The other day I remembered another song that was conceived at an unusual location. One summer, my husband drove me and our little children from LA to Utah for us to spend time with my parents while he tore apart our house. He had the idea that he could do some major remodeling better if we were not underfoot all the time. So, instead, we spent the summer getting underfoot at Grandma's house.
I tried to help the situation by taking the five kids out to play as often as possible. We had sort of a routine, especially preparing for bedtime. After dinner, I would take the kids to the park across the street and let them run, swing, climb and generally wear themselves out so that they would sleep better through the night. Their favorite activity was playing at the sandbox. Seems like we spent an eternity at that SANDBOX.
While they dug in that sand, the kids were well engaged and did not need much supervision. I found my mind pondering the big project I had looming before me when school started in the fall. I was to direct the Holiday Concert at the elementary school. The first order of business was to come up with a good THEME. For me, that meant finding a good THEME SONG.
As I went through lists of songs in my mind while my kids were playing, I just wasn't remembering the kind of song that would fit the bill. (I had already done several Holiday Concerts at that school and needed a theme that would stand out from the previous shows.) Well, watching the kids playing gave me an idea. Soon, the inspiration flowed and I was able to get words and ideas to coalesce into something interesting.
Under the Christmas Tree - YouTube video of music
I tried to help the situation by taking the five kids out to play as often as possible. We had sort of a routine, especially preparing for bedtime. After dinner, I would take the kids to the park across the street and let them run, swing, climb and generally wear themselves out so that they would sleep better through the night. Their favorite activity was playing at the sandbox. Seems like we spent an eternity at that SANDBOX.
While they dug in that sand, the kids were well engaged and did not need much supervision. I found my mind pondering the big project I had looming before me when school started in the fall. I was to direct the Holiday Concert at the elementary school. The first order of business was to come up with a good THEME. For me, that meant finding a good THEME SONG.
As I went through lists of songs in my mind while my kids were playing, I just wasn't remembering the kind of song that would fit the bill. (I had already done several Holiday Concerts at that school and needed a theme that would stand out from the previous shows.) Well, watching the kids playing gave me an idea. Soon, the inspiration flowed and I was able to get words and ideas to coalesce into something interesting.
Under the Christmas Tree - YouTube video of music
The hard part for me was to remember all of the ideas long enough to get home and write them down. But, thankfully, I did and my new theme song was born. Under the Christmas Tree - sheet music became a partner song for a 2-part Children's Chorus. Over the years, it has been performed in some pretty far-flung places throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and even Indonesia. (Do they have Christmas Trees in the tropics?)
Who would have guessed that a little song that started in a sandbox in Provo, Utah would travel across the world?!
Who would have guessed that a little song that started in a sandbox in Provo, Utah would travel across the world?!
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