Diller-Quaile’s Songs for Singing and Sharing Series
About Songs for Singing and Sharing
Publication has been at the heart of Diller-Quaile’s 100-year history. Angela Diller and Elizabeth Quaile collaborated to write the well-known Diller-Quaile Series, starting with the “First Solo Book” in 1918. Ultimately, Diller and Quaile authored many books, which have sold more than two million copies worldwide. Some of these publications are still in print and currently used in individual lessons and classes at the School. Diller-Quaile continues this tradition with our Songs for Singing and Sharing music series, an eclectic selection of folk music for early childhood families and for use in educational settings.
Songs for Singing and Sharing is comprised of songs from the folk canon. The catalog of international folk music is a deep well of musical history, variety, and beauty, and it is this catalog that has served as the foundation of Diller-Quaile’s Early Childhood curriculum for the last sixty years. Many of these songs will be familiar to you, but we hope to have included, at the very least, a few musical surprises: perhaps an inventive reimagining of an old classic, or your first introduction to an unfamiliar song from another part of the world.
The mission of The Diller-Quaile School of Music is to develop the innate musicality in each individual, inspiring participation for a lifetime. We at Diller-Quaile believe that this development can never start too early, and can never start too late. The best way to support musical development in the very young is through exposure to great music—this includes not only having many opportunities to hear and to make beautiful music, but also providing children with chances to share their music with the people in their lives.
One of Diller-Quaile’s 4-year-old students once put it quite succinctly: “Music is important...just to live.” Not only do we resoundingly agree, we will add on to her statement: Music is important...just to live...and is at its best when shared. We hope that you will enjoy listening, dancing, and singing along with Songs for Singing and Sharing.