Okay. I'm not going to lie. Hap kicks it old school. But, when it comes to educational music, Hap Palmer is king.
I've been using Hap Palmer's American folk-style songs in my music program since the beginning, and for good reason. His songs are simple, fun, and catchy- the perfect combination for using songs to teach concepts on everything from motor skills to Spanish and even division. Multi-award winning Hap has been writing and performing music for children since the 70s, so any song from Hap is tested and guaranteed to be a successful tool in the classroom or at home.
Last year, I was lucky enough to to take a workshop with Mr. Palmer and meet him face-to-face. What a sweet, humble man! After the workshop, I added even more of his hits to my repertoire.
Here are some of my favorites and the concepts they teach (available on iTunes):
Percival the Parrot (direction)
What do the Animals Say? (practice listening)
Que Dicen Los Animales? (the Spanish version of the song above)
What Are You Wearing? (self-esteem)
Magic Scarf (imagination)
Enjoy!
-Ash