Miss Jenni Home Photos
Miss Jenni's (Partial) Song List
I add songs all the time according to my research and to prepare for seasonal and special events.
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Fox Is On The Town (I play guitar)
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Old Rattler (I play guitar)
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Old Blue (I play guitar)
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Hush Little Baby (I play dulcimer or guitar)
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Gray Goose (I play guitar, children play clackers)
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The Crawdad Song (I play dulcimer; this is also a movement activity)
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Old Chisolm Trail (I play dulcimer)
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Jennie Jenkins (circle dance - I play concertina)
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Bingo(column dance like Virginia Reel - I play guitar)
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The Farmer in the Dell (easy dance - I just sing with the kids)
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London Bridge (another easy movement activity in which I sing and play with the kids. This is very fun with very little kids.)
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Ring Around the Rosie (another little kid activity - always fun)
Here I am with some young musicians and my helper, Anni Litt, at Region 10 Educational Service Center, Dallas.
When I am singing with children and families in come-and-go situations, like a museum or park, I may pick any of these songs to play at any time. My purpose is to engage the children who are close by me.
Here I am with some young musicians and my helper, Anni Litt, at Region 10 Educational Service Center, Dallas.
Typically, unstructured performances do not allow for teaching dances or for the children's use of instruments or other props. I love to allow children to hold and strum my dulcimer, though, in these situations. This is in my effort to always include a physical action (not just visual and auditory) in the children's experience of the songs. With little babies and toddlers, I might sing just a few lines and then repeat them.
My personal musical performance (what might be thought of as staging) is secondary to childrens' experience of these songs. Even when I do a staged show, this does not change. I am sensitive to the engagement level of the children I am working with and choose songs and activities to accomodate it.