Big Heart

We always provide at least one song in our all-school revues that can be performed by your very youngest singers. For Make A Difference, that song is "Big Heart." It is very easy, has a familiar groove, and is lots of fun to sing! In fact, we're betting that most of your students will enjoy this one, no matter what their age.

If you're hesitant to use this song with your youngsters because of the background vocal parts, fear not. We have provided you with a track version that includes these if you want them. But as with most of our second parts, this is optional. You can totally leave it out and it will still be way cool. On the other hand, you could ask another class - perhaps a select group of older singers - to be your background vocalists. To help them learn this part, we have isolated it and put it on our web site where you or your students can access it. (See "Online extras" on the next page.) It might also be noteworthy to point out that the guitar, and later the background vocals, are borrowing the "song of childhood" during the chorus: Sol Mi La Sol Mi.

Besides being all about helping and giving (which, by the way, is also great for using in other ways besides the revue), this song gives your kids a chance to do a bit of moving. First, there are the claps on beats 2 and 4. These start at the top, right after the drum set-up, and continue until measure 13 when the optional movements begin. They resume at the chorus. Then it all repeats. Though they are also optional, the claps are easy enough to do and feel good and natural to perform. The other movements are suggestions that you can use as is, or alter however you wish. They are also simple and pretty self-explanatory. One note: When you see "clasp hands," the intention is for kids to clasp their own hands. But you can do it however you like.

One other "liner note" - at the beginning of the song on the CD, you will hear our rhythm section players gearing up for the groove. This was so neat, we decided to leave it in.

Online extras - The free, downloadable tracks for "Big Heart" can be found under the "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 17, No. 1 at MusicK8.com