Search - John Langstaff :: Songs for Singing Children

A gold mine

schoolteacher | Bellevue, WA United States | 08/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I teach music to children of ages three to eleven, and for the past three years I have used this cd every single day that I teach. Were it a cassette tape or vinyl LP, I would have worn it out during its first year! The Revels children model light, "head voice"-singing, while John Langstaff keeps my boys' respect and attention with his strong low voice. My little ones giggle and guffaw at the lyrics to "Old Dan Tucker" while they learn about stanza-chorus song form. The first-graders know immediately how to play the game on their first listening to "Jump Josie". My third- and fourth-graders request "Mango Walk" at EVERY opportunity, which makes it easy to teach them to read syncopation. Myself, I never tire of the gentle sweetness of "Down by the River" and the catchy rhythms of "Green Corn". And the students are joined by their parents and their classroom teachers in their love for "Simple Gifts". It's great repertoire, well performed. There are 26 tracks--find your own favorites."

He combines a wonderful voice with great historical songs!

schoolteacher | 08/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fun, traditional songs that my 2 and 4 year old love and more to the point my husband and I enjoy very much. 'Mango Walk' and 'Ol' Dan Tucker' are favorites for long car trips. It is nice to find songs that are not too 'childrenized', so they are interesting and enjoyable for the whole family."

Refreshingly different, but left out one song

David J Broman | Cloquet, MN United States | 04/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The melodies are beautiful, the words haven't been watered down by some marketing expert, and the kids are real. It also teaches history and values. My only beef is that they left out their best song from the original print: "A Round of Street" ..."