For Arkansas elementary music teachers

40 minutes a week.
Every grade. All year.

Every song in your hands. Every lesson on video. Walk into your weekly music block on Monday with total confidence and a year of repertoire ready to go.

Kodály-aligned methodology
K–5 sequenced repertoire
Demonstrated on video
Used by 600+ teachers

Arkansas takes elementary music more seriously
than almost any state in the country.

Arkansas mandates weekly elementary music instruction by a certified teacher. The challenge is keeping the repertoire fresh.

Arkansas is one of the very few states to require a specific minimum of weekly music instruction in elementary schools — delivered by a certified teacher. That structural commitment is rare, and it means Arkansas elementary music teachers are doing real, sustained work that other states never see.

It also means showing up every week, all year, for every grade level — with new songs, new games, new ways to teach the same musical concepts at a deeper level the second time through. That's a lot of repertoire to keep moving.

The Singing Classroom was built for exactly this kind of long-haul teaching: 150+ pedagogically sequenced songs and games, every one demonstrated on video, every one ready to drop into next Tuesday's lesson.

40 min/wk Minimum weekly music instruction required at Arkansas elementary schools — delivered by a certified teacher.

"I've been searching for a subscription to refresh my music curriculum and this has surpassed my expectations."

— Christina, PK–7 Music Teacher

"The helpful videos are brilliant and make it so much easier to learn new material before teaching it."

— Elementary music teacher, 4th year

"This is the BEST website I've ever used for songs, singing games, Orff extensions, and general music curriculum."

— Kathleen, elementary music teacher

Watch. Learn. Teach.

No more digging through old binders for a song that fits this week's concept. Just search, watch, and walk in.

1

Pick your song

Browse by grade level (Kindergarten through 5th), by musical concept, or by song name. Every song includes a full teaching video shot in a real classroom.

2

Watch Deborah teach it

See exactly how to introduce the song, run the game, and develop the musical concept. Every gesture, every cue — demonstrated with real children. Refresh your delivery before you walk in.

3

Walk in with new material

Drop the new song into your weekly lesson. Use the printable lyric sheets, the lesson plan, the manipulatives. Build a year's worth of music your students will actually remember.

Watch Deborah teach — then do it yourself

Every song in the library comes with a full classroom video. Here are three examples.

SaraspondaGrades 4–6  ·  Stick game  ·  Rhythmic coordination
Oh Row the Rattlin' BogGrades 1–5  ·  Folk song  ·  Cumulative form
Apple TreeGrades K–2  ·  Singing game  ·  Solo singing

Enough songs for the whole year.
And the year after that.

The Singing Classroom includes 150+ folk songs and singing games — sequenced for musical development, demonstrated on video, ready to teach in your weekly music block.

Every song links to its own full lesson page with lyrics, game instructions, and teaching guide. All songs are pedagogically sequenced and Kodály-aligned — supporting the Arkansas K–5 music standards across creating, performing, responding, and connecting.

Supports the Arkansas K–5 Music Standards.

Creating

Song structures and singing games give students entry points to improvise, vary, and create musical ideas — no notation required.

Performing

Singing games and folk songs are participation-first by design — every student performs, develops pitch and rhythm, and builds musical confidence.

Responding & Connecting

Active listening, cultural context, and reflection are built into every lesson. The folk repertoire connects students to American, Appalachian, and global musical traditions.

Built on Kodály principles. Designed for weekly use.

Kodály methodology puts the singing voice first — and sequences songs by musical concept, not just enjoyment. That's exactly what you need when you're delivering the same musical concept (steady beat, do-re-mi, pentatonic pitch) across multiple weeks and grade levels.

Every song builds specific skills — and the library is organized so you can find the right song for what your 2nd-graders need this Tuesday and your 4th-graders need on Thursday, without re-planning from scratch.

D
Deborah Skydell, Co-founder

Master's degree in Choral Music (University of Illinois). Kodály certified. Orff and Dalcroze trained. 30+ years teaching music to children from Pre-K through 8th grade.

From music teachers who use this every week.

★★★★★

"I've been searching for a subscription to refresh my music curriculum and this has surpassed my expectations. The helpful videos are brilliant and make it so much easier to learn new material before teaching it."

Christina
PK–7 Music Teacher, 4th year
★★★★★

"This is the BEST website I've ever used for songs, singing games, Orff extensions, and general music curriculum. My students LOVE the music and the demonstration videos are helpful for both teacher and students."

Kathleen
Elementary Music Teacher
★★★★★

"I just subscribed and I LOVE it. I am a regular classroom teacher who now teaches music to grades K–3. I have been so nervous about it — but I am getting really excited."

Lisa
Classroom teacher, not a music specialist

Start Your Free Trial Today

Everything in one place.

Full teaching videos

Every song demonstrated in a real classroom with real children. Watch Deborah teach it from start to finish — including how to handle the moments when students need redirecting.

Printable materials

Sheet music, lyric sheets, classroom posters, and manipulatives — all printable. Every resource you need to run the lesson is included.

Year-long lesson planner

Build your full-year music plan with drag-and-drop simplicity. Organize songs by grade, concept, or week. Print it or access it on any device.

Search by concept or grade

Find the right song for your lesson in seconds. Search by grade level (K–5), musical concept, or song title.

One subscription. Every song.

Full access to the entire library — all songs, all videos, all printables, the lesson planner — for less than the cost of a single textbook.

7-day free trial

Full library access

$219.95

per year  ·  cancel any time

  • 150+ songs with full teaching videos
  • Sequenced K–5 elementary repertoire
  • Aligned with Arkansas K–5 Music Standards
  • Printable materials for every song
  • Year-long lesson planner included
  • Works on any device
Start Your Free Trial

A few things people ask.

Does this work if I'm a certified music specialist, not a generalist?+
Yes — this is built for elementary music specialists. The repertoire is pedagogically sequenced, Kodály-aligned, and provides a year's worth of fresh material for weekly K–5 music instruction. Many subscribers use it specifically to keep their repertoire fresh and to reduce planning time.
Does this align with the Arkansas K–5 Music Standards?+
Yes. The library supports the four artistic processes outlined in the Arkansas K–5 Music Standards — Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting — across all elementary grades from Kindergarten through 5th. The Kodály-based sequence develops foundational musical skills in the order Arkansas expects.
Can I use this to plan a full year's worth of weekly music lessons?+
That's exactly what it's built for. The lesson planner lets you sequence songs across the school year, by grade level and by musical concept. With 150+ songs, you have enough new material to keep your weekly music block fresh through multiple school years.
What happens after the free trial?+
After 7 days, your subscription starts at $219.95 per year. Cancel any time before the 7 days are up and you won't be charged.
Can I use this on my classroom projector or whiteboard?+
Yes — The Singing Classroom works on any device with a browser. Teachers regularly use it directly on their classroom projector or interactive whiteboard during the lesson.
Is this a deductible educator expense?+
A subscription to The Singing Classroom is the kind of professional development resource that many educators include in the IRS Educator Expense Deduction (Form 1040). Limits and eligibility apply — check with your tax preparer for guidance on your specific situation.