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Why one Christmas event works better than another

What makes one Christmas musical much more memorable than another?

Of course all Christmas musicals need to have witty lyrics, humorous situations and catchy tunes that the children and their parents can’t get out of their heads.

That’s a standard starting point.

And by and large Christmas musicals have to have the opportunity to involve all the children – even those who are reluctant to be on stage and those who can’t sing in tune. Again, that’s a given.

But there is still something else that marks the very best Christmas musical out from the rest. Something that delivers an event which leaves the parents talking about the show from Christmas to Easter, and beyond.

Something that makes the parents who have seen it sing the praises of the event, and indeed the school, when talking to their friends whose children receive their education elsewhere.

That “something else”, is, quite simply, the journey.

Not so much the journey of Joseph and Mary, nor the journey of the Wise Men, but rather the journey of the musical production itself.

For if you take a look at any successful, long-running, musical, you’ll find that they are always much, much more than just a collection of songs tacked around a story.

This musical journey is a key element within “Baa!” – a musical for KS2 pupils. For it not only has the tongue-in-cheek (and yet not irreverent) tale of an accident-prone Joseph, a rock ‘n’ roll camel, and a flock of sheep that count shepherds. It has more.

Thus the journey is enjoyable, meaningful, and complete. For it also takes the audience on a journey that ends more seriously with lyrical songs portraying the universal themes of the Christmas story – new birth, humility, poverty and wonder.

“Baa!” includes a musical score complete with guitar chords, a CD including rehearsal tracks and backing tracks, plus an optional narration.

There is a review of “Baa!” by Music Teacher Magazine at www.tonybiggin.com/Tony_Biggin/BaaReview.html, where you will also find our money back guarantee and where you can also hear some of the songs.

The score, complete with CD, as outlined above, costs just £14.95 plus postage and packing. You can order it: