The Christmas Stories Songbook
For Christmas 2023 Southampton & Isle of Wight music hub have commissioned a brand new songbook with original material written by music hub composer Jo Downs based on some well known Christmas storybook favourites and seasonal tales.
This set of songs will be used for the 4th December performance at Southampton Guildhall and the 5th December Christmas at Osborne House day as optional content. Please feel free to use this however you would like to use this in your own settings too regardless of your involvement in these projects!
For those involved in the Southampton performances:
Alongside this we would like you and the young people in your setting to CHOOSE a song from the 10 Minute Sign & Sing (KS2+) or 5 Minute Rhythm and Rhyme (KS1+) back catalogue you would like to perform. You can browse the Christmas content in one place HERE
A teacher’s meeting will take place online on Wednesday 1st November from 4pm - 5pm to discuss logistics for the 4th December and to introduce the songs.
ORIGINAL Songs and suggested age ranges:
He’s The Grinch Key Stage 1
There’s an Elf on the Shelf Key Stage 1
Who’s That Pulling The Sleigh Key Stage 2 & 3 (optional chorus for Key Stage 1)
Wishing For Joy Key Stage 2 & 3 (optional chorus for Key Stage 1)
Beneath The Winter Snow Key Stage 2 &
He’s The Grinch (Key Stage 1)
Based on Dr Seuss’ festive favourite - this song tells the story of The Grinch. There will be some simple actions or makaton signs to learn for the chorus. As there are a few verses we may assign these to particular schools so that we don’t have to learn all of them at once.
There’s An Elf On My Shelf (Key Stage 1)
This funk track is all about that naughty Elf on the Shelf! This song has a repeated chorus and verse so not too many words to remember and an optional 2 part ending - if you’re not sure of this then just stick to repeating “I’ll miss that Elf”. Key Stage 2 students might like to join in with this one in the chorus.
Who’s That Pulling The Sleigh?! (KEy stage 2+)
This song tells the story of The Christmasaurus written by Tom Fletcher from MyFly in the style of McFly! For this song we will be singing with a live band and it would be great if KS1 students could also learn the chorus of this to join in with if they would like to. There are a lot of words in each verse so I am going to suggest that different schools take a verse to learn each to save on memorising too many lyrics.
Wishing For Joy (Key Stage 2+)
This wonderful song was written by Jo a few years ago but it’s message of kindness, thinking of those less fortunate and Christmas not being about materials things is particlarly relavant now. The chorus changes very subtly each time depending on the themes of the verse preceding it. The final chorus has some optional harmonies which we will workshop with you when we come in to teach the songs. Again if Key Stage 1 children would like to learn the chorus of this to join in with they are very welcome.
Beneath The Winter Snow (Key Stage 2+)
This haunting ballad touches on themes of displacement and refugees and is included as a winter song with no mention of Christmas. The intro and outro features a simple harmony part which will be taught in workshops. There is also an optional harmony which can be learned through the whole melody line if you would like to.