July 2025 – Music Moments
School is officially out for summer – it’s here; it’s finally here! The joke in Seattle is that June is sometimes June-uary and summer doesn’t actually start until July 5th. (Yes, the day after you might want to be outside at a BBQ and/or watching fireworks against the backdrop of a clear sky!)
This summer feels different for me as I just wrapped up six years in the same position. I won’t be returning to my elementary music classroom and school at the end of August. The end of the school year was bittersweet with all those ‘lasts’ with my students and fellow staff, to say the least! But I’m very excited for this next chapter! I’ll be focusing 100% on my Little Kiddos Music adventure. Stay tuned! Lots of exciting news to come! But for now, let’s enjoy this season of summertime!
July Music Activities
Summer is also beach season, so in our Little Kiddos Music curriculum, we sing songs for the 4th of July and play instruments to fun tunes about riding bikes, trips to the beach, playing in the sand, and then we go under the sea. We sing about Who Lives in the Sea such as Five Little Sand Crabs, being a fish, and all sorts of fun things we find Down in the Ocean.
FOR EARS OF ALL AGES:
Star and Stripes Forever. To me, it’s just not the 4th of July without hearing this absolute banger by the master of all patriotic marches – John Philip Sousa. I got to play this on piccolo when I was in the Seattle Youth Symphony way back when. It was one of the first times I ever got to play piccolo, and what an epic piece to get to play!
This one really hasn’t a lot to do with summer except for a personal connection. Our family went through a tough time last summer, and we happened to stumble upon Bluey. Despite our kids being ‘way too old’ for this show, it brought us much-needed distraction and silly joy (not to mention, many sweet and heartfelt moments). If you’ve watched it, you know what I mean. There’s something for everyone! The episode with the dream featuring one of my favorite pieces of all time – Jupiter from Gustav Holsts’ The Planets – is so incredibly beautiful and moving. I absolutely love this video as a way to introduce the youngest kiddos to instruments of the orchestra and getting to watch them play recognizable music! Enjoy Bluey Music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra!
Now, I must admit a music teacher and classically trained flutist (or flautist) confession: music of the Baroque era is my least favorite. I strongly dislike most of it…like, a lot. Harpsichord?! My least favorite instrument of ever and always! But, there are a few exceptions to my disdain for this genre.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, some Bach, of course, and a couple of Handel’s pieces – including his Music for Royal Fireworks – make the cut. Honestly, I love me a dramatic fanfare and this fits the bill. Plus, with the fireworks theme it feels appropriate for July. One of the things I love most about the piece though, is the story behind its debut. 12,000 people ventured to the park in London to hear this music causing crazy traffic for hours. (I love the idea of bumper-to-bumper horse drawn carriages, don’t you?) Then, after all the traffic broo-ha-ha, the weather didn’t cooperate at all for the outdoor concert. (I’ve planned outdoor concerts…in December…in the Pacific Northwest. I feel Handel’s pain!) Regardless of all that, the piece was (and has remained) well-received.
I have one more I want to share with you. I shared Louis and Ella’s version of Summertime for the official start to summer in June, but I recently stumbled upon another version that has such an easy, laidback, slightly bluegrass-y feel to it. This version of Summertime by folk, bluegrass, country guitar-fingerpicking legend and Grammy Award winner Doc Watson, just feels like a hot, lazy, summer day in a tall grassy field.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES:
Little Bins for Little Hands is one of my favorite places to find amazing activities for little kiddos. They’ve got an enormous list of Sensory Play and Science for the 4th of July. Be sure to check it out here.
Get them outside! LOVE this chalk STEAM activity idea (it brings that A with ART!) – Sidewalk chalk is always fun!
