JIM GILL: A Joyous Way to Learn! Thirty years ago I created a weekly program in music play for an agency providing programs and support for families with young children with special needs. Initially the agency professionals and families attending all looked at the program as an opportunity to gather for simple fun. After a number of weeks, however, everyone began pointing out the abilities that children were demonstrating through this play. It wasn’t long before some of the therapists were singing my songs in their sessions. Parents also noted that singing the songs with their children at home was a joyous way to continue to work, more or less, therapeutically on their own. In other words, it was play…. but play with purpose. I spent twenty years leading this “play” programming and continue to be influenced by what I observed…while playing. In addition to this practical work, my graduate studies in child development helped me to understand why play is the ideal context for young children to learn and for adults to guide that learning. I hope that you will leave this session inspired to share a new repertoire of songs and games with children that you work with and care for. Even more, I hope that you will recognize the power of play to inspire, in children, agility in thought and a love of learning. The Tempo Marches On Oh hey oh hi hello Poison ivy Adapted from the traditional From Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Boise... From Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song… melody by Jim Gill. From Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi… In the great state of Ohio Poison ivy under bushes… From Cincinnati to Toledo Poison ivy under trees… We are marching to the rhythm, they never simply say hello… Poison ivy in the forest… We are marching to the beat. they sing "Oh hey Oh hi Hello." Poison ivy on my knees! We are lifting up our knees and we are stamping down our feet. CHORUS: CHORUS: But the song keeps getting faster Oh hey Oh hi Hello Poison ivy makes me with each verse that we complete. Oh hey Oh hi Hello Scratch scratch scratch The tempo marches on. Oh hey Oh hi Oh hey Oh hi Hello Itch and scratch my knees CHORUS: When they're in the library Poison ivy by the daisy… Faster, faster, faster, faster. They sing it very quietly. Poison ivy by the rose… Poison ivy by the flower that I smelled Faster, faster, faster, faster. Outside in a great big crowd with my nose! Faster, faster, faster, faster. They sing together very loud. Poison ivy on the prairie… The tempo marches on. When they're sad and teary-eyed Poison ivy on the farm… they sing it even as they cry. Stick to the glue Poison ivy in the pasture… From Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Boise… Sure they'll sing it when they're sad, Poison ivy on my arm! but they'll even sing it when they're mad. Clapping hands one and two. Poison ivy over there… Under water in the swimming pool Clapping hands one and two. Poison ivy over here… it sounds very unusual. But if one hand is covered with glue… Poison ivy all around where I sat upon my rear! you stick to the glue my darling. Whenever there's a big full moon They tend to sing it out of tune. CHORUS: Poison ivy's green like grass… Poison ivy looks like clover… Glue, glue, stick to the glue Alabama, Mississippi Glue, glue, stick to the glue And maybe that is why I am itching all over! From Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song… Glue, glue, stick to the glue Stick to the glue my darling. Alabama, Mississippi The sneezing song From Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song… Stamping feet one and two… Alabama, New Orleans Alabama, Mississippi Please don’t feed me black-eyed peas Shaking hands one and two… Shake it on down to New Orleans You know what they will do Hugging friends one and two… Shake, Shake, Shake For if you feed me black-eyed peas Brushing teeth one and two… I’ll have to sneeze….Ah….Ah….Ah Choo! Shake it baby Shake, Shake, Shake Please don’t feed me macaroni and cheese… Toy boat Shake it baby Please don’t feed me chocolate chip cookies… From Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem… Shake, Shake, Shake Toy Boat. Shake it baby All songs copyright Jim Gill, Inc. REPEAT Shake it on down to New Orleans (These are the only lyrics for this tongue twister) List of dances One from the Left Tea for two From Jim Gill Makes it Noisy in Boise…. (A finger play) "TEA FOR TWO" BY IRVING CAESAR AND VINCENT YOUMANS If you listen to the lyrics in this finger play...and let I made a list of all the dances in this song. {Derivative work by Jim Gill} ALL RIGHTS your fingers dance to the sounds of the guitar…you can I made a list so that I’d never sing them wrong. ADMINISTERED BY WB MUSIC CORP. figure out motions that will be fun for you! If you want ‘Cause it’s hard to remember All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission. to watch a video for some ideas, visit my website: From …Music Play for Folks of All Stripes and easy to forget jimgill.com. a list that is sixteen dances long. From Vote for Jim Gill Tea for two (You do) and two for tea. Another friend comes and that makes three. The tall One from the left and one from the right The small Met in the middle and danced all night. Three for tea The hop They made up a dance called "The Whoop-De- and tea for three. Do." The stop Add one more and that makes four. Then they waved goodbye and walked away... The slow those two. Four for tea The tiptoe and tea for four. The curl Two from the left and two from the right Should another friend arrive, that makes five. The twirl Met in the middle and danced all night. The hide They made up a dance called "Snips Galore." Tea for five The slide Then they waved goodbye and walked away... and five for tea. The sleep those four. Everyone's welcome! It's a tea party! The creep The slump Three from the left and three from the right My ups and downs Met in the middle and danced all night. The jump From Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi… They made up a dance called "The Finger Mix." The sway Then they waved goodbye and walked away... As I ascend my arms extend The stay those six. And I intend to stretch my body straight— We’ve done dances like the tiptoe and the hop. As I elevate. We’ve done them but it’s still not time to stop. Four from the left and four from the right The music falls I’m getting small ‘Cause though we danced it one time Met in the middle and danced all night. I finally sprawl ‘til I can move no more— the list would seem brand new They made up a dance called "Bend and Straight." Then they waved goodbye and walked away... On the floor. if we read it from the bottom to the top. those eight. My body grows and grows until I pose on tiptoes The irrational anthem Five from the left and five from the right Did you know that the melody to “The Star Spangled Met in the middle and danced all night. I am way up high— Near the sky. Banner” is an old English tavern song? Francis Scott They made up a dance called “Clap and Clap and Key’s poem was sung to the tune of “Anacreon in Clap and Clap Again.” Soon I sink my size will shrink I’m on the Heaven” and it caught on. It took until 1931, Then they waved goodbye and walked away... brink however, for the song to officially become our national all ten. Of bruising my kneecaps— anthem. My own “Irrational Anthem” uses the same As I collapse. melody to create a game that begins simply, but builds Sliding, rolling and to irrational expectations. Jumping One last time I think I’ll climb From Jim Gill’s Irrational Anthem… This pantomime has surely been fantastic— From Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes… Like elastic. Oh say can you see me slap on my knee? I woke up in the morning and I slid If you'll do the same, we'll begin this new My knees bend as I descend right out of bed. game. This song must end as I am sitting down— I slid into the bathroom On the ground. Oh but say I have plans to add clapping hands. and the comb slid across my head. And this we'll repeat 'til the song is complete. I slid into the kitchen Have you seen Oh say just suppose that we tried tapping toes and I slid into a chair. The trampoline? And attempted all three simultaneously. And when I finished breakfast, From …Music Play for Folks of All Stripes Oh say have you tried to sway side to side? I slid right out of there. Have you seen the trampoline? Lean left, then reverse ... on this, the fourth I slid into my coat Please look around. Look what we found! verse. and I slid my way to work and then I was slid from task to task Have you seen the trampoline? Oh say I'll advise that you now close your eyes.