This book is a collection of songs, poetry, movement ideas, lesson plans, instrumental accompaniments, and much more. Over the years, the book has been used successfully by teachers of children from early childhood years to Grades 3-4. It has been especially useful in working with children who have special needs in an integrated classroom setting and in self-contained groups.

The book contains more than 200 songs and poems, and incorporates suggestions and activities for teaching in every lesson. These suggestions include ideas to encourage movement, add instrumental accompaniments, or integrate speech. Suggestions are also made for making connections to other subjects.

Each song, poem, and activity is designed to catch the interest of the children while at the same time, helping them develop another learning concept such as coordination, note-reading, sequencing ability, body awareness, or visual and auditory awareness. Specific attention is given to problems the teacher might encounter such as helping out-of-tuners or dealing with children who have learning disabilities, especially when these children are integrated into a regular classroom.

The activities in Music for Fun, Music for Learning are designed to involve the whole child in singing, speech and movement, and most importantly in developing their creativity. Because of this holistic approach to learning, the material in the book can be used with all children in classrooms or with small groups. Every child can have success in some aspect of every lesson. Because of this approach the ideas are particularly effective when working with children who have special problems and who are in therapy.

Over the years, Music for Fun, Music for Learning has sold more than 70,000 copies and has been described by teachers as being “My Bible in the music class,” “the only thing that saved me as a first year teacher, “more than anything it is the resource that I keep coming back to time after time, “it is my Monday morning savior.”
(ISBN 13 978-1-891278-43-3, Fourth edition, 1982, 394 pages, $46).