The dictionary defines a shadow as, “a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light.” Shadows are such an interesting phenomena!  What is it about seeing our shadow cast that makes us want to make hand puppets, dance or shiver in the night with fright? Shadows are the ideas for songs, movies, books, and even puppets!

When our youngest daughter Caitlyn was one year old, we were watching some fireworks.  We thought the fireworks might scare her, but she clapped her hand with delight at the bright colors and loud booming.  The fireworks went on for about 30 minutes and we were all thrilled and mesmerized by the beautiful display!

Soon after the fireworks were over, Caitlyn starting running away as if afraid.  She would look behind her, scream, and then run.  This went on for several minutes.  We were all baffled – what was wrong?  No one was chasing her and we didn’t see anything that would cause her to react that way.  Finally we realized that we were  standing under a very bright light and she was running from her shadow, which to her appeared to be a very large creature.  We picked up our little daughter and assured her she was all right and tried to explain to her that it was her shadow.

I have vivid memories of seeing shadows dancing in my closet when I was a child lying in bed.  I thought they were monsters in my closets and under my bed. When the windows in my bedroom were open, my clothes would sway in the breeze and add to my eerie shadow show. I knew there were really no monsters, but at night it seemed that there were!   Shadows have a way of making one’s imagination go into overdrive!  As a child I usually tried to make sure my closet door was shut before going to bed!

Each year near Halloween I enjoy sharing my shadow stories with my students.  They like the stories and relate that they too fear their own shadow at times – especially at night.  The shadow stories are great lesson lead ins to talking about our imaginations and shadow puppets.

One of the songs that I like to introduce while talking about shadows is “In the Hall of the Mountain King“.  I tell the story about Peer Gynt and his encounter with the trolls.  After reviewing the story about Peer and the trolls, we listen to the music and let our imaginations take us through Peer’s adventure.  It’s a fun lesson that I use every October.

If you go to my website store, there is an intermediate piano arrangement of “In the Hall of the Mountain King”.  I hope you enjoy playing it!

“A Single Sunbeam is Enough to Drive Away Many Shadows”

-Francis of Assisi