mixed-ability groups and beginners, since the unison and beginning 2-part arrangements allow all students to participate successfully regardless of prior singing experience.

• Encourage students to echo the rhythmic sounds described in the lyrics before adding singing; this builds kinesthetic awareness and makes the rhythm memorable.
• Use the suggested rhythmic instruments and body percussion as specified in the song sheets rather than as optional additions; they're central to how each song communicates its concept.
• Play the recorded accompaniment during initial learning to establish tempo and tonality, then gradually move toward student-led singing with instrumental support.

Integrate individual songs into weekly general music instruction as sound exploration units, or present the entire collection as a thematic concert showcasing how rhythm lives in the children's world. The reproducible pages make it ideal for take-home listening and family music nights, allowing caregivers to extend the learning beyond the classroom.

• Identifying rhythm patterns in everyday sounds and speech
• Matching pitch and maintaining unison lines
• Responding to rhythmic concepts through body percussion and instruments
• Singing in the beginning stages of 2-part harmony
• Connecting lyrical content to rhythmic and melodic expression