Jingle Bells

Dash-ing thru the snow in a 1 horse o-pen sleigh O'er the fields we go laughing all the way,

Bells on bob-tail ring, mak-ing spir-its bright what fun it is to laugh & sing a sleigh-ing song to-night OH!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way. O what fun it is to ride in a 1 horse open sleigh, Hey!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a 1 horse o-pen sleigh.

Key G, first note low Da cappella count-in: 1,2,3,4,Dashing... Allegro

James PierpontUnited States

folksong circa 1860s

A day or two ago,I thought I’d take a ride,And soon Miss Fanny BrightWas seated by my side;the horse was lean and lankMisfortune seemed his lotHe got into a drifted bank,And we, we got up sot.

2. Now the ground is whitego to it while you’re youngTake the girls tonightand sing this sleighing songJust get a bob-tailed bayTwo-forty as his speedHitch him to an open sleighAnd crack! you’ll take the lead.

3.

In 1898, "Jingle Bells" was recorded on an Edison cylinder --one of the first ways humans had to record sound. In 1943, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters made a recording that reached No. 19 on the charts and sold over a million copies. In 1965, Gemini 6 astronauts, Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra smuggled a tiny harmonica and sleigh bells to help in making "Jingle Bells" the first song ever broadcast live from space. Wouldn't James Pierpont, who wrote the song in the 1860s, be amazed at the journeys it has made!

glockenspielD G D' G

chorus

verse

GD

D

D G D'

Jingle Bellspianowinter, culture

This song has been around the world traveling wherever Americans have traveled, including outer space! Join in the chorus, dance to the tune or just enjoy the beat.

Can Do Music 2 December 137 Lesley J Clare

Moving with MusicMoving with Music Jingle Bells

During one of the years that many Vietnamese “boat people” came to Canada, I was teaching at a Toronto inner city school. Many families in the neighbourhood rented rooms to newcomers. Through November that year our school welcomed bewildered new children. Language, snow and culture change seemed to daunt most of the newcomers until we got to mid-December. We sang “Jingle Bells.” The “newest Canadians” smiled openly and sang in English! They had learned it from American soldiers.

Jingle some bells and let your class “guess” what song they will be singing. Chances are they will whiz through the chorus. They may or may not be able to sing the first verse. Begin with the chorus and continue singing through the first verse (even if you do a solo), then repeat the chorus. Key G, first note in the chorus is B, count-in: 1,2,3,4,Jingle ...

Ask: "What are the people in the song doing?"Draw a simple sleigh(or show a picture). If you teach in a rural area you may be able to ask questions to draw out the following information."Horses pull sleighs. Pieces of leather are wrapped around the horses. The sleigh driver holds the ends of the “reins” the pieces of leather to guide the horses. Sometimes the owners of sleighs (or carriages) would cut the horses' tails so that they wouldn't get tangled in the pieces of leather/reins/harness. A "bob-tailed nag" is a horse who has had its tail trimmed or bobbed."

Many people think that this is a Christmas song, but it isn’t. Oh we sing it at Christmas time but do you see anything in the words about Christmas? Why do you think people have the idea it's a Christmas song?" (Spend a bit of time fielding ideas. There is no “correct” answer so encourage imagination.)

"Let’s try the song again. Hold your hands out front like you have the reins in hand and move them up and down with the beat, just as if you were bouncing along behind a bob-tailed nag. We’re going to begin with the chorus ----Jingle Bells. Wait for the count-in." first note B(mi); 1,2,3,4,Jingle ...

play on words "Jingle Bells"

Divide students into groups of 4 or 5. Give time for the groups to choreograph steps for the chorus of Jingle Bells. They can use the steps already taught or make up their own.

Leave time at the end of class today for groups to demonstrate (and maybe teach) their version of the dance to the chorus of Jingle Bells.

Side, Together, Back, Together

Side, Together, Side, Hop

2x 2xTwo Taps, Together, Two Taps, Together

Walk, Walk, Walk 'n Clap

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Can Do Music 2 December Lesson 15a ends here.

Can Do Music 2 December 138 Lesley J Clare

Jingle Bells

Dash-ing thru the snow in a 1 horse o-pen sleigh O'er the fields we go laughing all the way,

Bells on bob-tail ring, mak-ing spir-its bright what fun it is to laugh & sing a sleigh-ing song to-night OH!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way. O what fun it is to ride in a 1 horse open sleigh, Hey!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a 1 horse o-pen sleigh.

Key G, first note low Da cappella count-in: 1,2,3,4,Dashing... Allegro

James PierpontUnited States

folksong circa 1860s

A day or two ago,I thought I’d take a ride,And soon Miss Fanny BrightWas seated by my side;the horse was lean and lankMisfortune seemed his lotHe got into a drifted bank,And we, we got up sot.

2. Now the ground is whitego to it while you’re youngTake the girls tonightand sing this sleighing songJust get a bob-tailed bayTwo-forty as his speedHitch him to an open sleighAnd crack! you’ll take the lead.

3.

In 1898, "Jingle Bells" was recorded on an Edison cylinder --one of the first ways humans had to record sound. In 1943, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters made a recording that reached No. 19 on the charts and sold over a million copies. In 1965, Gemini 6 astronauts, Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra smuggled a tiny harmonica and sleigh bells to help in making "Jingle Bells" the first song ever broadcast live from space. Wouldn't James Pierpont, who wrote the song in the 1860s, be amazed at the journeys it has made!

glockenspielD G D' G

chorus

verse

GD

D

D G D'

New RepertoireNew RepertoireJolly Old St. NicholasJingle Bells

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh

O’r the fields we go

laughing all the way

Bells on bobtail ringmaking spiritsbright

laughand sing

a sleighing song

tonight.

What fun it is to

Adayor two ago,

I thought I’d take aAnd soon Miss Fanny BrightWas seated by my side;

the horse waslean and lank

Misfortune seemed his lot

He got into a drifted bank,And we, we got up sot.

ride

Now the ground is whitego to it while you’re young

Take the girls tonightand sing this sleighing song

Just get a bob-tailed bayTwo-forty as his speedHitch him to an open sleighAnd crack! you’ll take the lead.