February 2025 – Music Moments

Ooh-gooey love, sweet love. L-O-V-E is all advertisers want us to think about for the month of February. And yes, love is lovely! Some of the best pieces of music ever composed and lyrics ever written were about that powerful emotion. I do believe that both love and music are universal languages – often more easily understood through feeling rather than through words.

My favorite music quote has always been:

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” – Aldous Huxley.

This quote lived on my wall throughout my teen years. Did I understand it? Probably not. I may not even now, but to me, music and love are quite similar. The emotion of love is sometimes inexpressible, but I sure do LOVE it when musicians try to explain it!

February Music Activities

Little Kiddos Music classes, February is a chance to sing some pretty fun songs about lovebirds! Two Little Lovebirds which is such a great opposites song and Five Little Lovebirds. Skidamarinkadinkadink is a sweet tune, and my, oh my, do the kiddos love the moooooon. But it’s not just about love! We use February to also sings songs about other emotions like feeling Anxious or Worried, practicing Kindness or Feeling Sad or Blue. There are plenty of great teachable moments when discussing emotions and their corresponding songs. More songs and activities are always being added here February and Feelings Playlist.

Honestly though, maybe my favorite part of February lesson plans are the songs that kiddos get to hear while dancing, playing with the parachute, catching bubbles or playing assorted rhythm instruments – so many fun oldies such as Do You Love Me by the Contours. We add silly dance movement to Whole Lotta Lovin’ by Fats Domino. Please, Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes has an easy-to-hear steady beat that helps with playing instruments (egg shakers, tambourines or a variety). And, of course, L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole. There’s a Little Wheel Turning in my Heart by Laurie Berkner is one of our favorite small movement songs to do in February too.

February is also the perfect time to introduce quarter notes as our steady heartbeat rhythm to kiddos. Teachers follow the same script everytime they reinforce some of our music theory concepts. Repetition is so incredibly helpful in teaching and reinforcing music theory.

Now, for some great listening suggestions to get you in the mood for love. (Don’t worry this is for ears of all ages, so there’s no Marvin Gaye listed here!)

FOR EARS OF ALL AGES:

Love your furry canine companion?!
I stumbled upon this piece recently and instantly loved just how perfectly it suits the name! Enjoy Promenade Walking the Dog by George Gershwin. I DARE you to not love it. I also dare you to name a composer who writes better moments of jazzy glory for clarinet. Go on, I’ll wait. That’s right! You couldn’t, could you?

Into buying over-priced roses this time of year?
Pretty please enjoy your flowers (you’re allowed to by them for yourself too, you know!) while listening to the sensational Duet of the Flowers from the opera, Lakmé by Léo Delibes. I love this clip of these two gifted singers. When you listen to a piece like this, you definitely don’t think of them EVER performing it in just jeans and tennis shoes. Operatic virtuosos – they’re just like us!

Clearly, I did go down an Opera rabbit hole with the love theme, but this video of O Mio Babbino Caro by (then, 10 year old) Dutch Soprano Amira Willighagen is gorgeous and a great one to show to kids. Point out that you can see (and hear) her take the big supportive belly breaths needed to sing!

Can’t help it!
Can’t Help Falling in Love by the King, himself, Elvis Presley is a classic and beautifully recreated in the wedding scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians by Kina Grannis. The moments of silence before she comes back in a capella proves that sometimes the lack of sound (rests) in music can be just as moving as the melody itself.

February is also Black History Month! I love teaching my elementary students about some of my favorite composers this month – Florence Price is high on my list! This piece is her musical interpretation of the poem Songs to the Dark Virgin by Langston Hughes. It’s interesting to hear it sung it with a mezzosoprano voice, but then you can also listen to versions by tenor and baritone.

Another beautiful piece to play this month is Romance in G for Violin and Orchestra by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Please do yourself a favor and make sure you sprinkle in some Louis and Ella (basically every single day of your life! But especially in February). Cheek to Cheek is the cutest and those two are such vocal legends. LOVE them!

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:

Hess UnAcademy has 11+ great STEM activities for Valentine’s Day.

Left Brain Craft Brain has assembled an emorous list of February Stem Activities for you!

And for some adorable art activities, be sure to check out Messy Little Monster.

Rose Petal Play Dough?! Delightful! Shared by Friends Art Lab.