Two Little Sausages is a favourite chant of mine. It's a great one to use as a quick transition when kids have been sitting still for a little too long and need a bit of revving up, a bit of reawakening. In case you're unfamiliar with the chant, it goes a little something like this: Students get assigned either "Pop!" or "Bam!" and lie on the floor. When their word comes, they can jump up into funny shapes, like sausages popping in a pan. I like to get a little faster with ea

One of my favourite Beatles' songs tends towards the whimsical. I am of course speaking of Ringo's wonderful "Octopus' Garden". I always enjoy introducing it to the children who haven't heard it before and reliving it with those already familiar. I first introduce it with the aid of this wonderful illustrated book by Rob Cook. I am always in two minds about whether to silently turn pages while the original recording is playing or whether to sing the lyrics myself in an authen

One of the things I love about the Kodaly philosophy is the way it introduces students to so many different cultures through song. As an Australian music teacher, part of my curriculum includes introducing students to the music and culture of Indigenous Australians. As a non-Indigenous Australian myself, I have to admit I felt a little under-prepared. I didn't know many songs or anything much about my local language groups. I knew just enough to know that there are a number

I remember, once upon a time, when I was in the deepest, darkest depths of my teaching degree, I would walk past a bookshop and freeze; my bloodhound-like Kodaly senses tingling, searching for the scent of possibility. Could this be the place? Could this be the shop? The one that contains that magical goldmine of a resource that will answer all my teaching questions and provide me with enough knowledge, secrets and lesson plans to last my entire career? As I am beginning to