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Nicole O., California

Hi! This year in lieu of a sing-a-long at an assisted living home, my students are preparing for a live Zoom holiday party. The holiday songs will be pre-recorded and shared in break out rooms with groups of 5. They are also composing a ‘fall-winter’ medley that they will perform live in a break out room.

Sing a longs aren’t possible via Zoom, but the pre recorded piece will include singing family members:)

They are recording their pieces and they will share their own video with the break out room.

Anna J., Canada

I’m hoping to try something new this year borrowing from a Ukulele teacher friend. She’s been hosting jam sessions where she and her hubby play live and sing and everyone else jams along at home on mute. I’m thinking accompaniment workshop/jam session. Rather than just sing myself though, I’ve been wanting to source some audio or video recordings for us to play along with. But my challenge so far has been finding enough source material for my beginning students…most recordings I’m finding aren’t in C, so I’m still wrestling with the piece…might end up just generating a few of my own backing tracks through Garage Band or something (which I’ve never tried before so insights or tips are welcome!). It’s still a work in progress, obviously! I’d welcome anyone’s insights if anyone’s tried something similar!

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

Anna Janecek maybe some of Evan Hunter’s recordings would work? He recently shared them here.

Maureen K., California

We usually do singalongs at assisted living homes too and we are sad to miss that this year. I’ve organized something similar to Nicole where students are recording themselves, sometimes with their families singing along, and we are providing the links to the senior centers. I don’t recommend trying that this late in the game though.

Sometimes in my group lessons we take turns playing while others put themselves on mute and sing or play along, kind of like what Anna is thinking of doing. In that way you could do a Zoom singalong! I’m also thinking, for our last lesson before the holidays, we’ll play games together over Zoom. A teacher friend recommended kahoot. it where we can customize our games… I’m hoping to build a game around their playlists.

Pat M., Canada

I am trying something that was on the ComposeCreate.com website. I modified the idea somewhat and am calling it “The 12 Days of Christmas”. I am having each student record themselves playing one Foundation piece and one Christmas carol. Then I will upload 2 students to my YouTube channel every day for 12 days. Students and parents must watch every day to get a clue at the end of the recordings. If they get all 12 clues, they will receive a Christmas treat bag. I actually don’t care if they get all the clues, they will still get the prize. The main reason for the clues is to make sure everyone watches every day.