This month is jam-packed with great reasons to celebrate - from May Day with morris bells to Cinco De Mayo celebrations, from National Teacher’s Day to Mother’s Day musical fun as well.

If you live where the weather’s been cold, you can understand why there are so many traditions like Morris dancing that get crowds of people outside to celebrate a new season once the weather warms up. Here’s an easy craft to make your own morris-style bells so you can move and groove and usher in the Spring!
Easy Morris Dancing Bells for Kids

These colorful shaker eggs are a wonderful addition to any home, homeschool or classroom music area!
Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated widely within Mexico? A friend of mine wrote a wonderful article called: Celebrating Cinco de Mayo Beyond Donkeys and Sombreros. The point to this post was digging a bit deeper into Mexican culture and going beyond the stereotypes. Want to learn more about the rich and diverse culture of this country? Here are some great ways to explore with kids:
Domitila - A Mexican Cinderella Story
All About Bate Bate Chocolate
And Making Mexican Hot Chocolate
All About La Bamba
One of the most popular songs from Mexico is La Bamba. Did you know that La Bamba was originally a dance done at weddings? You can learn more about this favorite Mexican song here:
La Bamba - Downloadable Lyrics

May 7th is National Teachers Day in the USA. This month’s free download is a special song dedicated to anyone who teaches or inspires children. Hopefully every child and every adult knows someone like this – they encourage you when times are tough and inspire you to keep going until you succeed! If there’s a teacher who deserves your thanks, pass along this song or take the time to tell her (or him) how much they mean to you!

I just love this song about mothers from South Africa. It’s in Zulu and English and can be a great way of showing how mothers everywhere have a special role in their child’s lives and in their hearts as well!

Made from a dried cactus, this beautiful rainstick is a fair trade item crafted in Chile!
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Our second free download this month is a song from the Andes called “Alturas” from DARIA’s latest cd, Cancioncitas De Los Andes/Little Songs Of The Andes. You can hear the rainstick throughout the song as well as the zampoñas or charango that you can color below!
Cancioncitas De Los Andes/Little Songs of the Andes - on iTunes
Cancioncitas De Los Andes/Little Songs of the Andes - on Amazon

We’ve added some new coloring pages so you can create colorful versions of your favorite instruments here. Check it out:
The Andes - Charango Coloring Page
Russia - Balalaika Coloring Page
Spain or South America - Guitar Coloring Page
Australia - Didgeridoo Coloring Page
The Andes - Zampoñas Coloring Page
Native America - Pow-Wow Drum Coloring Page
Appalachia (USA) - Dulcimer Coloring Page

I’m celebrating World Fair Trade Day at my local Ten Thousand Village Store. I’ll be busy demonstrating all the great instruments they offer that have been crafted and created “fair trade” from artisans around the world. Buying “fair trade” is a great way to show your support for the dignity and capacity of all peoples, no matter who they are and where they live!
10 Inspiring Principles of fair trade
10,000 Village Store where DARIA will be
All About 10,000 Villages - A Fair Trade Store
My Youtube channel has just passed half a million views! Thanks for making this channel a great online destination for educators and families who want to share global culture!
UNTIL NEXT TIME,
Have a happy, magical musical month!
Peace, Love and Music,
DARIA
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La Bamba

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Here Come Our Mothers

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Beautiful Rainbow World

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