Here’s a song written for junior schools to sing after a long holiday or any enforced break. The resources include the lyrics, vocal demo track, vocal score with chords and backing track. If you want anything else such as a different key or parts for instruments just let me know - unusually I have time on my hands! Written in a jazz gospel style with parts for all year groups and lots of opportunities for clapping waving, smiling high fives (real or distanced!) - even the teachers get a mention. If you want to celebrate getting back to school, whether it’s after a holiday or a global pandemic - here’s your song! Totally free - but if you want to support me in writing more material please check out my other stuff!

Get the kids singing at home! There are two You Tube videos - one with a demo vocal and a 1940’s ‘karaoke’ version. Just make an Anderson shelter with a couple of chairs and a duvet and have an air raid sing song whilst your Woolton pie bakes in the oven. Ideal if you are tackling WW2 in your curriculum - also good if you want to get the youngsters sing at home - preferably with the whole family! Get in touch if you need more stuff - I have a whole career’s worth in the cupboard doing nothing!

Dickens novella ‘A Christmas Carol’ has never looked like this before. This is a full length musical featuring ‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, a talent show host/entrepreneur who is ripping off the NHS choir for the Christmas number one slot. There are dozens of speaking parts, only one large part and 22 really catchy and singable songs - please check them out. All songs can be adapted by consulting the composer. I have band parts for most songs - provided on request. I have scores for many of the songs - provided on request. Backing tracks provided - keys can be adjusted. Here’s a synopsis: Act One – One hour – 13 songs Song 1 - ‘A Christmas welcome’ sung by the whole company in ‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, TV talent guru and showbiz entrepreneur is hassled by the NHS choir who are seeking a Christmas No. 1. He kicks them out whilst resolving to steal their catchy tune. He instructs his intern, the talented but diffident ‘Crotchet’, to rework the song. Squeezer is then accosted by Rob and Squidge hilariously seeking accommodation for the homeless – they get the brush off. Enter Squeezer’s Nephew, I.T. techie Archie and his girlfriend Erin, a social worker. They invite him to Christmas lunch. Scrooge reckons that they are trying to get into his will. Meanwhile Cratchit is spending time reworking the NHS song. Squeezer Scrooge listens to the ‘official’ lyrics to the NHS rip off – loves it and authorises it for release. He calls for the first auditionee to be sent in for his new talent show. Enter his old partner Marley (dead seven years ago) who he supplanted to run the company. Marley warns him that he will meet three ghosts…. Ghosts of Christmas Past arrive. Imagine The Supremes meet Bananarama. They take Squeezer on a tour of his past misdemeanours, his school, his first place of work, his first girlfriend (Ruby), his first love (cash) and his cruel exploitation of no hopers with ‘a dream’. Act One ends with all cast members reviewing his past. Will Squeezer repent? Act 2 – 50 minutes – 10 songs Squeezer reflects on his past– and decides he’s OK. Enter Christmas Present – a lot like Ariana Grande… They visit The Cratchit family, highlighting the plight of Tiny Tina who is being treated by the NHS Doctor – expensive private treatment is out of the question. They then visit Archie and Erin’s Christmas Karaoke Party where they are lampooning Scrooge. Christmas future takes Scrooge to a car boot sale where many of his possessions are on sale. He also sees his old girlfriend who cherishes the memory of what he was Back in the audition room Squeezer resolves to change his ways. He gets a Santa Suit. He meets the NHS choir and bestows the royalties that are rightfully theirs, he gives Cratchit the performing rights to his songs, he creates a Red Nose endowment, pays for Tiny Tina’s treatment and makes his peace with Archie, Erin and Ruby Epilogue – as snow falls he sings an uplifting version of Cratchit’s Christmas Carol with Tiny Tina.

Cratchit’s Christmas Carol is a modern take of the famous CHARLES DICKENS novella. This version is inspired by Dickens and a certain talent show host with high waisted trousers. Please check out the songs and the script via the website link. Written with teenagers in mind. ALL SONGS CAN BE HEARD HERE: https://musicals4all.com/cratchets-christmas-carol/ Password: Bowker Act One – One hour – 13 songs ‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, TV talent guru and showbiz entrepreneur is hassled by the NHS choir who are seeking a Christmas No. 1. He kicks them out whilst resolving to steal their catchy tune. He instructs his intern, the talented but diffident ‘Crotchet’, to rework the song. Squeezer is then accosted by Rob and Squidge hilariously seeking accommodation for the homeless – they get the brush off. Enter Squeezer’s Nephew, I.T. techie Archie and his girlfriend Erin, a social worker. They invite him to Christmas lunch. Scrooge reckons that they are trying to get into his will. Meanwhile Cratchit is spending time reworking the NHS song. Squeezer Scrooge listens to the ‘official’ lyrics to the NHS rip off – loves it and authorises it for release. He calls for the first auditionee to be sent in for his new talent show. Enter his old partner Marley (dead seven years ago) who he supplanted to run the company. Marley warns him that he will meet three ghosts…. Ghosts of Christmas Past arrive. Imagine The Supremes meet Bananarama. They take Squeezer on a tour of his past misdemeanours, his school, his first place of work, his first girlfriend (Ruby), his first love (cash) and his cruel exploitation of no hopers with ‘a dream’. Act One ends with all cast members reviewing his past. Will Squeezer repent? Act 2 – 50 minutes – 10 songs Squeezer reflects on his past– and decides he’s OK. Enter Christmas Present – a lot like Ariana Grande… They visit The Cratchit family, highlighting the plight of Tiny Tina who is being treated by the NHS Doctor – expensive private treatment is out of the question. They then visit Archie and Erin’s Christmas Karaoke Party where they are lampooning Scrooge. Christmas future takes Scrooge to a car boot sale where many of his possessions are on sale. He also sees his old girlfriend who cherishes the memory of what he was Back in the audition room Squeezer resolves to change his ways. He gets a Santa Suit. He meets the NHS choir and bestows the royalties that are rightfully theirs, he gives Cratchit the performing rights to his songs, he creates a Red Nose endowment, pays for Tiny Tina’s treatment and makes his peace with Archie, Erin and Ruby Epilogue – as snow falls he sings an uplifting version of Cratchit’s Christmas Carol with Tiny Tina. This show really works. If you need a Christmas show or a way of getting pupils to consider DICKENS or the Christmas Carol novel please take the time to listen to the songs and read the script.

This is a concert version of ‘The Highwayman’ poem by Alfred Noyes. Music by John Gleadall Please go here for more information: https://musicals4all.com/the-highwayman/ In the UK copyright permission should be obtained from the society of authors. A full score is currently in production. The backing track is available on request. https://musicals4all.com/contact/ I played this music to Alfred Noyes daughter - she enjoyed it very much. I was delighted!

This is a full length, mostly sung through musical adaptation of the Alfred Noyes poem, ‘The Highwayman’ , written by Gleadall and Mosse. The show is written for a large cast, suitable for a high school show. The amount of musical material extends to 1.5Gb of music files so I will send this direct to anyone who buys the show. Copyright permission for a UK performance must be obtained from the society of authors. We have written in a back story for The Highwayman so I recommend you read the script and get in touch if you are interested. You can download the script and listen to demonstrations of some of the songs here: https://musicals4all.com/the-highwayman/ This show has been produced to great acclaim - it really works and totally respects the original work of Alfred Noyes. The entire poem is featured in the show and will soon be available as a sung through concert piece. I played ‘The Highwayman’ theme to Alfred Noyes’ daughter and she loved it! Very proud of this!!!

Written for Junior School Harvest assembly. OK so Cauliflowers are STILL fluffy but sometimes you have to ring the changes just to keep your sanity. This time I’ve added the ‘Reggae Reggae Harvest’ song to go along with the ‘Harvest Gospel’ and ‘Harvest Hoe Down’ - just to give some alternatives. This one is dead easy to sing and introduces the idea that all countries harvest their own crops and fruits and vegetables even though the produce may be very different to that which we see in shops where we live. Written in a reggae style this song references fruit and veg. you may find in Jamaica - so there is some fun to be had identifying the various foods named in the song - such as Callaloo, Johnny Cakes or Duckanoo. The last line of the chorus adds a ‘reggae’ lyric on every repeat, so we start off with ‘Reggae Reggae’ and end up with ’ Reggae, reggae, reggae, reggae, reggae’. Go to the You Tube demo to check the song out. Enjoy! If you need a vocal score, chords or piano score just let me know : kidzmusicals@icloud.com - I’ll try and add it soon anyway, but please ask - I can also change key or tempo - no charge.

This is Humpty Dumpty’s recitation set to a rather modern backing style. This would fit in with any module of working involving ‘Alice’ by Lewis Carroll. I’ve set all of the ‘Alice’ poems to music so let me know if there’s anything you are looking for.

The Mock Turtle’s Song from Alice In Wonderland, set to an unexpected tune - not a quadrille at all - but then the turtle was a mock turtle, so nothing is as expected! It’s a very infectious melody and this piece would fit in with any study or presentation of Lewis Carroll’s work. I’ve set all of his ‘Alice’ poems to music, so if you need anything just ask!

Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, set to music. Can be used to augment any drama or performing work, or as an introduction to any work on Alice. I’ve set all of Lewis Carroll’s poems to music, in as bizarre a way as possible - if you need music to any of his other work , let me know. It would be a great Performing Arts project for the pupils to devise their own presentation of the stories using the songs as a framework.

Here is the whole of ‘The Walrus and The Carpenter’ set to a bluesy jazzy piano style. This would make a great dance/drama/vocal centrepiece to any performing arts evening. It’s 8 minutes long so you could involve whole teams of performers. I’ve set 17 Lewis Carroll poems to music - watch out for others as I post them. If you need anything in particular, let me know - I think I’ve done all the poems in Alice and Through The Looking Glass.

This is simple to sing - yet extremely effective. This works from year 2 up to adult. It's a simple three part song with three melodies that all work together and finishes on a great three part chord - harmony by stealth! It makes a great start to any Christmas Concert - it just works. The Lyrics are: 1 Time is back again welcome back again Though it's been a year Since the music played seasons come and fade Now we're singing here - Christmas 2 Time is near The music's here - Christmas 3 Time is near, it's a year, we've been here Sing our song, it's so long. now we're here - Christmas And that's it! Your singers/class/choir/whole school will learn it in ten minutes. Get them to go to the youtube link and learn it at home. Get in touch if you have any questions or requests. musicals4kidz.com

Here's a KS1/2 Harvest song in a country style. It is written to have a line dance in the middle of it - you could do 'The Funky Cowboy' as demonstrated in the video, or get the children to create a 'Harvesting Line Dance' with digging and reaping actions. If you don't fancy the line dance, simply repeat a verse or write some lyrics of your own. There is a vocal demo, a backing track, a score and a set of lyrics.

This is a new song to start off the year, the term, the week or the day. It tells us that every day is a new beginning and offers a chance to help children reflect on the fact that they have an important choice to make every single day - how will they behave today? Will they make to most of the chances offered to them. It's a 'seize the day' song! The chorus of this song should be sung in three parts. I would have year 6 on the first part, year 5 on the send part and years 3 and four on the third part. It's very simple and ends on a three part chord. There is a vocal demo, an accompaniment track, lyrics and a score. It's in a really good fun western style complete with 'yee haa' at the end!

I asked the children to write their Christmas list - the stuff they really wanted this Christmas. I then asked them to pretend that they were one of the migrants displaced by war in the middle East - or they were a child in Paris (November 2015) and their Mum or big brother, or any close family member was involved in the terrorist attack. I then asked them to write another Christmas list. Suddenly the iPads and other consumer products were missing from the list. Here's what we came up with: Christmas is a window on a world of love and peace An annual reminder we want war and hate to cease We’d like to have a future of happiness and love We’d like to show the world the meaning of Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Open up the window and we’re sure that you will see The world is full of children who are just like you and me We only want a future and we can show the way We want the Christmas feeling everyday Christmas - A time of love and peace Christmas - A time for war to cease Christmas - Why can’t we live this way Christmas - Live Christmas everyday Just look through the window and we’re sure you will agree The greatest gift at Christmas is a loving family So families come together, unite in every land And we will make the people understand Christmas - A time of love and peace Christmas - A time for war to cease Christmas - Why can’t we live this way Christmas - Live Christmas everyday

A light hearted tongue twisting Inn Keepers song telling Mary and Joseph that they are booked solid - it’s Christmas for goodness sake! Alternative piano parts and vocal score now included in 4/4 and 6/8 time - it swings a lot! Piano part is quite complex - I can compose for piano but scoring is a whole different skill! Get in touch if you need more. Full demo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aY9FtXgQR0 Contact me at musicals4kidz@icloud.com John Gleadall YOU DIDN’T BOOK IT IN ADVANCE AND NOW YOU HAVEN’T GOT A CHANCE AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WISER IF YOU LOOKED ON TRIP ADVISER ’COS WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY YOUR CHANCES ARE QUITE SLIM ’COS WE’RE FULL UP TO THE BRIM SO YOU’D BETTER KEEP ON LOOKING ’COS WE’VE TAKEN EVERY BOOKING YOU’VE REALLY GOT A MISSION TAKE A LOOK AT HER CONDITION AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY! YOU MUST BE OFF YOUR ROCKER ’COS WE’RE ABSOLUTELY CHOCKER AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY YOU MIGHT THINK THAT IT’S SENSELESS IT’S BECAUSE OF CAESAR’S CENSUS BUT WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY YOU REALLY SHOULD BE GOING CAUSE WE’RE FULL TO OVERFLOWING NOW WE’RE ABSOLUTELY CRAMMED EVERY ROOM IS SIMPLY JAMMED AND YOU REALLY OUGHT TO KNOW THAT WE’VE BEEN SLEEPING HEAD TO TOE AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY! ARE YOU REALLY OFF YOUR HEAD, WE’RE PUTTING SEVEN IN A BED AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY NOW YOU’LL HAVE TO STAY OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE’RE FULLY OCCUPIED AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY YOU REALLY SHOULD REMEMBER THIS IS BETHL’HEM IN DECEMBER JUST CROSS US OF THE LIST COS IT’S THIS BUSY EVERY CHRISTMAS IF YOU REALLY WANT THE TRUTH WE’RE EVEN SLEEPING ON THE ROOF AND WE’VE GOT NO ROOM TODAY – I REALLY MEAN IT GOT NO ROOM TODAY!

A song written as a songwriting project with year 5 children. Every child in year five wrote a couple of lines using a vocabulary and ideas bank we created through discussion. Then every child sang their own (or somebody else’s ) short phrase. I edited and glued it all together with accompaniment. You could add your own lyrics - if you would like to change the structure by adding another verse or middle 8 let me know and I will change the music for you. This is now an assembly song at my school - I think it’s lovely! The demo is sung by the children who wrote it. Get in touch with me, John Gleadall, if you have any queries: kidzmusicals@icloud.com

This song has a beautiful, simple melody with lyrics which vary only in the gift - so basically the same (easy to learn) verse sung three times, each verse highlighting the gift brought by that King. There is a short musical interlude to allow the Kings to present the gift before the next verse is sung. This is from 'Nanny's Nativity' John Gleadall kidzmusicals@icloud.com

A dialogue in song between the Innkeeper and Mary and Joseph. There is a very simple one finger ukulele part (chord windows shown on the score). If anyone requests it I'll post a video on You Tube showing how to play it. The main feature is the grumpy Innkeeper who counterpoints the gentle melody with sharp ripostes - until the end of the song - but you know how it ends...... Ask for more information if required. This song is from 'Nanny's Nativity' John Gleadall kidzmusicals@icloud.com