Musicals for the Musically Timid!

To help you divide up your Narrator's lines, the folks at Bad Wolf Press have already thought about that for you. They have put together a handy reference page that lists the narrators lines telling you which page the line can be found. This is great! It has taken me so much time to find certain lines in a musical before and run off enough copies to cut up and send home for memorization.

Bad Wolf Press even has a section that suggests easy costume ideas. Here's a thougt: "The fancier the costumes, the more self-conscious the performers and the quieter they will sing." Make sure what they wear is comfortable, especially the hats, which if they don't fit, seem to be very distracting. When in doubt simplify.

An added feature in this publication is a sample "recipe" for paper mache if you'd like to have paper mache eggs for the musical. The Set and Staging of the performance can be set up in the classroom if rehearsing in a different location, such as the stage, is not convenient until show time. The Bad Wolf Press musical has images in their teachers guide books, showing various ways to set up the staging and sets.

Tips and last minute advice are also offered, which include suggestions for the performance and your position and role during the show.

There is a special offer on getting the complete score for piano and guitar accompaniment to purchases of the book and tape package. The folio contains all of the music for Jack and the Beanstalk in an easy piano style with complete guitar chords suggestions. Jack and the Beanstalk is suggested for grades 1 through 5.

The second musical I reviewed is "Thirteen Colonies". This is an excellent way to bring history to life! One of the best ways to teach facts is for the student to sing them. This internalizes the information much more solidly than if simply learned by repetition or rote.

In the musical, "Thirteen Colonies", which is suggested for grades 3 through 8, the script, teacher's guide and cassette with songs and accompaniment are all in the package. The characters in the play are as follows:

George Washington
Martha Washington
Leif Erickson (and Vikings)
Iroquois
Seminole
Ponce de Leon (and soldiers)
Colonial Boy and Girl
Game Show Host
Contestant
Benjamin Franklin
British Soldiers
Samuel Adams, John Adams, Abigail Adams
Salesman
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The copyright of the article Musicals for the Musically Timid! in Music Education is owned by Deborah Jeter. Permission to republish Musicals for the Musically Timid! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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