Trying to get a last-minute group of inexperienced carolers together for the holidays? We’ve chosen the perfect package of carols with easy starting pitches and exciting group splits, plus they’re already “dummy-tested” (by us, of course). So, grab a pitch pipe, split your friends in two groups, print/hand out this blog and follow these easy instructions! Need a printable version?Download here! Tips for Success Every pitch the director gives you is your starting note (except We Wish You a Merry Christmas). The director will lead you in every time. Watch the director at the ends of every song. Most likely, the last line of each song will be slowed down. Group 1 and 2 are split, so make sure you know which group you belong to. Smile – interact with the kids if they are there! Have fun! Jingle Bells PITCH: A TENOR/BARITONE/BASS: Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go Laughing all the way ALTOS/SOPRANOS: Bells on bob tails ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to laugh and sing A sleighing song tonight EVERYONE: Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh (Shouting) Hey! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh TENOR/BARITONE/BASS: A day or two ago, I thought I’d take a ride And soon Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot He got into a drifted bank And then we got upshot EVERYONE: Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way Oh, what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer PITCH: C Everyone, except when otherwise indicated: Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer Group 2: (Reindeer echo) Had a very shiny nose And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows All of the other reindeer Group 2: (Reindeer echo) Used to laugh and call him names They never let poor Rudolph Group 2: (Reindeer echo) Join in any reindeer games Group 1: Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say, Group 2: “Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee, Group 2: (Shouting) YIPPEE! “Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!” Deck the Hall PITCH: G Group 1: Deck the hall with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Group 2: ‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Everyone: Don we now our gay apparel, fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la. Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la. Group 1: (Quietly) See the blazing Yule before us, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Group 2: (Loudly) Strike the harp and join the chorus, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Everyone: Follow me in merry measure, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la While I tell of Yule-tide treasure, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Group 1: Fast away the old year passes, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Group 2: Hail the new year, lads and lasses, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Everyone: Sing we joyous, all together, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la heedless of the wind and weather, (Slowing down) Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Frosty the Snowman PITCH: D EVERYONE: Frosty the snowman Was a jolly happy soul With a corncob pipe and a button nose And two eyes made out of coal Frosty the snowman Is a fairy tale, they say He was made of snow but the children know How he came to life one day (Softly, then growing louder) There must have been some magic In that old silk hat they found For when they placed it on his head He began to dance around (Loudly) O, Frosty the snowman Was alive as he could be And the children say he could laugh and play Just the same as you and me Let It Snow PITCH: G EVERYONE: Oh, the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so delightful And since we’ve no place to go Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow It doesn’t show signs of stopping And I brought some corn for popping The lights are turned way down low Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow When we finally say good night How I’ll hate going out in the storm But if you really hold me tight All the way home I’ll be warm The fire is slowly dying And, my dear, we’re still good-bye-ing But as long as you love me so Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow Jingle Bell Rock PITCH: A EVERYONE: Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun Now the jingle hop has begun Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square In the frosty air Group 1: What a bright time It’s the right time To rock the night away Group 2: Jingle bell time is a swell time To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh EVERYONE: Giddy-up, jingle horse Pick up your feet Jingle around the clock Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet Group 1: That’s the jingle bell Group 2: That’s the jingle bell EVERYONE: That’s the jingle bell rock! Winter Wonderland PITCH: C# EVERYONE: Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening A beautiful sight We’re happy tonight Walking in a winter wonderland Gone away is the bluebird Here to stay is a new bird He sings a love song, as we go along Walking in a winter wonderland In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown He’ll say: Are you married? We’ll say: No man, But you can do the job when you’re in town Later on, we’ll conspire, as we dream by the fire To face unafraid, the plans that we’ve made Walking in a winter wonderland Walking in a winter wonderland Walking in a winter wonderland Silver Bells PITCH: F Group 1: City sidewalk Busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas. Group 2: Children laughing People passing Meeting smile after smile And on every street corner you’ll hear EVERYONE: Silver bells Group 2: (Echoing) Silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city EVERYONE: Ring-a-ling Group 2: (Echoing) Hear them ring, soon it will be Christmas day Group 1: City street lights, even stop lights Blink a bright red and green As the shoppers rush home with their treasures Group 2: Hear the snow crunch See the kids bunch This is Santa’s big scene And above all this bustle you’ll hear EVERYONE: Silver bells Group 2: (Echoing) Silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city EVERYONE: Ring-a-ling Group 2: (Echoing) Hear them ring, soon it will be Christmas day (Slowing down) Soon it will be Christmas day Up on the Housetop PITCH: F EVERYONE: Up on the housetop, reindeer pause, Out jumps good old Santa Claus Down thru’ the chimney with lots of toys, All for the little ones, Christmas joys Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go! Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go! Up on the housetop, click, click, click Down thru’ the chimney with good Saint Nick First comes the stocking of little Nell, Oh, dear Santa fill it well Give her a dolly that laughs and cries One that will open and shut her eyes. Ho, ho, ho!Who wouldn’t go! Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go! Up on the housetop, click, click, click Down thru’ the chimney with good Saint Nick Next comes the stocking of little Will, Oh just see what a glorious fill Here is a hammer and lots of tacks, Also a ball and a whip that cracks Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go! Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go! Up on the housetop, click, click, click Down thru’ the chimney with good Saint Nick Santa Claus is Coming To Town PITCH: D EVERYONE: You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town He’s making a list Checking it twice Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice Santa Claus is coming to town He sees you when you’re sleeping He knows when you’re awake He knows if you’ve been bad or good So be good for goodness’ sake! O! You better watch out! You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town He’s making a list and checking it twice Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice Santa Claus is coming to town He sees you when you’re sleeping He knows when you’re awake He knows if you’ve been bad or good So be good for goodness’ sake! O! You better watch out! You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town We Wish You a Merry Christmas PITCH: Blow F (Start a fifth down on C) EVERYONE: We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin Glad tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year! We all want some figgy pudding We all want some figgy pudding We all want some figgy pudding So bring it right here! Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin Glad tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year! We won’t go until we get some We won’t go until we get some We won’t go until we get some So bring it out here! Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin Glad tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year! We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a (slower) happy New Year Thanks for reading! Here’s a video from our successful and spontaneous caroling adventure—our first “En-choir” performance, if you will: Tis the season! ☃ Happy Holidays from @acistours and @encoretours A video posted by ACIS Educational Tours (@acistours) on Dec 17, 2015 at 9:29am PST
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