VIDEO For this song, use tonal bells and sing a’capella. We love these diatonic resonator bells. Pick tones from a major triad (like c e g, or d f# a or g b d). You can use hand bells, even a piano (assign each child a note), or other tonal instrument. We changed the words to make it more Christmasy (“morning bells” became “Christmas bells”). If you don’t have enough instruments for each child, take turns being the singers then the players. I like to use this song to reinforce loud and soft, fast and slow. We repeat the song and I give basic instructions, “this time play your bell as fast as you can,” “this time lets sing and play LOUDLY, FORTE!” etc . . . You can also try singing this one in a round, it’s pretty with the bell accompaniment.
Are you sleeping?
Brother John, brother John
Christmas bells are ringing,
Christmas bells are ringing,
Ding, ding, dong
Ding, ding, dong.
