Clap for Classics!

Elizabeth Nixon

Clap for Classics! is a music education podcast for kids ages 2-8. Join Ms. Elizabeth and Forte the Lion while we sing, move our bodies, learn about great classical music and more! Toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners and even early elementary kids will love the engaging activities and parents will love the rich educational material found in each episode. read less
Crianças e famíliaCrianças e família
61. Introducing the Nutcracker!
Há 6 dias
61. Introducing the Nutcracker!
Join us for even more Nutcracker fun, sign up for our FREE 5 day Nutcracker challenge that starts December 4th. www.clapforclassics.com/nutcracker2023 Grab a free printable of hand-drawn images of the characters from the Nutcracker. www.clapforclassics.com/episode61. We like to make simple popsicle stick puppets out of ours to play with while we listen to the music and during this episode. Kids can also use them to retell and act out the story on their own! Inside our All Access membership we have a Nutcracker music course for young kids! It is an immersive experience with Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet. You and your kids will be experiencing the story and music of the Nutcracker through songs, games, active listening, instrument playing, and using your imagination right alongside Ms. Elizabeth and her daughter Charlotte. To join the membership and start making music with us today, go to www.clapforclassics.com/join. Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month! Alternatively, you can purchase just the Nutcracker course on it’s own or inside our Holiday Bundle at www.clapforclassics.com/store This episode is a re-air of episode 35 and next we will re-air episode 36. Your kids will have fun coming back to these same activities year after year. They will learn more each time they listen. For more ideas on how to supplement your Nutcracker study at home with young kids check out this article: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/nutcrackerresources Please help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review, telling your friends, or sharing our social media content! To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics.  We love to feature our listeners on the podcast! Special thanks to Classical.com for licensing the classical music that we used in this episode and that we use in all of our music courses!
58. Cats and Hats!: Peter and the Wolf and the Scarlatti Cat Fugue with Classical Sprouts
05-10-2023
58. Cats and Hats!: Peter and the Wolf and the Scarlatti Cat Fugue with Classical Sprouts
Grab our brand new free Peter and the Wolf Flashcards to extend the fun and learning of this episode: www.clapforclassics.com/episode58   Today’s episode is all about cats! We listen to some of the cat excerpts from Peter and the Wolf, learn about the clarinet, discuss and practice the differences between the dynamic markings of forte and piano.We learn a Kitty Cat Hat Game to the melody of the clarinet/cat theme from Peter and the Wolf. Grab a hat for this activity and have fun! Lyrics written by Kate Lieppman Call me cat, kitty cat I can wear a hat Or take it off and sneak it over to my friend  Special Guest Kate Botello from one of our favorite podcasts: Classical Sprouts shares Scarlatti’s Cat Fugue   We have 3 other podcast episodes that feature Peter and the Wolf. Check them out! Episode 3: What Kind of Bird Are You? A Peter and the Wolf Sneak PeekEpisode 19: Peter and the Wolf: Meet the CharactersEpisode 48: Peter and the Wolf, the String Family and a Meadow Song   Here are a few links to some of our favorite recordings of Peter and the Wolf: YouTube: live orchestra version by Vancouver Symphony Spotify: David Bowie narrates Peter and the Wolf, played by Philadelphia Orchestra Amazon Music: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, narrated by Sir John Gielgud   Looking for ways to bring more music into your home? Check out our All Access Membership at www.clapforclassics.com/join use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month.   Or try our Four Seasons Music and More Curriculum at www.clapforclassics.com/fourseasons   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen.   To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!   Classical music tracks are licensed for our use by Classical.com
56. Vivaldi's Autumn Party
07-09-2023
56. Vivaldi's Autumn Party
For this activity you can grab some rhythm sticks, a scarf, and a pillow! We’ll be enjoying Vivaldi’s “Autumn” the whole first movement. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much fun you and your kids will have while engaging with this beautiful music.   Get your hands on the free printable now at www.clapforclassics.com/episode56. It is a PDF with a listening map for this classical music activity. It’s a great way to extend the learning with a visual representation of what is happening in the music. We are teaching musical form in this episode, and your child will experience the form through movement and then the listening map will help solidify the concept.   Check out the blog post where we share this activity in video form. https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/vivaldiautumnparty   This activity comes from our “Autumn All Around” course that can be found both inside our Four Seasons Music and More Curriculum, as well as inside our All Access Membership.   For another engaging musical activity to accompany Vivaldi’s “Autumn” check out this video: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/autumn In this activity we enjoy the 3rd movement of the Autumn Concerto.   Do you have kids hungry for more and more!! Extend the learning even further by watching this video that will give you some great information about who Vivaldi was and about his Four Seasons violin concertos. https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/vivaldi4seasons   To get information about our Four Seasons Course go to www.clapforclassics.com/fourseasons To learn all about our All Access Membership go to www.clapforclassics.com/join. And don’t forget that as a podcast listener you can get 50% off your first month of the membership by using the coupon code “LION.”   Please help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review, telling your friends, or sharing our social media content! Leave Forte a joke and be featured on an upcoming podcast! www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics   Classical music for this podcast is licensed to us for our use by Classical.com
55. Apples, art, poetry and STEM: Exploring the Four Seasons Music and More Curriculum.
31-08-2023
55. Apples, art, poetry and STEM: Exploring the Four Seasons Music and More Curriculum.
Today we’re sharing a sneak-peek inside our Four Seasons Curriculum. Check out all the details and snag the year-long course at www.clapforclassics.com/fourseasons We start with a song and a poem, and then our art and STEM teacher share a little introduction of what they will be teaching in the autumn unit. You do not want to miss all the wonderful nature-inspired learning that you and your little one will be doing as you explore the outdoors, use your imagination, sing, and create together.   Music: Way Up High in the Apple Tree Way up high in the apple tree, Two little apples smiled at me. I shook that tree as hard as I could. DOWN came the apples Mm-mmm were they good!   Poetry: Autumn Woods by James S. Tippett I like the woods In autumn When dry leaves hide the ground, When the trees are bare And the wind sweeps by With a lonesome rushing sound. I can rustle the leaves In autumn And I can make a bed In the thick dry leaves That have fallen From the bare trees Overhead.   Art: To see photos of the Andy Goldsworthy’s pieces that Ms. Krisanne referenced in this video check do a google search for Andy Goldsworthy’s land art examples.   Poetry lesson by Leslie Thomas Art lesson by Krisanne Knudsen STEM lesson by Eugenia Rojas Go to www.clapforclassics.com/about for more information on our guest educators.   We have a Four Seasons curriculum sale coming up on September 11th. To make sure you are the first to know about the sale, you can get on our email list at www.clapforclassics.com/email   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen. To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast! Classical music tracks are licensed for our use by Classical.com
52. "Waiting for the Elevator" with Special Guest Laurie Berkner
20-07-2023
52. "Waiting for the Elevator" with Special Guest Laurie Berkner
Grab the free download that accompanies this activity at www.clapforclassics.com/episode52 it’s a printable play packet with an elevator cut out, animal puppets, traceable numbers, and more! It is a great way to extend the learning and fun on this episode.   We are thrilled to have well-known children’s artist Laurie Berkner on the podcast today sharing her energetic song, “Waiting for the Elevator.” We’ll be moving our bodies, dancing, making animal noises, working on memory and sequencing, but most of all just having fun!   Want to hear more of Laurie’s music? Find her on any streaming platform, on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLaurieBerknerBand, on Instagram and TikTok or at her website: https://laurieberkner.com.   To get access to a library of music courses with themes like Carnival of the Animals, Peter and the Wolf, the Four Seasons, Music from Around the World, Nursery Rhymes, Space, Farm, and more, join our All Access music membership and start making music with us today, go to www.clapforclassics.com/join.  Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month!   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen.   To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!   Classical music tracks are licensed for our use by Classical.com
51. Gerswhin's Rhapsody on a Burger and Fries
06-07-2023
51. Gerswhin's Rhapsody on a Burger and Fries
For today's episode we are re-airing one of our favorite episodes from last year. You won't want to miss this one, even if you've already heard it! Join Ms. Elizabeth, Wilder, and Riff the Pig as we share a wonderful piece of music from american composer George Gershwin.   Grab some rhythm sticks and our free printable to extend this activity. The printable includes images of the instruments that we’ll identify as we listen to this piece. Print them on cardstock and mount on popsicle sticks for puppets, or print two sets and use them to play memory with while you listen! Grab it at www.clapforclassics.com/episode22   This activity comes right out of our American Classics course that can be found inside our All Access Membership. Use the code LION to get 50% off your first month!   We teach the theme to Rhapsody in Blue with a silly phrase, and we don’t think you’ll ever hear this piece again without thinking these words! Fries……… Ketchup and mustard And don’t forget cheese On my hamburger dinner today!   Want to extend the fun and learning even more? Join our All Access Membership for a library of activities just like the one in this podcast.Watch the animation from Fantasia 2000, accompanied by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.Listen to the entire piece of music during bathtime, or mealtime. Continue listening for the “ketchup and mustard” theme, and listening for the clarinet, trumpet, and piano.Play a game of musical memory with the free printable from this episode. Just print out two pages of the cards.   Learn more about our American Classics course found inside our All Access Membership.   What your child is learning: Active engagement with a piece of classical musicActive listening for a repeated theme Instrument identification: clarinet, trumpet, piano   Music credit: Special thanks to Classical.com for licensing the music on this podcast. “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Christopher O’Riley on piano and Barry Wordsworth conducting Lyrics to the theme written and performed as "Riff the Pig" by Co-founder Kathryn Lieppman.
48. Peter and the Wolf, the String Family and a Meadow Song
01-06-2023
48. Peter and the Wolf, the String Family and a Meadow Song
Grab our free PDF that accompanies this episode at www.clapforclassics.com/episode48. It is a printable with the instruments in the string family and Peter. Print these on cardstock and mount them on puppets for your little ones to play with while they listen to the episode, a fun way to enhance the learning and development.   Get access to all of our musical content, including our Peter and the Wolf courses for kids ages 2-8 inside our All Access Membership. Use the code “LION” at checkout to get 50% off the first month of your membership.   You can also purchase just the Peter and the Wolf content as a separate bundle, find it in our shop!   Want to listen to more episodes that feature Peter and the Wolf? Try Episode 3, and Episode 19 and for another one that features the String Family listen to Episode 7.   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen.   To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics.  We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!   Classical music tracks are licensed for our use by Classical.com   Music Credit: Peter and the Wolf, by Sergey Prokofiev (Andrea Licata (Conductor)/ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir John Gielgud (Narrator)   Over in the meadow Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun, lived an Old mother turtle and her Little turtle one. "Dig," said the mother, "I dig," said the one, and they Dug all day in the sand in the sun.   Over in the meadow where the Stream runs blue, lived an Old mother fish and her Little fishies two. "Swim," said the mother, "We swim," said the two, and they Swam all day where the stream runs blue.   Over in the meadow in a hole in the tree, Lived an old mother owl and her Little owls three. "Whoo," said the mother, "We whoo," said the three, and they Whooed all day in the hole in the tree.   Over in the meadow by the old barn door, Lived an old mother frog and her Little froggies four. "Jump," said the mother, "We jump," said the four, and they Jumped all day by the old barn door.   Over in the meadow in a snug beehive, Lived an old mother bee and her Little bees five. "Buzz," said the mother, "We buzz," said the five, and they Buzzed all day in the snug beehive.   One little turtle went dig dig dig dig dig Two little fishies went swim swim swim Three little owls went whoo--ooo-ooo Four little froggies went jump jump jump jump jump Five little bees went bzzz bzzzz bz bz bz bz bz
47. Paddling, painting, and poetry!
19-05-2023
47. Paddling, painting, and poetry!
Join us for this sneak peek inside our summer "Four Seasons" Curriculum. We’ll share a song, learn a bit about Monet, imagine a summery sunball fight, and make a hypothesis about objects that will float or sink.   To join is inside our Four Seasons Curriculum go to www.clapforclassics.com/fourseasons.  Get 20% off the curriculum for a limited time by using the code “SUMMER2023" at checkout.   Optional props for this episode. Music: grab rhythm sticks and a box or basket that your little one can sit in and pretend it's a boat.Poetry: scarf STEM: a bunch of small objects that are made of different materials to test if they will sink or float.  Paddling my Canoe, Traditional Iroquois song (found in Sing through the Seasons: ninety-nine songs for children, compiled and edited by the Society of Brothers) Gay-o way-o wa-ji-ne_ he-ya he, Paddling my canoe Gay-o way-o wa-ji-ne_ He-ya he-ya he, Paddling my canoe, Paddling my canoe. (sing twice)   Sunflakes by Frank Asch  If sunlight fell like snowflakes, gleaming yellow and so bright, we could build a sunman, we could have a sunball fight, we could watch the sunflakes drifting in the sky. We could go sleighing in the middle of July through sundrifts and sunbanks, we could ride a sunmobile, and we could touch sunflakes— I wonder how they'd feel.   To learn even more details about our Summer Four Seasons Curriculum check out this blog post: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/summer   Episode 24 of the podcast includes another song from our summer four seasons course: https://www.clapforclassics.com/podcasts/clap-for-classics/episodes/2147767173   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen.   To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!   Thank you to Classical.com for licensing the music for us to use on our podcast and inside our membership!
46. Clip-clopping horses, balls and Bizet
04-05-2023
46. Clip-clopping horses, balls and Bizet
Grab a ball for this episode and get ready to move your body. This episode is a great one for all ages, but we especially wanted to feature some activities for our babies. Did you know we have a music course just for our very youngest musicians? Check out the details at www.clapforclassics.com/baby 1. Horsey Horsey. For this one either scoop up your little one and clip-clop around the room or pretend to be a horse and trot around. Swish your pretend tail, roll your hands, and don’t forget to freeze on the word “stop.” Horsey horsey don’t you stop Just let your feet go clippity clop Your tail goes swish and the wheels go round Giddyup we’re homeward bound We’re not in a hustle, we’re not in a bustle Don’t go tearing up the road We’re not in a hurry, we’re not in a flurry And we don’t have a very heavy load   2. Jeux d’enfants, op. 22, 12. “Le Bal” by french composer Bizet Grab a ball to play with while you listen to this fast-paced movement from Bizet’s fun set of Children’s Games music. See if you can keep the ball moving for the whole movement.   If you’re looking for more examples of what our content for babies looks like, check out the following links that include videos and written content that will give you even more ideas of how to enjoy music with your baby. https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/baby https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/babies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czaFRCFt7EA Don’t miss Episode 4 of the podcast for more content specifically for babies. For a free PDF with 8 tips on how to make music with your baby- click on the following link: www.clapforclassics.com/babytips Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen. To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast! Thank you to Classical.com for licensing the music for us to use on our podcast and inside our membership!
45. What do we do with our sticks Vivaldi?
20-04-2023
45. What do we do with our sticks Vivaldi?
To join our music membership for young kids and start making music with us today, go to www.clapforclassics.com/join. Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month!   We share 2 activities that both include sticks.  In honor of Earth Day we encourage kids to go outside and use sticks that they find outside.  But rhythm sticks, pencils, or wooden spoons would work fine.   What Can We Do With Our Sticks? (to the tune of Hickory Dickory Dock) What can we do with our sticks? We tap our sticks like this We tap them high (fast) We tap them low (slow) What can we do with our sticks?   Have fun exploring all the different ways you can play your rhythm sticks!  Get creative!    2. Spring: Concerto No. 1 in E Major, 3rd movement by Vivaldi 3 ways to use our sticks while we listen: Keep a steady beatPretend to play the violinBe the conductor!   Want more rhythm stick fun?  Check out our blog post with a rhythm stick mini class and more information of the benefits of playing with rhythm sticks. https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/rhythmsticks   Listen to Episode 10 of our podcast for more rhythm stick fun! https://www.clapforclassics.com/podcasts/clap-for-classics/episodes/2147703461   Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen.   To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics.  We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!    Thank you to Classical.com for licensing the music for us to use on our podcast and inside our membership!
44. All about bunnies: songs for an egg-celent spring
06-04-2023
44. All about bunnies: songs for an egg-celent spring
Come to our free live "Music from Around the World" zoom Class happening on Thursday April 20th at 12pm Eastern Time/ 9 am Pacific. (Recording will be available.)  Sign up at www.clapforclassics.com/liveclass To join our music membership for young kids and start making music with us today, go to www.clapforclassics.com/join.   Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month! Grab some egg shakers for this episode (the more, the better!) 1. Bunny Pokey: You put your bunny ears in
, You put your bunny ears out, You put your bunny ears in, And you shake them all about. You do the Bunny Pokey, And you hop yourself around, That’s what it’s all about. Additional verses: You put your bunny nose in.You put your bunny paws in.You put your bunny tail in. 2. See the Sleeping Bunnies. See the sleeping bunnies, sleeping in till noon Shall we awake them with our merry tune Are they ill, why so still? (spoken) Wake up sleeping bunnies and hop hop hop, Wake up sleeping bunnies and hop hop stop! 3. Shaker Song (Sung to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down) Shake your shaker up and down, up and down, up and down, Shake your shaker up and down, shake your shaker. Additional verses: Side to sideRound and roundFast and slow 4. Our last activity is a steady beat shaker song, or a hide the eggs seek and find game with Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto, the 1st movement. Watch a video of me and Charlotte teaching these songs on our YouTube channel. Episode 14 of the podcast is an episode all about eggs, perfect as a partner to this episode and to add on to your Easter-themed activities.  Check out Episode 13 where we listen to this same piece of music (1st movement of Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto), but in a completely different way! Spotify playlists you might enjoy: Spring classical music playlist:  Steady BeatClassical playlist: Spring Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen. To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast! Thank you to Classical.com for licensing the music for us to use on our podcast and inside our membership!
43. A train ride through Brazil with Villa Lobos and a folk song
16-03-2023
43. A train ride through Brazil with Villa Lobos and a folk song
To join our music membership for young kids and start making music with us today, go to www.clapforclassics.com/join. Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month! Today on the episode we’re going on a trip to Brazil! 1. We first share a popular Brazilian folk song: Peixe Vivo, a love song about a fish (kind of). You might want to grab a blue scarf and some fish toys to play with while we sing this song. How could little fishies live If they’re outside of the sea? How could I ever live? Without you, without you Without you close to me   Como pode um peixe vivo Viver fora da agua fria Como poderei viver Como poderei viver Sem a tua, sem a tua Sem a tua companhia 2. Next we go on a train ride with a beautiful piece by Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa Lobos. This piece was written to sound like a steam engine traveling through the Brazilian countryside. Watch a video of Charlotte and I enjoying this fun train activity activity here: https://youtu.be/prR3e6veIA4 How to prepare to listen to this piece: Make room to move around the room like a train.Possibly set up a pretend train to “ride” in. (This can be as simple or as complex as you choose)Possibly grab some train toys How to adapt/extend this activity Put your kiddo in a laundry basket or a big box and turn on this video or the audio track while you take them for a “train ride” around the house.Draw pictures of the countryside, and/or pictures of trains while you listen to this piece Note about the music: This piece is entitled “The Little Train of the Caipira” by Heitor Villa-Lobos, from his longer set of pieces: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2. Villa-Lobos wrote nine Bachianas Brasileiras suites, all of which combine Brazilian folk/popular music with styles and techniques of baroque composer JS Bach. Thank you to Classical.com who has licensed the classical music that we used on this episode and inside our membership. Be sure to check out another fantastic classical music podcast: Classical Sprouts, geared toward elementary age kids and beyond. Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen. To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast!