Learn to desk drum or bucket drum to "March from the Nutcracker".

Find something to use for a bucket and for sticks.
For a bucket, you can use an ice cream bucket or a cardboard box, or you can drum on the top of your desk.

If you drum on a foam sheet or a piece of a yoga mat, the sound will be quieter.

You can put a foam sheet or piece of yoga mat on top of your desk or on the top of your bucket.

If you are desk drumming
top = top
rim = edge of the desk
click = click

Teach the melody by rote. When the students know the melody well, teach the echo. Then, have a small group do the echoes while the large group sings the melody. Have the students create a dance or movement to go with the music.

Verse 1: hip rocks throughout

Line dance during the instrumental breaks:
Right toe out, right toe in right toe out, right toe in
Left toe out, left toe in left toe out, left toe in
Right toe out, right toe in right toe out, right toe in
Left toe out, left toe in left toe out, left toe in
Tap heel to the front twice, tap toe behind twice
Tap heel to the front twice, tap toe behind twice
Tap heel to the front twice, tap toe behind twice
Tap heel to the front once, Tap heel to the side once
Tap toe behind once, bring knee up and clap!

Clap all 4 rhythms. Click on a square to take one away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing one. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Clap all 4 rhythms, including the missing ones. Click on a square to take another away.
Invite 4 students to help you write the complete rhythm on the board. (Each does one square)
Ask the students if they can identify the song.

Have students read the rhythms using the rhythm names ta, titi, toooo. Teach the song by rote or have students sing the letter names or solfege.

If the language is difficult for you to teach your students, use the audio to rote teach. Pause after each phrase and have the students echo. Then repeat, pausing every two phrases for the students to echo. Continue in this way until the students can sing the song.

This traditional Christmas song has been arranged and orchestrated by Craig Cassils and Dominik Hauser to include sound effects. Your class can sing the arrangement as written, or you could have them create their own sound effects to accompany the song. This is a rote song, so teach it using the rote process.

Have the students try copying the actions in this performance.

It starts slowly, then it gets faster and faster!