Just when you think you've gotten a good grip on all of basics
of teaching and singing songs with your troop, one more question pops into your head. Take a look here to see
if another leader has been asking that question as well!
"I want my girls to enjoy singing, except that I don't sing. What can I do?"
Guess what? Except for maybe a few really picky girls, your girls don't care whether you warble offkey or
have perfect pitch. They just want to sing. If you are enjoying yourself, they will enjoy themselves. Most campfire
songs are more chants than actual tunes, and many more are derived from songs everyone knows. For example, "Softly
Falls" is to the tune of "O Christmas Tree". Start with the easier songs, and as your confidence grows, so will
your girls'.
"I can never remember the songs. Where can I buy a tape or CD?"
Copyright issues can make it very difficult to get songs on CD or tape, especially if they are actual Girl Scout
songs. If you want to purchase a CD that contains these songs, call your Council. I know Montachusett has recorded a tape
in the past. You can also purchase the Girl Scouts Greatest Hits series online at Girl Scout Music.
Melinda Caroll is the same women who wrote "Change the World" and "Growing Strong". These CDs and tapes are great because the
entire second half is sing-a-long style with just the background music.
"I know some songs, and I've been online looking for songs, where else can I learn new songs?"
Does your town or association offer any song sessions? Sometimes troops or groups will gather for the night to
offer a session of singing for younger Girl Scouts. Besides teaching new songs, they might revisit some old ones.
This is a great service project for older girls to do, as well as a great opportunity for you to bring along your tape
recorder and learn exactly how those songs go.
"I'd love to teach my girls new songs. Who can help me?"
If you want help teaching songs, you don't have to look any farther than your own town or association.
Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts are fabulous resources for teaching new songs. Girls who are a Program Aide (PA) or a
Counselor-in-Training (CIT) are more than willing to share their knoweledge with a group of younger girls. That is part of
what they have been trained to do. If you have a CIT in your town from CGE, that is their main job all summer - be ready to
sing at any occasion. You have help teaching new songs, they earn some service hours, and your girls have a lot of fun. It is
a winning situation for everyone involved.
"Can I keep a file of songs for my own use without breaking any copyright laws?"
Yes. As long as you do not sell this file to anyone else, there is no issues with you keeping a file of
songs for your own personal use, or for troop use. It is a great way to remember songs for all occasions - from
Girl Scout events to campfires, a song file can have tons of great songs in it. For more information on copyright laws,
visit the GSUSA site.
