Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Love Grows and Planting Seeds of Love

Love Grows One by One
Kathy Reid-Naiman
Album: Reaching for the Stars
Both of these beautiful songs are wonderful program pieces, lend themselves to easy hand motions or sign language, and teach a worthy message.

Love Grows, One by One

Words and music by Carol Johnson
You can hear the entire recording by Kathy Reid Naiman HERE.

Because this piece is copyrighted, I will not give all the lyrics for this gorgeous song. You can find the complete lyrics HERE.

Here are the easy hand motions we are using for the chorus:

Love grows, (crossing hands over heart)
one by one  (single finger on both hands)
Two by two  (two fingers, both hands)

and four by four (etc..)
Love grows (crossing hands again)

'round like a circle (extend arms overhead in circle and opening down at sides)
And comes back knocking at your front door. (right fist taps left palm in rhythm)


The verses lend themselves to easy motions as well - keep it simple. In the second verse the lyrics suggest holding hands, and as we sing "reach for all our sisters and our brothers" we lift up our joined hands. 

I nearly start crying every time.
This link goes to purchase digital
download on Amazon.

Planting Seeds of Love

Words and music by Pam Donkin

Pam Donkin has generously dedicated a website to sharing this wonderful song for FREE. 
Find it HERE at plantingseedsoflove.com
The site also features accompaniment and karaoke tracks AND sheet music, as well as lesson plans and enrichment activities across the curriculum. AMAZING!

Youtube Version HERE

Verse One:
I am planting seeds of love in my heart
I am planting seeds of love in my heart
And as they grow, I’ll take them everywhere I go
I am planting seeds of love in my heart

Other verses feature planting seeds of Peace, seeds of Song. 

Chorus:
And as they grow
They overflow
In every part
Of my heart
Heart to heart
Friend to friend

Pam Donkin suggests adapting this song for children to sing the song directly to their parents by singing "YOU are planting seed of love in my heart"
See her adaptation HERE.

This song lends itself to using American Sign Language. There are video dictionaries online to help choreograph this. I recommend keeping it VERY simple.
Here's "Love" from ASLpro.com
Here's "Grow" from signingsavvy.com

PDF of complete lyrics