by Teresa Jennings

Our mail has been full of stories (and even a few wonderful videos) that show the power and emotion that this song can bring forth. While it was written long before the 9-11 tragedy, this beautiful song arrived in our magazine just as that terrible month ended. Teachers and their students took it to heart, and it became a prominent feature in thousands of concerts across the country. The message is so sweet, so simple, and yet, so profound.

It starts with a poignant solo that is well-suited for a young soloist, and builds to a chorus that features an optional antiphonal 2-part section. The kit includes a superb recording and illustrated instructions to help you teach the optional sign language for the chorus of the song. (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 2)

This kit is available in electronic format, for download to your computer. These files are quite large and may take a long time to download. Users with a dial-up modem will have difficulty: A high-speed Internet connection is highly recommended. When you expand the compressed file, it will include two MP3s (one full-performance and one accompaniment only version) and a printable PDF of the written music. Questions? Visit the Download Help page (opens in a new window)

The Convenience Combo Kit includes both the Kit with CD and the Downloadable Kit.

Sound clips are available on MusicK8.com