August 2025 – Music Moments
August feels a little extreme. Either you’re able to hang on to the last bit of those lazy-hazy days of summer or it’s full crazy-hectic school-prep mania-mode. Where are you at? I hope wherever reality you’re currently in, you’re able to find some semblance of balance and fun, too!
August is often a big transitional phase for early childhood education centers. Kiddos are graduating to the next age-level class. New kiddos are joining in or moving on to different schools. There might be some changes happening in staffing, too. So keeping it light and fun with a fan-favorite theme is the way to go! In August Little Kiddos Music classes, we travel back in time – way, way back – to the age of dinosaurs. I also encourage those using the curriculum who do not have year-round classes, to be sure to use the Dino stuff at some point in the school year as they are definite faves! Check out the Little Kiddos Music Dinosaur Playlist
My personal favorites, of course, include one of the cutest little OG little kiddos around. (My youngest…who is now a teen and SO not this little anymore! Still cute, still sassy, but already a couple inches taller than me.) Despite the very poor video quality, I refuse to ever take down these vintage videos! Dinosaurs are in Their Eggs, Baby Dinos, and I’m a Little Dinosaur – enjoy!
While our summertime music classes are full of jungle songs, sea creature-themed music, and dinosaur-tunes, my personal sunny-day music needs are varied. Summer almost always makes me crave up-tempo, happy tunes and to dream of traveling to distant lands! That’s the theme for a few of this month’s suggestions for EARS OF ALL AGES.
FOR EARS OF ALL AGES:
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Brand are a personal fave. They are best known for…brass. Yes, obviously. And those brass harmonies of theirs are so tight and smooth you can spread ’em on toast, but don’t sleep on the percussion section! They play a huge range of fun percussion and rhythm instruments that my older little kiddos musicians will definitely be able to pick out! The classic Lollipops and Roses even features a jingle bells moment just reinforcing my mission to have that instrument played year-round in music classes! Also, with a fun name like Lollipops and Roses (like many of their other songs with fun names) – I’d love for you to play it for your kiddo(s), family, dog – whomever! And just see what they feel the mood of the song is and what they’d name it! Let me know what they come up with!
One more from Herb and the TBB. For those few of us who didn’t venture to Venice for a wedding or to Greece this summer – Zorba the Greek – is ridiculously fun. It also has such an amazing example of a slow but epic Accelerando. The build is fantastic!
I’ve always loved music from various parts of Africa. The joy; the percussive instruments as well as vocals just boost my mood. This traditional folk song from West Africa has many different versions, of course, but I’m a sucker for the sounds of children’s voices (obviously!). I love this two-part choral arrangement by Jill Galina of Funga Alafia. This is another great one to play for kiddos. See what their reaction is when the kids start the rhythmic speaking sections. It’s a happy bop, for sure!
Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes might actually be one your kiddos recognize from the fantastic version that was included in the film 2011 animated film Rio. The general message of the song is to have a carefree attitude, have fun, and dance!
OK, not a song from a distant land, but definitely a song that embodies the lazy, hazy days of summer and the joy of sitting by the water. When was the last time you listened to Ottis Redding’s [Sitting on] The Dock of the Bay. The whistled melody is so very nostalgic.
Lastly, let’s round out our August listening with a classical piece. Technically, midsummer came and went in late June, but with these last few weeks of what many of us associate with summer, give Felix Mendelssohn’s Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream a listen (and a watch)! LOVE showing kiddos videos of the musicians making the magic happen with their instrument-playing prowess. I find the beginning of this interesting – the way the strings play frenetic phrases only to be briefly (and frequently) interrupted by the woodwinds playing two pianissimo chords. For those of you that have some understanding of music notation – it’s super fun to follow along with the score! UGH! I LOVE MUSIC.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:
Is it hot out?! Give your kiddos a COOL activity with some Fizzy Ice Cubes courtesy of the one and only Susie of Busy Toddler.
STILL hot outside?! How ’bout another epic activity to help everyone chill out? Friends Art Lab suggests Neon Water Outdoor Play.
Rock Painting – this really doesn’t need much explination – but if you’re looking for tips check out Rock Painting 101. When our kids were little, they got really into rock painting for a while. They even set-up a stand (think Lemonade Stand but without the Lemonade and instead with Rocks) – it was called Rockin’ Art and they peddled their artistic pebbles to passers-by. Rocks are a perfect art medium as they’re free and in endless supply!
