No Smoke

by Teresa Jennings

We have offered a number of teaching songs over the years to help students make wise choices in their lives. We hope that this one also helps.

The song pretty much speaks for itself. The recording is essential for the style to have the impact on the students you are looking for. We have gone to great lengths to make it contemporary and appealing. The message is obvious and worthy of discussion in and out of the music classroom. Once again, bringing the subject across the curriculum is something we highly recommend you do.

On the recording, you will note that there are electronic claps on beats two and four beginning at measure 5. You can have your students join in here, if you wish. Or you could have them start clapping at measure 13 during the instrumental interlude. Leave them in or have them come and go as you see fit.

We don't think you will have to tell your students to move during this song. Just let them know it's okay to do so, and you will probably have them offering movement suggestions right away. This style (hip-hop) is quite comfortable to most young people these days.

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.