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Step 1
Attend the Hanukkah service at a local synagogue. There's no better way to start adding songs to your songbook than by going to the joyful ceremony. Many congregations hand out a song sheet for special services to make it easier to follow along. Since most of the music is sung a capella, you don't even need to read music--you can pick up the tune from the people around you.
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Step 2
Visit a local music store and check out the seasonal CDs. Sure, you'll come across Adam Sandler's "The Hanukkah Song" which isn't exactly traditional, but you'll also come across such gems as Peter, Paul and Mary's "Light One Candle." There are also many other Hanukkah CDs to choose from, ranging from music sung for and by children to more sophisticated music appropriate for an adult gathering.
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Step 3
Visit senior centers and Hebrew schools. Children and senior citizens are both unexpected and underutilized wealths of knowledge. Many public schools teach students a variety of winter songs, including some Hanukkah ones, and in religious school the students are typically taught the traditional music of the holiday. At the senior center ask the Jewish residents to share their Hanukkah songs with you--they've lived through many years of celebrations and may know generations' worth of Hanukkah songs.
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Step 4
Listen to and view music on websites. In addition to providing the lyrics to the most popular Hanukkah songs, websites like Chabad and Aish HaTorah have embedded audio streams which allow you to hear the songs (see Resources below). It's an easy way to the learn the melodies so you can sing the lyrics.
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Step 5
Incorporate music into the traditional celebrations of Hanukkah. Sing the blessings over the candles instead of reciting them. Accompany your game of dreidel with a rendition of "Sivivon, Sov, Sov" (Dreidel, Spin, Spin) and follow the telling of the Hanukkah story with the customary singing of "Rock of Ages."
