Show Us a Song!: Book & CD

Marsh writes songs that genuinely excite young singers rather than simply filling a curriculum requirement. The included backing tracks sound polished and contemporary, which means your students hear themselves singing something that feels real and performance-ready from day one.

Cheerful and purposeful. These songs feel contemporary and age-appropriate rather than didactic. The variety of topics and the built-in encouragement toward dramatization create a sense of theatrical possibility, making singing feel like an exciting performance activity rather than a structured lesson.

Elementary music teachers seeking songs that do more than teach notes and rhythms. Classroom teachers who want to weave music, drama, and movement into integrated units on topics already part of their curriculum (space, seasons, technology, celebrations). Students who thrive when they can see themselves performing with staging and creative expression.

• Use the backing tracks during initial learning to establish secure tonality and rhythm; pull them back during rehearsal so students own the parts without relying on the recording.
• Layer the movement and drama suggestions gradually rather than introducing everything at once. Start with the song itself, then add one staging element at a time as confidence builds.
• Encourage students to listen to Lin Marsh's recorded performances on the CD as models for phrasing and expression before your own rehearsals begin.
• Create simple soundscapes with classroom instruments or body percussion using the seedling ideas provided; these transform rehearsal into creative collaboration rather than rote singing.

Use individual songs as assembly performances, classroom units, or concert openers throughout the school year. The thematic range means you can tie songs to your existing curriculum (a space unit pairs naturally with the space song, a food studies lesson with the world cuisine song). The reproducible pages and drama elements make this ideal for teacher-directed classroom performances rather than just rehearsal materials.

• Singing with clear diction and expressive phrasing
• Responding to backing tracks and maintaining tempo
• Integrating movement, drama, and music simultaneously
• Creating simple soundscapes and arrangements with classroom instruments
• Understanding song form and thematic structure
• Building confidence in solo and ensemble performance contexts