Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe – Hits by Andrew Bond with PORTA gestures.
The well-known Swiss children’s songwriter
Andrew Bond
recently published his new songbook “Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe”. It is the first children’s songbook with gestures. It was specially developed to provide a more active musical experience for children who cannot read music or words and do not primarily communicate verbally.
Integration of gestures in children’s songbooks
The songbook “Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe” by Andrew Bond offers an innovative addition to traditional children’s songbooks. By using gestures in the lyrics, the children can not only actively sing along, but also interpret and understand the music with their hands. Signing gives children the opportunity to connect with music and develop their ability to express themselves.
Back in 2017, Andrew Bond released “En Tag im Läbe vom Anders Andersson”, an album for special children. Even then, his publisher wanted to add signs to the songbook. However, at that time various sign language collections were in use in special education schools in German-speaking Switzerland. It was not practicable to give preference to one of these collections.
In the meantime, the “Tanne – Schweizerische Stiftung für das Hörsehbehindertenwesen” (especially Angela Camenisch, also Mirko Baur) and Anita Portmann have developed the “Porta – Gebärdensammlung”, which standardizes the previous collections for a large basic vocabulary and offers a connection to spoken language and sign language. Now there is finally a songbook that everyone can use.
Inclusion and accessibility
The songbook “Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe” contains Andrew Bond’s 30 most popular songs in curative education institutions. First as a sheet of music and then as a text version with the corresponding PORTA gestures for the key words.
This has a significant role to play in terms of inclusion and accessibility. The integration of sign language also enables hearing-impaired children to take part in the musical experience. The visual component of signing makes the songs accessible to them and creates an inclusive environment where all children can sing together and feel connected.
Here and there, the body’s own hand signals and actions are used, such as clapping or jumping. Some signs have been adopted from Swiss German Sign Language and illustrated in PORTA style.
So we printed the song booklet "Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe":
- Paper cover: 300 g/m², coated, bright white matt FSC
- Paper content pages: 120 g/m², offset, bright white matt FSC
- Scope: cover page, 96 pages of content, 1 final page
- Format 210 x 297 mm
- Offset printing: cover/end sheet 4-color on both sides; content 2-color on both sides
- Finishing: cut to size, collate cover sheet, contents and end sheet, punch on the long side, bind with Wiro (white), pack, label on the front side
Parents and teachers benefit
Not only children, but also parents and teachers benefit from this unique approach. The songbook “Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe” is a valuable resource for parents who want to teach their children musical and language skills in a playful way. Teachers can use it as a tool to make lessons more lively and interactive. The combination of music and signing creates an enriching learning experience for everyone involved.
Conclusion:
“Jetzt isch Ziit zum Singe” is a unique children’s songbook that opens up the world of music through sign language. It offers children the opportunity to actively participate in singing, improve their understanding and develop their creative and motor skills. This innovative concept supports both the language development and inclusion of hearing-impaired children. Andrew Bond has created a valuable resource with this singing booklet that inspires children, parents and teachers alike. “It’s time to sing and sign – Now is the time to sing”!
Zimetschtern han i gern – 25 years of Andrew Bond
And another milestone with Andrew Bond: we are printing the 14th edition of the well-known songbook.
So we have printed the 14th edition of "Zimetschtern han i gern":
- Paper cover: 300 g/m², coated semi-matt, bright white
- Paper content pages: 120 g/m², offset matt white
- Size: Cover 4 pages, 32 pages content
- Format 210 x 297 mm
- Offset printing: cover/end sheet 4/4-color on both sides; content 4/4-color on both sides
- Finishing: Folding sheets, collating, stapling with wire, cutting to size, banding, packing in boxes and labeling.
- A lot of heart
“Zimetschtern han i gern” by Andrew Bond is probably the classic and one of the best-known and most popular songbooks for Christmas carols in Switzerland. Thematically, the journey ranges from the farewell to summer to fall songs to Advent and Christmas songs. The main title is a real Swiss evergreen for children’s songs at Christmas.
The album by Andrew Bond contains 24 songs and was first released in 1998. It is Andrew Bond’s debut and flagship. To date, it has sold well over 100,000 CDs and been streamed millions of times. The songs are written and sung in dialect and are partly based on well-known melodies. The album is available as a CD, songbook, playback CD, piano sheet music and as a digital download.
Andrew Bond also gives regular concerts with his band and a choir, where the audience can sing along. The songs of Zimetschtern han i gern have become a common song in German-speaking Switzerland and accompany many families through the cold season.