Caroling (outside of the school setting)

Sometimes, when you are a music teacher, you are asked to help out with musical tasks in other venues.  Sunday Schools, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, and church youth groups are some organizations that you may be part of, and they also enjoy Christmas caroling at this time of year!

In the public school setting, we focus on the most secular of Christmas tunes for caroling.  On the other hand, caroling with groups outside of the school setting gives us a chance to broaden the repetoire of music to include the beautiful sacred songs of the season.  If you are caroling to residents of nursing homes or elderly neighbors, the sacred songs are the ones that they enjoy the most.  I love to see when the people we are visiting sing right along with us!


Lots of songs for caroling come from my handy binder of old stuff, odds and ends, and left-behinds.  Here are another couple of handy books for Christmas music:

When preparing for Christmas caroling, I use the Usbourne Book of Christmas Carols.

I use the Wee Sing for Christmas Book for younger kids.

And because learning happens everywhere, read up on some facts you may not know about our favorite Christmas songs so you can share with your singing groups.  Here we come a-caroling! ...and afterward, don't forget the hot chocolate!