New World Christmas (Book/Accompaniment CD)

In these times when the first Christmas ads appear on television in July and when it seems that a new war breaks out every week, it is increasingly hard to remember the true meaning of Christmas. This unique holiday revue harkens back to traditional values while it celebrates the joy of the season. Created by Teresa and Paul Jennings, it includes nine carefully arranged unison or 2-part songs, and it is constructed so that you can easily customize it by adding other music that your students have prepared. These entertaining, often thought-provoking songs come in a variety of styles, from traditional Christmas music to contemporary rock. The songs included are Livin' In A New World, Make A Buck, The Best Gifts, We're Gonna Plant A Christmas Tree, The Christmas Wish, Adeste Fidelis, Pat-A-Pan, I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day, and A New World Christmas. They explore peace, brotherhood, and environmental concerns, and focus on how we can shape a better future for our world. If you are concerned that such serious subjects can't captivate children, you only have to listen to the music. And the flexible format is designed so that you can perform the revue as either a secular or a more sacred presentation. The Teacher's Handbook contains all of the songs with playable piano accompaniments as well as a full script and detailed performance suggestions. And there are many ideas for learning extensions, including methods to promote brotherhood, help those in need in your community, and make holiday celebrations friendlier to the environment. It's a terrific way to get the whole school involved in the program! The high-quality Performance/Accompaniment recordings feature all of the songs performed with children's voices first, then just the accompaniments.