5th Grade Choir - I Feel Like Fa La La
Music K8
December 2018
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases the contemporary Christmas children's song
"I Feel Like Fa La La La" by Teresa Jennings.
This post also presents information about Teresa Jennings.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, educational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Teresa Jennings for this song and thanks to all those who are featured in these YouTube videos. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
Thanks also to Mrs. Dougan, the vocal music teacher at Dilworth School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for including "I Feel Like Fa La La La" in that elementary school's 2024 Winter Concert. That is how I learned about this song.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPOSER OF THIS SONG
From https://milwaukeechildrenschoir.org/moxie-bios/ Notes from
Associate Director Corynn Nordstrom
Teresa Jennings
“I Love My Mom”
Who has more Moxie than our moms? Teresa Jennings, composer
of I Love My Mom, is a musician, conductor, composer, and co-owner of Plank
Road Publishing Company located in Wauwatosa, WI. She is most interested in
writing music for children to sing, and her extensive work with jazz and rock
has helped her develop a unique style. Beyond her wide vocabulary of musical
styles, Teresa fills her music with emotion and strong values. Aside from
running the business and writing music, Teresa also produces her own
recordings. Her songs are now enjoyed by
young singers all over the world."
-snip-
Teresa Jennings is a White American composer. "I Feel Like Fa La La la" is showcased on pancocojams because it is a holiday song that can be sung by people regardless of their race or ethnicity. Also, the body percussion that is often performed with this song reminds me of the African American tradition of patting juba (doing hambone).
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/10/pattin-juba-hambone-and-bo-diddley-beat.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Pattin Juba, Hambone, And The Bo Diddley Beat".
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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
Quote #1
From https://www.musick8.com/html/current_tune.php?numbering=142&songorder=4: I Feel Like Fa La La La by Teresa Jennings Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine. Volume 29, Number 2
"This tune is exciting, challenging, musical, and really fun to perform! We hope that when you play it for your students, you turn it nice and loud so they get the full impact and joy of it. The subject of the song is feeling, specifically the feeling we get during "that time of year." The words offer a sense of familiarity and tradition which gives you the flexibility to use it for Christmas, holidays, or seasonal performances, as you need.
While it is written as a 2-part piece, there is an optional part 3 that comes in and out that adds a wonderful enhancement. If you wish to use it and are not quite able with your regular crew, consider asking other students, friends, parents, teachers, or whoever to come and join you to cover it. Make it a solo, duet, or small group if you want.
The energy of the tune comes not just from the voices, but from the rhythm. There is body percussion that is indicated on the music that really makes it even more electrifying when it's all put together. If you find this too difficult (or too easy), you can certainly alter it to work more appropriately with your students. The way we bring it in at measure 17 (while there is no singing) is actually written out in two parts. The two dovetail to form a very cool groove which continues once singing resumes. This is going to keep them on their toes for sure! If it's too much, again you could alter it, or you could assign the body percussion to a select group to perform while others do the singing. Note that it stops entirely during the section starting at measure 34 where everything – voices and accompaniment – goes "high." Really striking!
Learning the form of the tune is part of the challenge. The music has a number of indications, such as "sing 2nd & 4th times," which need to be noticed first, then applied. Repeats, endings, a D.S., a coda, not to mention the melodies, rhythms, and oh yeah, that body percussion – lots to pay attention to. Conquering this one will be very satisfying.
To be sure you have the tools you need to teach the parts, we have isolated them and put them on our web site for free download. But also because we thought it was just so much fun, we created an a cappella version of the song as well. As much as we enjoy the supremely tasteful accompaniment, we can see where kids would dig doing this without accompaniment, too. Whatever works!
-snip-
The earliest year that I've found for Teresa Jennings' song "I Feel Like Fa La La La" is 2018. Was this the year that this song was first released? If you know this information, please share it in the comment section below. Thanks!
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Quote #2
From https://www.jwpepper.com/I-Feel-Like-Fa-La-La-La/11372563.item?srsltid=AfmBOooLKH6CKJOL36tTyCXoYPmOs2yVRsCzCXBsoDDVoH2vuxivwMAP
"I Feel Like Fa La La La
Teresa Jennings - Plank Road Publishing
Editors Choice Selection
This Latin pop-style tune is exciting and really fun to
perform! With lyrics about the joyful feeling we get during "that time of
year," the energy of the song comes out through the voices and rhythms.
The addition of the notated body percussion makes it even more fun for singers
and audiences!"
-snip-
Click https://musescore.com/user/53128731/scores/8827869 for the musical score to Teresa Jennings' song "I Feel Like Fa La La La"
Also, click https://centerstreetelementarymusic.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/8/7/22879254/i_feel_like_fa_la_la_la_lyrics.pdf for the lyrics with body percussion directions for the song "I Feel Like Fa La La La" by Teresa Jennings
ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - I Feel Like a Fa La La- San Diego Children's Choir- Winter Concert 2022
San Diego Children's Choir, Dec 20, 2022
I Feel Like a Fa La La
San Diego Children's Choir - 33rd Annual Winter - December 3, 2022
Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center
Director: Marielena Teng
Accompanist: Abby Greathouse
Written by Teresa Jennings (b. 1956)
Featuring Intermediate Choir
****SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - SMS Winter Choir Concert 2022 "I Feel Like Fa La La " (7th & 8th Girls)
Jill Bisbee,
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