Jack Grunsky
Celebrating 27 years of music for children
Songs That Teach Peace
An interactive children’s concert for K - 6
Jack’s note to teachers:
Thank you for booking this program for your school. It has been my experience, over
the last 27 years, that children love music and singing and that the shared experience
makes them feel good about themselves, nurtures positive feelings and community
spirit.
Please visit my website, www.jackgrunsky.com , specifically the ‘teachers resource
link’, for further information about the songs, recordings or my performance activities.
Feel free to send me an email, as I value any comments or suggestions you may have.
If you wish to share YouTube videos of some of my songs with your class, this will also
help to prepare for my visit at your school.
Here is the URL to my YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jack7hans
Jack
booking information
PROLOGUE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS
www.prologue.org
Jack Grunsky - intro
Toronto City Parent calls Jack Grunsky
‘one of Canada’s masters of children’s music’
Jack has dedicated 27 years towards raising the standard of children’s music and
firmly believes in the transformative power music has in the lives of our children.
His concerts for young people resonate with a variety of global music styles,
rhythms, poetic lyrics and above all, the sound of children singing. With his uplifting
and interactive approach, Jack takes the audience on a joyful, educational and
memorable musical journey.
Jack’s instrumentation includes guitar, ukulele, the African ‘mbira’, a Middle
Eastern frame drum, the ‘ocarina’, a clay flute, bamboo ‘angklung’ shakers from
Malaysia, Egyptian tambourine, rain sticks and home-made key chimes.
He is a 4 - time JUNO Award Winner with 15 CD recordings to his credit. Other
accolades include multiple Parent’s Choice awards, iParenting Media awards, and
the Canadian Music Week’s 2010, ‘Favourite Children’s Artist’.


what teachers say…………………....
“We loved Jack’s interactive approach.”
“children loved it and continue to talk about it”
“Jack Grunsky is fun”
more press quotes……………………
“this artist is the real deal with his spot-on connection to children, his world music sensibilities
and his top-notch production” - John Wood - Parenting New Hampshire
“Grunsky’s celebratory approach to kid’s music is infectious…a nonstop fiesta”
– Billboard Magazine
“WIth sophisticated world music sensibility and warm vocals ..(he’s) one big smile”
- Los Angeles Times
SING & DANCE - songs & activities
Happy Day
- a welcome song
It’s a Great Day
- a call-and-response song
Chika Chika - Catchy Tune
- ‘a song can make you happy’
My Best Friend
- following your good instincts
Crest Of The Wave
- think globally, act locally
Siyanibingelela
Songbirds
- greetings from around the world
- teaching global harmony through 3-part singing
Look Who’s In My Family
- celebrating our caregivers
With My Own Two Hands
- celebrating arts & crafts & gift sharing
Gift Of Wings
- learning to appreciate your teachers
Let’s Play
- celebrating word games and playing together
Iko Iko
- let’s get up and dance
Beat Of My Heart
Alligator Stomp
- a global prayer for peace
- hand-clapping & stomping fun to Zydeco beats
Child Of The Universe
Take Good Care
- the connectedness of all living things
- “it’s been good to know you”
CURRICULUM FOCUS & EXPECTATIONS
Themes:
. Singing together
. Songs for learning and self-discovery
. Composing music and lyrics
Character Education:
• Tolerance, peace, understanding, loyalty
Expectations:
• Recognize and explain the effects of different musical choices
• Communicate thoughts and feelings about the music using language and a variety of art forms and
media (drawing, movement, song or computer)
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic elements of music through listening to, performing and
creating music
HAPPY DAY
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: SING & DANCE ]
Happy day, happy day
Glad to see you here today
I'm so glad you came my way
It's a happy day (repeat)
Come on in, stay a while
It's so nice to see you smile
We can dance and we can sing
And let the laughter ring
Fill your heart full of joy
Every single girl and boy
And before this day ends
Who knows, we may be friends
(chorus)
I will sing a song for you
Something old and something new
On a music magic carpet ride
We'll travel far and wide
Sing-a-long, don't be shy
Sing and let your spirit fly
And before this day ends
Who knows, we may be friends
(chorus)
Activities: ___________________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song
2) Tap your laps and play your imaginary drums for the middle part
3) Discuss what makes a happy day for you
4) Discuss what you like about your friends and what you like to do with your friends
IT'S A GREAT DAY
Music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: MY BEAUTIFUL WORLD ]
Hi there, how are you
I hope that you feel as good as I do
There's something in the air
That makes me happy now
Got no trouble, got no care
Cause, seeing you - it's a great day
Being with you
- it's a great day
Walking with you - it's a great day
Talking with you - it's a great day
I've got a song in my heart
That wants to fly like a bird
High up in a blue sky
You've got a story to tell
I want to hear it now
And get to know you well
Hi there....
Activities: ____________________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song. For the chorus, divide into two groups. Group one sings the first
phrase, Group two sings “it’s a great day”.
2) Mime playing a trumpet during the trumpet solo. Play your trumpet at different levels – high,
medium, low. Aim the trumpet at the sky, at your friends, at the floor.
‘CHIKA CHIKA’, CATCHY TUNE
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: CATCHY TUNE ]
For the love of all the children
Gonna sing this little song
Cause when a song is in your heart now
Surely nothing can go wrong
And a song will make you happy
Any catchy little tune
Gonna make it all so easy
Just like a walk on the moon
And it goes - beep beep beep ( hand ‘splashes’ in the air)
Oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
( hands ‘chopping’ in the air)
Brrrrrrrrrr
(hold nose and do the ‘underwater wiggle’)
Chika chika
( toss hands in the air)
A catchy melody can soar now
Like a kite high on a string
You can fly up to the sky now
That’s how you feel when you sing
And when children sing together
Every girl and every boy
It will bring sun shiny weather
What a day! What a joy!
Cause a song can make you happy
Any catchy little tune
Gonna make it all so easy
Like a walk on the moon
A catchy melody can soar now
Like a kite high on a string
You can fly up to the sky now
That’s how you feel when you sing
Activities ________________________________________________________________________
1) Sing along and do the actions for the chorus, or make up your own.
2) Discuss how music makes you feel. Can you list other ‘catchy tunes’ that
sometimes go around in your head?
3) Think of a song and hum it. What was the song? Play a ‘guess that tune’ game
MY BEST FRIEND
music & lyrics Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: HOPPIN’ SOCKS]
(spoken)
‘My best friend is that little voice right inside my head
That feeling, a gentle tug, from a magic golden thread
My constant companion, my conscience and my guide
My best friend is like a teacher who lives right here inside’
My best friend shows me the way
To live my life from day to day
My best friend teaches me
To listen with my heart
My best friend helps me to see
The best in you, the best in me
With acts of kindness, words of peace
A healing happens, and a pain will cease
My best friend opens the gate
Of learning to appreciate
All the good that comes to me
In gratitude I see
My best friend enlightens me
To the meaning of integrity
So that words that I may say to you
Are only words I know to be true
My best friend is always there
To keep me safe and sound
To guide me on my journey
I walk softly on the ground
My best friend makes my heart sing
Of all the joy that love can bring
My best friend helps me to see
All things in harmony
My best friend empowers me
To think ‘one world community’
We’re all connected hand in hand
Like drops of water, tiny grains of sand
Activities ______________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song and discuss what the lyrics mean
1) Paint a classroom mural of friends helping each other in a variety of different ways
CREST OF THE WAVE
music & lyrics Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: CATCHY TUNE]
There’s a job to be done, there’s work to do
Work for me and you
If we pull together we can get things done
We can see it through
Sister, brother helping each other
Work to make it work
It’s a never ending story
Every day we start anew
If we all think globally
Act a little bit more locally
Steer this boat of humanity
Fill your heart with love and be brave
All the things we need to address
Give a little more, take a little less
When we rise above the feeling of helplessness
We can sail on the crest of the wave
The crest of the wave
Gotta seize the day in our work and play
Join this circle dance
Gotta take care of this planet now
No matter what the circumstance
Gotta spread the word, stand up and be heard
We need to educate
With our hearts in place we will live in grace
You know it’s never too late
Activities: _______________________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song and create some visuals to display along with your performance ie.
signs, pictures, slogans…etc
2) List all the ways you can think of to help make this world a better place
3) Create a weekly schedule and plan an action for each day that will have a positive impact on
the environment
4) Together write a new verse to the song, expressing your ideas about making the world a better
place, using the same metre as the original
related web sites:
- tiki.oneworld.net/global_warming/climate_home.html
- www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm
- www.nrdc.org/reference/kids.asp
SIYANIBINGELELA
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1 ]
Everybody I know
Has a special way to say "hello"
To say "hello", say "hello"
Here's a Zulu greeting
That I heard in Africa
It's a word from Africa
Siyanibingelela
Siyanibingelela
Siyanibingelela, eyo!
Every greeting I hear
Is like a song from the heart
It's a song from the heart
And it's a wonderful way
To make new friends everyday
To meet new friends everyday
[ some “hellos” from around the world ]
"Bonjour" [bohn-ZHOOR] - French
- "Hola [OH-lah] - Spanish
“Guten Tag” [GOOT-en Tahk] – German
- “Shalom” [Sha-LOHM] - Hebrew
“Konichiwa” [Koh-NEE-cheewah] – Japanese - "Buon giorno" [bwohn JOR-noh] - Italian
"Dzien dobray" [dzien-DOH-bree] - Polish
- “Dia dhuit” [DEE-ah-dhWEET] - Irish
“Aloha”
[Ah-LOH-hah] - Hawai’I
-- “Kalimera” [Kah-lee-MEH-rah] - Greek
"Namaste" [Nah-mah-STAY] - Hindi
- [Oh-see-YOH] - Cherokee
"Jambo"
[JAM-boh]
- Swahili
- “Ni hao” [Nee-HaOW] - Cantonese
“Hi”
Everybody I know
Shares the laughter and the joy
Every girl, every boy
And it's a wonderful sound
To hear the special way
You say "hello"
Activities: _____________________________________________________________________________
1) Collect and share other greetings from around the world and create a multilingual scrap
book with pictures representing different heritage groups.
2) Celebrate our differences and discuss our commonalties. More greetings: “Merhaba” –
Turkey, “Labas” – Lithuanian, “top of the morning” - Ireland
SONGBIRDS
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1]
The crow, the quail, the nightingale
The skylark, the hummingbird
Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chickadee
Let's sing a song together
So happy and so free
Like songbirds altogether
We'll sing in harmony
Now crows, quails and nightingales
Sing your part
Over and over
Sing it from the heart
The crow, the quail, the nightingale (repeat)
Now skylarks and hummingbirds
Sing your part
Sing along with Cosima
And sing it from the heart
The skylark, the hummingbird (repeat)
Now all of the chickadees
Sing your part
Sing it over and over
Sing it from the heart
Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee, chickadee (repeat)
Let's fly
[chorus]
Now all the birds together
Get ready to sing your part
Sing it four more times
Straight from the heart [chorus]
ACTIVITIES___________________________________________________________________
1) divide your students into 3 groups and teach the song in 3 part harmony
2) for the solo section in the music, spread your arms and imagine ‘flying’
3) Learn about one of the birds in the song, and present your findings to the class
4) Which instrument of the orchestra would best imitate the sounds of birds? (e.g. the flute, piccolo, the
violin, the harp)
LOOK WHO’S IN MY FAMILY
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: MY BEAUTIFUL WORLD]
Look who’s in my family
Everybody is there taking care of me
No matter how big, no matter how small
My family loves me, that is all
Mommy likes to brush my hair
Daddy tosses me in the air
My brother he’s a lot of fun
My sister’s always on the run
Grandma lets me jump on her bed
Grandpa lets me climb on his head
Aunts and uncles, cousins too
They all love me, yes they do
My teacher, my nanny, the parent volunteer
The school bus driver, and the caretaker here
My neighbour, my sitter, the crossing guard
They all care for me and they work so hard
The school secretary, my guardian
The doctor, the nurse, the librarian
The supervisor in our big schoolyard
They all care for me and they work so hard
ACTIVITIES:________________________________________________________________________________
. 1) Learn to sing the song. Discuss the idea of the extended family and learning to care for others
and be aware who in your community is taking care of you.
. 2) Act out some role playing with costumes, props, etc. to represent some of the characters in the
song
WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1]
Look at what I made in school today
A tiger mask made out of paper maché
With paints and paper, scissors and glue
It's a gift I made for you
With my own two hands
I made it with my own two hands
With my own two hands
I made it with my own two hands
An ‘ojo de dios’ is a pretty thing
A ‘god's eye’ woven out of sticks and string
It's my own design, a pleasure to do
And I made it just for you
Beads and baubles on a fancy chain
Lace them, loop them; tie them up again
It's gold and silver, purple and blue
I made it ‘specially for you
I made some rhythm makers yesterday
Homemade instruments that we can play
Shakers, scrapers, these are a few
That I made for me and you
ACTIVITIES: ___________________________________________________________________________
1) Make a tiger mask, an ‘ojo de dios’, string of beads or rhythm makers.
2) Sing along to the song and for the chorus part, gently wave your hands back and forth in the air.
GIFT OF WINGS
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1]
Show me days of wonder
New roads to travel on
Help me make discoveries
Teach me a brand new song
Show me where I come from
So much to realize
Show me where I’m going to
And open up my eyes
If you will take me heart
If you will teach me all these things
You’re giving me the gift of wings
Show me all the beauty
Everywhere to see
Open up the gate
Set my imagination free
Teach me to express myself
In many different ways
Build my sense of worthiness
For all of my days
Help me find my colours
Help me bring them to the light
So that I may paint my dreams
Strong and beautiful and bright
Teach the joy of learning
To make the magic last
I’ll take into the future
All the love in my past
Activities:________________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song
2) Every time you sing ‘the gift of wings’ pretend that you are flying like a bird
3) Paint a picture of someone special who teaches you something new
LET'S PLAY
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[ from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #2 ]
[Stella ella ola, quack quack quack
Say yes chigo chigo, chigo chigo Jack
Say yes chigo chigo, belo belo belo belo belo
Say one two three four five!
Games games the children play
Close to home and far away
Cover your eyes now, don't you peek
If you want to come play ‘hide and seek’
Let's play! – what’d I say?
Let's play! - any time of day
Let's play! - be my friend
Let's play! - here we go again (and that's the end)
I like jump rope, hop scotch too
Bottle cap soccer, how about you?
Cat's cradle to catch the sun
Let's make believe, let's have some fun
We'll swim in the water but we won't get wet
We'll catch the moon in a fishing net
I spy with my little eye
A cactus flower in the sky
Paper gliders take a loop
Hacky sack and hoola hoop
Flying kite on a long long string
Do you know a riddle or a song to sing?
Run, jump, skip a long, hop on the floor
Who's that knocking at my door
Winter, spring, summer and fall
The world is a beautiful big blue ball
Activities___________________________________________________________________________________
1) Make a T-form and list and collect simple games from around the world. Identify or list the
game and then comment on its origin.
2) Mime the actions, when singing the names of the games
IKO IKO
trad. arranged by Jack Grunsky with new lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1]
[actions below]
- (wave your arms from side to side)
Iko Iko Iko
Iko Iko all day
Jock-a-mo-ee-na-ee-na-nay
- (point finger in the air and turn around)
Jock-a-mo-ee-na-nay
Talkin' 'bout, hey now - hey now
- (echo ‘hey now!’)
Iko Iko all day
- (wave your arms from side to side)
Jock-a-mo-ee-na-ee-na-nay
- (point finger in the air and turn around)
Jock-a-mo-ee-na-nay
Say can you imagine
- (dance with a partner)
Let's go to the Mardi Gras
Where people come from miles around
For a "hoopla" and "yah yah"
- (toss your arms in the air)
You can blow your saxophone - (play your ‘air’ saxophone)
Pick your old guitar
- (play your ‘air’ guitar)
Shake, shake, shake a tambourine - (play your ‘air’ tambourine)
Be a super star
Listen to the rhythm
- (hand to your ear)
The music sounding sweet
Then put your hands together
Let’s clap the greatest beat
Clap your hands!
- (clap and copy the ‘hand-jive’ rhythm)
Come on now everybody!
Put on your dancing shoes
- (put on your imaginary dancing shoes)
With a wiggle and a jiggle
- (wiggle and jiggle)
We'll dance away the blues
Reach up high, shake your hands - (follow actions)
Bend down, touch your knees
Now find a friend to dance with
And give your friend a squeeze!
Activities: _________________________________________________________________________________
(note to teacher: Jack has re-written some of the verses to make them suitable for children. DVD
coverage of Mardi Gras festivities can sometimes be inappropriate for children)
1) Research the history of New Orleans Mardi Gras festival
2) Discuss why people often celebrate with parades, singing & dancing
BEAT OF MY HEART
Music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #2]
Beat of my heart
(echo and gently tap your heart)
Pitter patter, I can feel
The beat of my heart
Waves on the shore
(echo and make wave motions)
I can hear the rhythm
Of the waves on the shore
Sun shining bright
(echo and make a big circle with your arms)
I can feel the warm light
Of the sun shining bright
Stars in the sky
(echo and wiggle your fingers in the air)
Diamonds in the night
I see the stars in the sky
World turning ‘round
(echo and draw a big slow circle in the air)
Like a wheel, a great big circle
World turning ‘round
(1st verse again)
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Activities:____________________________________________________________________________
1) Follow the actions indicated in the lyrics
2 Collect some pictures of the world as seen from space, or paint a mural of the solar system
ALLIGATOR STOMP
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: JACK IN THE BOX #1]
Two alligators in the swamp
Doing the alligator stomp
Two alligators in the swamp
Doing the alligator stomp
Now take a gator by the hand
Step to the music of a Cajun band
Clap your hands! Stomp your feet!
And walk your gator down the street. Ayee!
You can roll your eyes, you can wiggle your nose
But you better not step on your gator's toes (Tippy toe)
Swing to the left, swing to the right
We're nice alligators, we don't bite Ayee!
Now throw your hands up in the air
We're a little bit crazy but we don't care
One thing gators love to do
Is jump up high and shout "yahoo!"
Jump up high and shout, “yahoo!”
Activities:_____________________________________________________________________________
1) You can dance along. For ‘two alligators in the swamp’, stretch out your arms to form the
alligator jaws and clap your hands to the beat four times. For ‘doing the alligator stomp’,
stomp your feet four times. For the rest of the song follow the actions of the words.
2) Make some alligator costumes or masks with big ‘googly’ eyes.
3) Research some swampland sites and DVD’s
4) Research some ‘Cajun’ music recordings of songs and instruments
CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE
music & lyrics: Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: CATCHY TUNE]
(chorus A)
I am a child of the universe
And I follow my destiny
I have come to inherit the earth
Cherishing the legacy
Caring for this gift to me
I have come to inherit … the earth
(chorus B)
I’m a child of the universe
And I follow my destiny
I have come to inherit the earth
For this time bestowed on me
With your wisdom guiding me
I have come to inherit …..
Verse 1
The lakes and the land
And the soft shoreline sand
And the rocky mountains high and so steep
And the oceans so deep
…. (to chorus A)
Verse 2
The birds flying high
And the clouds in the sky
All the flowers and the forests and trees
All the fish in the seas
…. (to chorus B)
Verse 3
The sunlight, the air
Living things in our care
All the precious seeds we plant and we sow
All the food that we grow
All the rivers and streams
All your hopes, all your dreams
All the magic in the songs that you sing
All the love that you bring
Everyone connected to the universe
Everyone connected to each other
I walk in beauty - I walk in harmony
My spirit journey - Nothing but love I see
Solo child
I am a child of the universe
And I follow my destiny
I have come to inherit the earth
[This song is a celebration of the beauty of the earth and its abundance and how we are all part
of the cycle of life on this planet and the universe. It is about sharing the responsibility for
providing our children with a better future and doing our part to leave a legacy of love and
enlightenment.]
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Activities: __________________________________________________________________________
Discuss the global theme of the words. What do they mean to you?
Discuss the word ‘legacy’ and leaving something good behind for the next generation
List 10 things you can do to help take care of the world for the future
Paint a mural to show the beauty of the world. What in the world is beautiful to you?
Make your mural into a ‘global village’ showing what people are doing to help take care of the
world
Write a story about your favourite scene in the world, like a sunset, mountain, ocean, etc…
TAKE GOOD CARE
music & lyrics Jack Grunsky
[from Jack’s CD: HOPPIN’ SOCKS]
Say good-bye
Been good to know you, now
Say good-bye
Time to go now
It’s been so nice just to be here with you [repeat]
Take good care of yourself now
Take good care of each other
Take good care
Take care, so long, so long [repeat]
What a time
We had together now
What a time
We had together now
Been so nice just to be here with you
Meet again
Some day soon we will
Meet again
If not here then along the way
Further on down the journey
la la la la la .......
Activities __________________________________________________________________________________
1) Learn to sing the song.
2) Learn to say goodbye in many languages. Ask the class for ones that they know and research
some others.
3) Boys sing along with Jack and girls sing along with Cosima (Jack’s daughter). Everybody sings
the ‘la la la’s’ at the end and individuals could call out the different words for goodbye. Also, on
the ‘la la la’s’ add rhythmic patterns.
4) Discuss situations when you say ‘good-bye’