Dr. Emily AronoffThanks to the internet, we have unlimited access to books, blogs, and videos teaching us how to parent, as well as dozens of curricula to utilize when teaching Hebrew or Torah. However, there is a severe lack of resources for teaching Jewish children through music.
When it comes to songleading for kiddos, it can be challenging to know what to do because there are very few reputable resources. If you can get to Hava Nashira or Songleader Boot Camp, great! But if you want to improve your skills within your own time and space, I’ve created Songleading for Kiddos just for you!
Too many excellent songleaders are struggling
Designing and leading engaging services with children is difficult. Songleaders should have access to the resources to learn the basics of childhood development and key educational principles to optimize their own time and the children’s. It is frustrating to know that just a few basic principles could totally shift their ability to songlead for kiddos.
Woefully, much of Jewish education has a well-deserved bad reputation. Our communal bar is rising, but under-resourced educators in struggling institutions can’t provide optimal education to everyone.
This isn’t a secret, and the good news is that I work with folks every day who are developing their educational capacities. Songleading for Kiddos is my contribution to the available resources for educators to increase their competence and improve our collective reputation.
I’ve been songleading since I was a kiddo myself
My first gig was at the MJCC in ATL when I was 15. I listened to the “Songs NFTY Sings” five-disc set on repeat, asked to be sent to Hava Nashira as my high school graduation present, and attended diverse synagogue services for fun.
I earned a B.A. in Jewish Studies, an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in music, and an Ed.D. in Jewish Education. After I graduated, I started teaching courses at Gratz College in their M.Ed. program.
I worked at The University of Miami’s School of Learning and Human Development for seven years. I was the founding director of a Jewish educational resource database, Jewish Learning Matters (which unfortunately lost funding during the pandemic). I also ran the NEXT program, Gratz college’s professional development program for Jewish educators, then worked as the Director of Online Learning for Gratz Academy.
For over a decade, I made my living by working multiple part-time jobs. I taught religious school music, worked as a music specialist in Jewish early childhood and day school environments, songlead at camps, and traveled to perform in concerts. I have written and recorded five albums of children’s music (Miss Emily on Spotify).
At one point, my vision for my life included a dream of being on the faculty at a seminary. I don’t know that it is anymore, as I am not sure that this position would allow me to have a significant impact on rabbis and cantors. I later realized I could reach the leaders of Tot Shabbat services and other folks who work to engage little ones without relying on an institution.
Compulsive research comes naturally to me. I have realized that not everyone loves the constant search for helpful resources and would prefer a more direct and targeted approach, so I created one for you!
I want to support those who nurture the next generation
When I started my career as a camp and school songleader, I used my community and classroom as a laboratory. As a true lover of Jewish music and a hardcore nerd, I was constantly researching and experimenting. I started presenting what I was learning at workshops at NewCAJE, URJ Biennial, and the PJ Library Conference, and soon realized that I love the Jewish conference circuit (which I look forward to re-joining). I recognized my affinity for facilitating professional development, which strongly impacted my choice to continue grad school.
At one point, my vision for my life included a dream of being on the faculty at a seminary. I don’t know that it is anymore, as I am not sure that this position would allow me to have a significant impact on rabbis and cantors. I later realized I could reach the leaders of Tot Shabbat services and other folks who work to engage little ones without relying on an institution.
This is why I have put my heart and soul into designing an online course for those seeking to nurture spiritual growth in the next generation through song. I want to support songleaders so they can become confident, competent educators who know how to design, lead, and evaluate song sessions for kiddos. Songleaders should be able to strategically support the holistic development of their learners, and I am here to help.
Songleading for Kiddos is a 9-module course you can take wherever and whenever you want
I’ve spent years cultivating my ability to communicate online and design digital learning experiences, and now I want to use what I learned to benefit my fellow songleaders. This course offers solutions to the most common problems I faced in my work with Rabbis and Jewish educators.
As part of my doctoral research, I interviewed hundreds and interviewed dozens of “Tot Shabbat” leaders and experts. In addition to traveling to lead services and singalongs, I started to offer consulting packages to my clients. (P.S. If you aren’t into songleading but are passionate about early Jewish education, a free consultation may be just what you are looking for!)
As I worked with rabbis, cantors, and songleaders, these ongoing relationships allowed me to deeply understand the needs of my clients. I started to discover patterns.
I whittled down the most relevant bits of data and created this course to support those who nurture spiritual growth in the next generation through song. Over two decades of knowledge and experience are crammed into the Songleading for Kiddos course. This course is a collection of the insights I’ve gained through teaching and learning with kids and families in synagogues, community centers, and schools.
I am so grateful for all of the folks who have shared their songs and stories with me so that I could reach this day. Thank you.
If you songlead for kiddos, I’m hopeful you are ready to rock and start learning today.
PS: Join now to get 50% off the course during our launch week!
