Songs for December: See Simple Ways to Explore Instrumental Music

Songs for December from Baroque to the mid-20th century see how to explore the vast world of instrumental music during this festive season. The rich history of these Instrumental classical pieces brings a timeless elegance that beautifully complements the festive ambiance of December. See simple ways to share instrumental music that paints the landscape of winter and brings the favorite pastime of sleigh rides to life!

Baroque Era Songs for December – “Winter”

Let’s begin with a time travel back to the Baroque Era for songs for December. Experience Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s “Winter” from his famous The Four Season Concerto composed in 1725.

Vivaldi brings each season to life through violin concertos. Each one consists of 3 movements in tempos of fast slow fast. When Vivaldi published the work each movement was submitted with a sonnet making this work an early example of program music. Most believe that Vivaldi wrote the poems as no author was stated.

The First Movement of “Winter” is a great song to guide students through the process of what they hear. Even kindergarten students can get involved by giving them pictures to circle when answering questions about the music’s tempo or instrumentation. 

It’s also fun to let students listen to the music and draw a picture of what they think the music is about. Or let students give the song a star rating and reasons for their review of the song. 

Then reveal the poem behind the song and elements in the music that Vivaldi used to make a musical painting for wind, stomping feet, and chattering teeth during a winter chill. Exactly how songs for December would feel if you were stuck outside during a snowstorm! 

Concertos during the Baroque Era (1600-1750) were written to showcase the virtuoso skills of a soloist accompanied by an orchestra. The form alternates between orchestra and soloist with accompaniment. The repeated interlude tutti orchestra sections are called ritornello. The weave of this form makes for the perfect highlights for a listening map helping students to grasp the concerto form.

Watching the virtuoso skills of the violin soloist with fingers flying around is sure to impress even the youngest of players. 

Sleigh Ride Songs for December

For centuries, sleigh rides have been the quintessential picture of seasonal magic songs for December! The snow-covered landscape and the only sound heard is the rhythmic jingle of sleigh bells. Music composers have been capturing this adventure for hundreds of years and make for a great compare and contrast lesson plan.

Classical Songs in December Mozart’s Sleigh Ride – “Schlittenfahrt” 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart loved dancing and composed many dance songs during his short life. In 1791 he composed  “Three German Dances,” for the Vienna Court. During Mozart’s time, German dances were quite popular in various European countries. Mozart, being a master of blending classical forms with popular styles of his time, captured the lively and rhythmic essence of these dances in his unique way.

The third dance, “Schlittenfahrt,” German for sleigh ride, stands out as a charming and whimsical piece for songs for December. As the title suggests it is a musical story of a sleigh ride, which was a popular winter activity during Mozart’s era. 

Mozart’s magical notes paint a vivid picture of the thrill and fun of a sleigh ride. Tap into your students’ creative side by having a classroom sleigh ride.

• Use a stretchy band 
• Classroom parachute 
• Close your eyes and imagine

Can you hear the fast-paced rhythm, like the horses pulling the sleigh, and speeding through snowy fields, with the wind whistling in your ears? 

Younger students can add a steady beat of jingle bells to the song every time they hear the bells. Create a Freeze game out of the song. Everyone freezes when the bells are not playing.

Add scarf movement: Split the class in half and a section on scarf movements for instrumental strings and horn section. The other half of the class plays the steady-beat jingle bell section. Watch out for a fun time with the end bouncing back and forth. Then switch parts and repeat. They may even want to try left arm scarf and right arm bells. 

Songs in December Prokofiev – “Troika” 20th Century Composition

Introduce your student to this Russian composer Prokofiev. Also known for his orchestral storytelling on Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev is one of the best at telling a story through music and bringing songs in December to life. 

In 1934 Prokofiev was commissioned to write a film score for the Russian film Lieutienant Kijé a satire/comedy that poked fun of the former Russian Tsar Paul I. After the success of this bizarre and humorous movie, Prokofiev turned the soundtrack into a music suite with five movements.

The IV movement “Troika” means sleigh ride in Russian. “Troika” is the most popular movement depicting a high-speed winter sleigh ride through Siberia. Sleighbells depict the three-horse sleigh ride. Prokofiev composed a theme first which is repeated in the movement. It is first played by the full orchestra and then repeated on low woodwinds using a basson and an unusual instrument for the time, a tenor saxophone. 

A second theme can be heard when the string section plays in pizzicato. This theme is consistent throughout the suit and is used to weave the main character of the film, Kijé, throughout the Suite. Put it all together as a listening map to guide students through the themes, or see the music escape room below or here.  

Songs for December: American Composer Leroy Anderson – Sleigh Ride

I have always loved the way 20th-century American composer Leroy Anderson crafted nontraditional sounds from the orchestra that created sound effects such as the ticking of a clock, cats’ meow, or a classic antique typewriter.

Leroy Anderson is the best at bringing sleigh ride songs for December to life. Students can listen for his fun use of instruments in his 1946 “Sleigh Ride.”

• Temple blocks for the clip-clop of the horses’ hoofs
• Sleighbells that always accompany a sleigh ride 
• Slapstick crack of a whip,
• Trumpet glissando technique that sounds like a horse whinny

The AB form and variation lend to a great song for cup movements. Come up with movements (see mine here) or assign sections to students. Polish the movements and perform along with songs in December to delight your audience.  

Songs for December from Medford Massachusetts

In the mid 19th century the town of Medford, Massachusetts has roots to several songs for December. Medford, Massachusetts was known for its annual sleigh races. In 1957 James Lord Pierpont penned the famous song “One Horse Open Sleigh.” The three verses tell the story of a young couple in the race who tipped their sleigh in a snowdrift during the race.

Of course, we now fondly refer to the song as “Jingle Bells!” A plaque in the town of Medford proudly claims the place where this popular holiday sing-along was penned. 

This town also has roots to the 1844 poem by Lydia Maria Child called “The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day.” The poem was set to music and became popular after the Civil War. Easily adapt this song to “Horray for a Winter Day.”

We know the song as “Over the River and Through the Woods.” Another fun sleigh ride song this time going to grandmother’s house. Lydia Maria Child’s grandmother, Susanna Rand lived in Medford, Massachusetts. You can read more about the history of this song here.  

See the lesson plans I have created for these and more songs for December below!