Oh My Goodness Look At This Mess!
I just discovered this wonderful tidying up song from Sweet Honey In The Rock. Maybe it will persuade your little ones to get on board with the tidying up after they've had fun playing :-)
Onye Ga Agbe Egwu
We've been listening to and singing this fun song in the Igbo language from West Africa. It invites everyone to 'come and dance'! This recording is by Onyeka Owenu. Enjoy.
We've been listening to and singing this fun song in the Igbo language from West Africa. It invites everyone to 'come and dance'! This recording is by Onyeka Owenu. Enjoy.
Mrs H and the Singalong Band
My family and I loved watching these quirky singalongs at home. I recommend watching all of the episodes once you have found them on YouTube!
My family and I loved watching these quirky singalongs at home. I recommend watching all of the episodes once you have found them on YouTube!
Tots Tunes - based in Dalston
I took my children to Tots Tunes when they were little. Tara always gets everyone moving and shaking. Here are two songs that she has recently shared via the Tots Tunes Youtube Channel.
Akan Tree TV
Here is a song in Twi - an Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana. Can you find your head, houlders, knees and toes?
Songo's World
The stories and songs from Songo's World are a delight! Join them on more adventures via the YouTube channel!
Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack is one of the most common clapping or skipping songs in the English language, according to Wikipedia, with variants collected all over the world - in the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It was first included in a book in Pennsylvania in 1888. We love to jump around when we sing it together, or to swing the little ones up high along with the elephants.According to one theory, Mary Mack originally referred to the USS Merrimack, a United States warship of the mid-1800s named after the Merrimack River, that would have been black, with silvery rivets. Intriguing!
Miss Mary Mack (Mack, Mack)
All dressed in black (black, black)
With silver buttons (buttons, buttons)
All down her back (back, back)
She asked her mother (mother, mother)
For 50 cents (cents, cents)
To see the elephants (elephants, elephants)
Jump over the fence (fence, fence)
They jumped so high (high, high)
They reached the sky (sky, sky)
And they didn't come back (back, back)
'Til the fourth of July (ly, ly)
The Wind Is Blowing On The Washing Line
I learnt this gorgeous little song from Linda Bance. It's perfect for a happy nappy changing time - with a scarf or a muslin or any clothes that you have to hand - or for gentle play before sleep. Many of the older children at nursery love to lie down and watch and feel the scarves swishing above them, or like to use the scarves over their friends or their dolls. And of course they love the anticipation of the last line and the scarves floating down around them. Who knows where they'll land? This is a rather boisterous version with my lovely two. It made us giggle! I hope you love it as much as we do.
The Wind is blowing on the washing line
The Wind is blowing on the washing line
The Wind is blowing on the washing line
Blow... (whoosh) blow... (whooosh) and... let... GO!
Ghosts!
Happy Halloween everyone! Here's a song that we like to sing every October, if not more often. It works well as a round, if you can teach it to everyone in your household. The last line is especially good for baby tickles. Hope it doesn't scare any little ones! It's written by Alan Woods.
Ghosts are very frightening
And they are spooky too!
I hear one howling...
Doo doo doo doo dooooooooo doo doo doo doo BOO!
There's A Spider On The Screen
This is a 'video' variation of a firm favourite (There's a Spider on my Knee) that we sing at all times of the year, but especially at Halloween and times when there are lots of spiders about. Use your hand to make a spider on different parts of your body. Ask your child where else the spider can go, and try to make a rhyme. It's good fun. I like to include some which don't make spiders out to be so scary - because they aren't really! This is a minor version of the tune for If You're Happy and You Know It; don't be caught out by the slightly different notes. I learnt it from watching my friend Barry lead an awesome singing assembly.
There's a spider on the screen, on the screen.
There's a spider on the screen, on the screen.
There's a spider on the screen, and I think i'm going to scream!
There's a spider on the screen, on the screen.
There's a spider on my toes, on my toes... etc
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Also in Spanish)
You'll know this nursery song, but can you introduce the Spanish words too? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca, nariz
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Ticka Tacka Phone Song
The original name of this song is Hey Margy. I learnt it from a book of children's songs collected by John Feierabend and it's a song we often use to say hello to all of the children in a music and movement group. We love to use some jingle bells as a phone to sing hello, and then to play along. Grab a set or anything in the house that makes a ringing sound and sing along with the soft toys who are calling each others' houses! You can obviously change the names to anyone in your home, or across the miles if you are calling family via video call!
Ring, ring!
Hey ______, someone's on the phone. Well if it's my friend ________, tell them i'm at home. We're singing 'ticka tacka ticka tacka wally woo wooo. Ticka tacka ticka tacka wally woo wooo'!
Space Trilogy (Zoom Zoom Zoom, We've Built a Rocket and Twinkle Twinkle)
These three songs were just asking to be sung together! The two famous nursery rhymes sandwich a song that I learnt on my PGCE course, written, I believe, by tutor Julliet Desailly. Get ready for a little trip into space... Any spaceship or musical props fully encouraged. Perhaps you can make up your own buttons and sounds?
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we're going to the moon. Zoom, zoom, zoom, we'll be there very soon... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Zoom! We've built a rocket Gonna make it fly... Up above the clouds And into the sky We go bzzzzz, bzzzzz To make our rocket fly We go bzzzzz, bzzzzz To make our rocket fly Sounds in order (obviously you can add your own!) bzzz, bzzzz beeeep, beeeeep uuuuuuurgh clang! clang! 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!!! Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are
Shaker Song
A little song I learnt at Mapledene Children's Centre. The kids love it. And they love shouting 'go!' as quickly as possible, so be ready :-) You can shake or adapt it to 'drumming song' or 'clapping song' or similar. Use your imagination and enjoy.
Shaker, shaker, shaker, shaker, shaker song (x4)
1, 2, 3, STOP!!!
Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer
This needs no introduction. What a great song for introducing the idea of taking away (subtraction)!
Five little men in a flying saucer
Flew round the world one day
They looked left and right, but they didn't like the sight
So one man flew away...WHOOSH!
Four little men...
Bear Dance
This is one of a few instrumental tunes called The Bear Dance. It's a polka (a type of dance), which may have originated in England, or in Belgium/France/The Netherlands. Make sure you dance along, and try to growl at the end of the phrases! I like playing it three times to introduce the different members of the recorder family of instruments. Remember, in music, bigger usually means lower. Which other families of instruments can you find out about?
Giraffe Song
This is a firm favourite at music sessions. I love the way we can move in this song - starting really tall on tiptoe and then spreading our wings for the eagle, before crawling and then curling up in a ball. In the past i've tried to make a version about other animals too - to celebrate Chinese New Year. I originally learnt this song on a course with the Royal Opera House. It is a beautiful round or canon - in two parts as we sing it here, or with up to 4 parts.
Giraffe holds his head up high Eagle spreads her wings to fly Caterpillar, caterpillar likes to crawl And Hedgehog curls up small (like a ball)
Pole, Pole
Here's a slightly silly version of one of my favourite songs ever. An echo song that's perfect for slowing down during a day of rushing around with kids, and for finding loads of different animal sounds in your voice and letting them out. I learnt this from hearing Ella Jenkins sing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-EUxwowtIs I'm not sure but I think she wrote it. And she's more adventurous with her East African animals...
Pole, pole (pole, pole)
Go slow, go slow (go slow, go slow)
Pole, pole (pole, pole)
That's where the ____________ go (choose an animal!)
Take your time (take your time)
Go slow, go slow (go slow, go slow)
Take your time (take your time)
That's where the ____________ go (choose an animal!)
Drunken Sailor
A classic sea shanty that need no real introduction, only to say please do not try shaving bellies with rusty razors at home! This is a short version as we might sing it together in a session. 'She' is the boat - not the sailor.
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
Earlye in the morning
Hooray and up she rises!
Hooray and up she rises!
Hooray and up she rises!
Earlye in the morning
What shall we do with the cheeky children...
Pick them up and tickle them all over...
Fly Like an Eagle
An attempt at some puppetry! I learnt this on a course with the Royal Opera House. Apparently it is a Native American song. We love singing it to feel calm and connected with the elements.All you have to do is repeat each line after you hear it sung.
I'm gonna fly like an eagle
Up so high
All across the big wide world
On wings of pure light
Witchy - tai - ai
Witchy - tai - ay
Oh - oh
Green Willis and the Grand Old Duke of York
It's time for some marching. Find a friend or family member and march along with the old-timey tune Green Willis played on the violin, then get ready to join the Grand Old Duke of York. Or maybe you could grab a drum and beat in time with the music. Left, right, left, right.... Apologies if the violin gets a bit loud (it obviously did for one young lady!)
Oh the grand old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again
And when they were up, they were up
And when they were down, they were down
And when they were only half way up, they were neither up nor down!
Sarasponda
I learnt this song from the Hackney Music Service festival and find it very calming to sing. It's origins are hard to specify, but it could be a dutch song about a spinning wheel - which you can hear in the 'ret set set' accompaniment to the tune. Apparently the words are nonsense words - something like 'fiddle-dee-dee' in a folk song. You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasponda
Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret set set
Sarasponda, sarasponda, sarasponda ret set set
A doray-oh, A doray-bunday-oh
A doray-bunday ret set set
Hah say pah say oh. Hey!
Snap! Snap! Snap!
I think I learnt this rhyme from a library rhyme time when I first started going with my daughter. I love how the anticipation builds. Usually the kids love being snapped. I hope our friendly croc doesn't scare anyone!
Snap! Snap! Snap!
A crocodile sat on my lap
I stroked it ever so gently
And now it's taking a nap.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
It's woken from its nap
And now it's feeling hungry...
Snap! Snap! SNAP!!!
Dem Bones
Dem Bones Dem Bones is an old song (first recorded by the Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928) that we love to dance about to in our sessions - it usually makes an appearance around Halloween time especially. The original words are inspired by a passage in the book of Ezekiel in the bible. The main thing is to dance and not worry too much about anatomical correctness!
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones (x3)
Now hear the word of the Lord
The toe bone's connected to the foot bone
The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone
The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone
The hip bone's connected to the back bone
The back bone's connected to the shoulder bone
The shoulder bone's connected to the neck bone
The neck bone's connected to the head bone
Now hear the word of the Lord!
Dem bones... etc
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones... etc
Sing the bones from top to bottom
Dem bones... etc
The Big Ship Sails
You've probably heard this one before. Here's a link to the song being sung in a playground in 1957: https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-big-ship-sailed-1957. The chorus has obviously been added since, or from elsewhere. There's much discussion online about where the song hails from and which shipping disaster it seems to refer to. The kids and I have decided to go the full superhero-pirate for our version. Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track used here.
The big ship sails on the Ally-Ally-O The Ally-Ally-O, The Ally-Ally-O The big ship sails on the Ally-Ally-O On the last day of September. Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-Ally O, O, O! Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-Ally O, O, O! The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea... The captain said it'll never, never do... We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea...
Play and Stop!
Grab an instrument or find something to bang or shake! Can you play along with the music and then stop with us? Can you play fast and slow? You can play music, or adapt the song to clap, drum, dance, jump or... ANYTHING! Don't be afraid to play around with the words and the actions. And the tune if you like! I originally learnt this from an old teaching book, as 'we sail and we sail and we stop' - designed so that kids pretend to be little boats rocking back and forth. I still use it as a boat song. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And that you like my little one's trumpet debut :-)
We play and we play and we stop.
We play and we play and we stop.
We play and we play and we play and we play and we play and we play and we stop!
Scooby Doo Song
This is nice jazzy song for some fun dancing and learning a sequence of actions. I THINK I learnt this part song from the Voiceworks songbook. I've enjoyed singing it with little ones, big kids and adults alike. I've recorded it here as we usually sing it in parent and baby groups, but there's loads of scope for some improvisation too. Can you scat during the band section? You could also try holding a part during the unison tune sections. Enjoy!
My feet do stamp, and my hands do clap.
My fingers are a-clicking and my arms do flap. I turn around and around I go. We're moving down and moving down and up real slow
Coleman's March / Horsey Horsey
This is the classic horse-riding nursery rhyme, preceded by an old-timey tune called Coleman's March (allegedly first played on the back of a cart taking someone off to the gallows!). Grab a ride on someone's lap or a ride-on toy, and perhaps an instrument to join in with the clip clop rhythm. Can you keep up with the horsey towards the end?!
Horsey, horsey, don't you stop
Just let your hooves go clippety-clop Your tail goes swish and your wheels go round Giddy-up! We're homeward bound...
Rattlin' Bog
This is a fantastic Irish folk song. It's a cumulative song where you have to remember all of the previous verses as you go. 'Rattlin' here means splendid. Mainly it's a brilliant song for singing and dancing and clapping. I first learnt it from my sister-in-law! The song is listed as number 129 in the Roud Folk Song Index, and has many other names for similar versions. It's also very like The Tree in the Wood, which you may know. I LOVE this version - sung with extraordinary skill by Seamus Kennedy
Rare bog, a rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o!
Rare bog, a rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o! And in that bog there was a tree A rare tree, a rattlin' tree And the tree in the bog, and the bog down in the valley-o! Other verses... And on that tree there was a branch... And on that branch there was a twig... And on that twig there was a leaf... And on that leaf there was a nest... And in that nest there was an egg... And in that egg there was a bird... And on that bird there was a wing... (different and more epic versions have plenty of other verses as well!)
La Morenada
We love this song about the traditional Morenada dance from Bolivia! Perhaps you can dress up for the carnival, or make a butterfly with your hands to dance along. Can you clap and stamp the pattern of 3 beats? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track.
Come along and sing the Morenada
There's no need to fear
Come along and sing the Morenada
Now the carnival is here!
Con Las Manos
Con Los Pies
La Morenada, La Morenada
Come along and dance the Morenada....
Like a butterfly, the Morenada...
Molly Hare (and a hidden nursery rhyme!)
Can you spot the nursery rhyme hidden in this Old-timey tune called Molly Hare? I won't post the lyrics because you'll probably know them already, and if you don't, they are easy to pick up. I don't want to give away the secret!
Grab an instrument and play along, or have a dance. (And yes, I should have ironed that sheet...)
The Breakfast Song
Well here's a song that we LOVE to sing about all of the different breakfasts that people might enjoy. I learnt this from working with English Pocket Opera Company, and in a slightly different version with Hackney Music Service. I made up the porridge part as that's my favourite brekkie. One day I'd like to make some up about traditional breakfasts from other places around the world. What do YOU like to eat for breakfast? This is my first attempt at using the A Cappella app to accommodate all of the parts being sung together!
All I want for breakfast is some toast and marmalade
Toast and marmalade, toast and marmalade
All I want for breakfast is some toast and marmalade
That's all I want to eat.
Just a cup of tea, that's enough for me
That's enough for me - with milk no* sugar (*add as much as you like!)
Just a cup of tea, that's enough for me
That's enough for me.
I like eggs and bacon, and a slice of nice white* bread (*or brown!)
If you don't eat bacon, then beans will do instead.
Put some porridge on the hob.
Raisins, bananas, just the job.
Put some porridge in the pan.
Add anything you can!
Tall Trees
My sister in law taught be this uplifting song. It starts with a call and response section, but join in with the singing on the second part 'I feel it in my body'. It may be a Native American song or just written in that style - you can find many differing versions online. Hopefully it helps us to remember to stay connected with the earth and the elements. This was shot on a quiet day in Epping Forest!
Tall trees Warm fire Strong winds Deep water I feel it in my body And feed it to the Earth
Good Morning To You
This round is a lovely way to say hello. Don't forget to try it in other languages like we do in the family group. I learnt this from a course with the Royal Opera House.
Good morning to you
Good morning to you
Hello! Hello!
Good morning to you
Sani Bonani
Saying 'how do you do?' in Zulu! I learnt this from Mea Jenkins. Words and music by Mike Reinstein and Reina James-Reinstein. I love the way the repeated ostinato of 'sani bonaninani' fits in behind the call and response tune.
How Clean Can You Be
I thought i'd share this funky washing hands song from local friends at London Rhymes.
Hello, Hello
I first heard this song via the SingUp website, but it's very popular in EYFS groups.
Hello, hello, it's good to see you
Hello, hello, it's good to see you
I must say, you've made my day
Hello, hello, hello!
Which other languages can YOU sing 'hello' in?
Bananas of the World
This is my version of a song I learned from the English Pocket Opera Company.
Bananas of the world, U.....nite! (2, 3, 4)
Pick, pick, pick, pick banana
Peel, peel, peel, peel banana
Chop, chop, chop, chop banana
Mash, mash, mash, mash banana
Blend, blend, blend blend banana
Drink, drink, drink, drink banana
Go, go, go, go bananas!!!!
Bananas of the world, U.....nite!
Boom Chicka Boom
This is a great call and response chant for warming up your voice, and the little ones always seem to love it. Once you know the chant, you can experiment with as many different voices as possible. As well as the versions here, we often use a high, squeaky voice, or a very low voice, or chant like a robot, or a witch... Sometimes you hear a very jazzy version, so you can also play around with the rhythm. Have fun!
Boom chicka boom (boom chicka boom)
Boom chicka boom (boom chicka boom) Boom-a-chicka rack-a-chicka rack-a-chicka-boom! (Boom-a-chicka rack-a-chicka rack-a-chicka-boom!) Uh-huh (Uh-huh) Oh yeah (Oh yeah) One more time (one more time) Really loud (or quiet, or fast, or slow, or as a song, or a rhythm etc)
Elevator Song
Thanks to Pete Letanka for this little gem of a song. It helps us to learn about pitch, while having lots of fun. We are giving the soft toys a ride on the elevator (lift), but babies AND big kids love to go up and down in their parents and carers' STRONG arms. It's a good work-out if you are able!
Cluck Old Hen / Old MacDonald Had a Farm
I first heard Cluck Old Hen played by Pete Cooper, who runs the London Fiddle School. I love it. It's an old-timey classic and you can hear loads of brilliant versions online. The kids usually like counting the eggs as they hatch, and dancing along. Sometimes we try to clap or play a 'peck peck peck' rhythm with the music. Main thing is to have fun! And while we're at the farmyard it's nice to meet some of the animals with Old MacDonald too... Can you use an instrument to make an animal sound?
My old hen's a good old hen.
She lays eggs for the railway men.
Sometimes one, sometimes two,
Sometimes enough for the whole darn crew.
Cluck old hen, cluck an' sing,
Ain't laid an egg til 'way last Spring.
Cluck old hen, cluck an' squall,
Ain't laid an egg since 'way last fall!
Old MacDonald had a farm. Ee-i-ee-i--o
And on that farm he had a duck. Ee-i-ee-i--o
With a quack, quack here
A quack, quack there
Here a quack, there a quack
Everywhere a quack, quack!
Old MacDonald had a farm. Ee-i-ee-i--o
Repeat with other animals... And don't forget to make Old MacDonald a woman sometimes!
Choy Baboy / Keilele
HEY! Are you ready to MAKE SOME NOISE?!
Keilele is apparently an East African word (Swahili) that means 'make some noise'. I learnt this song from Hackney Music Service (who I think joined it with Choy Baboy) but I have also been taught it in slightly different versions by Alison Blunt and Tara at Creative Sounds. In our groups, we like to use the song to sing hello to all of the children - and adults if we can. We have some dolls and teddies with us this time! Can you sing and play along with us?
Choy baboy, HEY! Choy baboy, HEY!
Baboy Baboy, HEY! HEY! Baboy Baboy, HEY! HEY! Kelele, kelele, Mama, Mama kelele (mother make some noise) Kelele, kelele, yabo, yabo kelele (father make some noise) etc...
Here's an old live recording at a parent and baby group.
And a fantastic version of Kelele by the band Osibisa in 1974:
I thought i'd share this funky washing hands song from local friends at London Rhymes.
Hello, Hello
I first heard this song via the SingUp website, but it's very popular in EYFS groups.
Hello, hello, it's good to see you
Hello, hello, it's good to see you
I must say, you've made my day
Hello, hello, hello!
Which other languages can YOU sing 'hello' in?
Bananas of the World
This is my version of a song I learned from the English Pocket Opera Company.
Bananas of the world, U.....nite! (2, 3, 4)
Pick, pick, pick, pick banana
Peel, peel, peel, peel banana
Chop, chop, chop, chop banana
Mash, mash, mash, mash banana
Blend, blend, blend blend banana
Drink, drink, drink, drink banana
Go, go, go, go bananas!!!!
Bananas of the world, U.....nite!
Boom Chicka Boom
This is a great call and response chant for warming up your voice, and the little ones always seem to love it. Once you know the chant, you can experiment with as many different voices as possible. As well as the versions here, we often use a high, squeaky voice, or a very low voice, or chant like a robot, or a witch... Sometimes you hear a very jazzy version, so you can also play around with the rhythm. Have fun!
Boom chicka boom (boom chicka boom) Boom-a-chicka rack-a-chicka rack-a-chicka-boom! (Boom-a-chicka rack-a-chicka rack-a-chicka-boom!) Uh-huh (Uh-huh) Oh yeah (Oh yeah) One more time (one more time) Really loud (or quiet, or fast, or slow, or as a song, or a rhythm etc)
Elevator Song
Thanks to Pete Letanka for this little gem of a song. It helps us to learn about pitch, while having lots of fun. We are giving the soft toys a ride on the elevator (lift), but babies AND big kids love to go up and down in their parents and carers' STRONG arms. It's a good work-out if you are able!
Elevator, why don't you take me up, up, up, up, up?
Elevator, why don't you take me down, down, down, down, down?
(Then copy me for the numbers)
You can do your own version and pick any number/note of the scale
I first heard Cluck Old Hen played by Pete Cooper, who runs the London Fiddle School. I love it. It's an old-timey classic and you can hear loads of brilliant versions online. The kids usually like counting the eggs as they hatch, and dancing along. Sometimes we try to clap or play a 'peck peck peck' rhythm with the music. Main thing is to have fun! And while we're at the farmyard it's nice to meet some of the animals with Old MacDonald too... Can you use an instrument to make an animal sound?
Choy Baboy / Keilele
HEY! Are you ready to MAKE SOME NOISE?!
Keilele is apparently an East African word (Swahili) that means 'make some noise'. I learnt this song from Hackney Music Service (who I think joined it with Choy Baboy) but I have also been taught it in slightly different versions by Alison Blunt and Tara at Creative Sounds. In our groups, we like to use the song to sing hello to all of the children - and adults if we can. We have some dolls and teddies with us this time! Can you sing and play along with us?
Baboy Baboy, HEY! HEY! Baboy Baboy, HEY! HEY! Kelele, kelele, Mama, Mama kelele (mother make some noise) Kelele, kelele, yabo, yabo kelele (father make some noise) etc...
Here's an old live recording at a parent and baby group.
And a fantastic version of Kelele by the band Osibisa in 1974:
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (Also in Spanish)
You'll know this nursery song, but can you introduce the Spanish words too? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Ojos, orejas, boca, nariz
Cabeƶa, hombros, rodillas,pies, rodillas, pies
Ticka Tacka Phone Song
The original name of this song is Hey Margy. I learnt it from a book of children's songs collected by John Feierabend and it's a song we often use to say hello to all of the children in a music and movement group. We love to use some jingle bells as a phone to sing hello, and then to play along. Grab a set or anything in the house that makes a ringing sound and sing along with the soft toys who are calling each others' houses! You can obviously change the names to anyone in your home, or across the miles if you are calling family via video call!
Hey ______, someone's on the phone. Well if it's my friend ________, tell them i'm at home. We're singing 'ticka tacka ticka tacka wally woo wooo. Ticka tacka ticka tacka wally woo wooo'!
Space Trilogy (Zoom Zoom Zoom, We've Built a Rocket and Twinkle Twinkle)
These three songs were just asking to be sung together! The two famous nursery rhymes sandwich a song that I learnt on my PGCE course, written, I believe, by tutor Julliet Desailly. Get ready for a little trip into space... Any spaceship or musical props fully encouraged. Perhaps you can make up your own buttons and sounds?
Zoom, zoom, zoom, we're going to the moon. Zoom, zoom, zoom, we'll be there very soon... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Zoom! We've built a rocket Gonna make it fly... Up above the clouds And into the sky We go bzzzzz, bzzzzz To make our rocket fly We go bzzzzz, bzzzzz To make our rocket fly Sounds in order (obviously you can add your own!) bzzz, bzzzz beeeep, beeeeep uuuuuuurgh clang! clang! 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!!! Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are
Here's a recording of We've Built a Rocket with parents and babies:
Shaker Song
A little song I learnt at Mapledene Children's Centre. The kids love it. And they love shouting 'go!' as quickly as possible, so be ready :-) You can shake or adapt it to 'drumming song' or 'clapping song' or similar. Use your imagination and enjoy.
1, 2, 3, STOP!!!
Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer
This needs no introduction. What a great song for introducing the idea of taking away (subtraction)!
Flew round the world one day
They looked left and right, but they didn't like the sight
So one man flew away...WHOOSH!
Four little men...
Bear Dance
This is one of a few instrumental tunes called The Bear Dance. It's a polka (a type of dance), which may have originated in England, or in Belgium/France/The Netherlands. Make sure you dance along, and try to growl at the end of the phrases! I like playing it three times to introduce the different members of the recorder family of instruments. Remember, in music, bigger usually means lower. Which other families of instruments can you find out about?
Giraffe Song
This is a firm favourite at music sessions. I love the way we can move in this song - starting really tall on tiptoe and then spreading our wings for the eagle, before crawling and then curling up in a ball. In the past i've tried to make a version about other animals too - to celebrate Chinese New Year. I originally learnt this song on a course with the Royal Opera House. It is a beautiful round or canon - in two parts as we sing it here, or with up to 4 parts.
Giraffe holds his head up high Eagle spreads her wings to fly Caterpillar, caterpillar likes to crawl And Hedgehog curls up small (like a ball)
Pole, Pole
Here's a slightly silly version of one of my favourite songs ever. An echo song that's perfect for slowing down during a day of rushing around with kids, and for finding loads of different animal sounds in your voice and letting them out. I learnt this from hearing Ella Jenkins sing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-EUxwowtIs I'm not sure but I think she wrote it. And she's more adventurous with her East African animals...
Drunken Sailor
A classic sea shanty that need no real introduction, only to say please do not try shaving bellies with rusty razors at home! This is a short version as we might sing it together in a session. 'She' is the boat - not the sailor.
Fly Like an Eagle
An attempt at some puppetry! I learnt this on a course with the Royal Opera House. Apparently it is a Native American song. We love singing it to feel calm and connected with the elements.All you have to do is repeat each line after you hear it sung.
Green Willis and the Grand Old Duke of York
It's time for some marching. Find a friend or family member and march along with the old-timey tune Green Willis played on the violin, then get ready to join the Grand Old Duke of York. Or maybe you could grab a drum and beat in time with the music. Left, right, left, right.... Apologies if the violin gets a bit loud (it obviously did for one young lady!)
Sarasponda
I learnt this song from the Hackney Music Service festival and find it very calming to sing. It's origins are hard to specify, but it could be a dutch song about a spinning wheel - which you can hear in the 'ret set set' accompaniment to the tune. Apparently the words are nonsense words - something like 'fiddle-dee-dee' in a folk song. You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasponda
Snap! Snap! Snap!
I think I learnt this rhyme from a library rhyme time when I first started going with my daughter. I love how the anticipation builds. Usually the kids love being snapped. I hope our friendly croc doesn't scare anyone!
Dem Bones
Dem Bones Dem Bones is an old song (first recorded by the Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928) that we love to dance about to in our sessions - it usually makes an appearance around Halloween time especially. The original words are inspired by a passage in the book of Ezekiel in the bible. The main thing is to dance and not worry too much about anatomical correctness!
Now hear the word of the Lord
The toe bone's connected to the foot bone
The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone
The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone
The hip bone's connected to the back bone
The back bone's connected to the shoulder bone
The shoulder bone's connected to the neck bone
The neck bone's connected to the head bone
Now hear the word of the Lord!
Dem bones... etc
Disconnect dem bones, dem dry bones... etc
Sing the bones from top to bottom
Dem bones... etc
The Big Ship Sails
You've probably heard this one before. Here's a link to the song being sung in a playground in 1957: https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-big-ship-sailed-1957. The chorus has obviously been added since, or from elsewhere. There's much discussion online about where the song hails from and which shipping disaster it seems to refer to. The kids and I have decided to go the full superhero-pirate for our version. Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track used here.
The big ship sails on the Ally-Ally-O The Ally-Ally-O, The Ally-Ally-O The big ship sails on the Ally-Ally-O On the last day of September. Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-Ally O, O, O! Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-O, Ally-Ally-Ally O, O, O! The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea... The captain said it'll never, never do... We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea...
Play and Stop!
Grab an instrument or find something to bang or shake! Can you play along with the music and then stop with us? Can you play fast and slow? You can play music, or adapt the song to clap, drum, dance, jump or... ANYTHING! Don't be afraid to play around with the words and the actions. And the tune if you like! I originally learnt this from an old teaching book, as 'we sail and we sail and we stop' - designed so that kids pretend to be little boats rocking back and forth. I still use it as a boat song. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And that you like my little one's trumpet debut :-)
Scooby Doo Song
This is nice jazzy song for some fun dancing and learning a sequence of actions. I THINK I learnt this part song from the Voiceworks songbook. I've enjoyed singing it with little ones, big kids and adults alike. I've recorded it here as we usually sing it in parent and baby groups, but there's loads of scope for some improvisation too. Can you scat during the band section? You could also try holding a part during the unison tune sections. Enjoy!
My fingers are a-clicking and my arms do flap. I turn around and around I go. We're moving down and moving down and up real slow
Coleman's March / Horsey Horsey
This is the classic horse-riding nursery rhyme, preceded by an old-timey tune called Coleman's March (allegedly first played on the back of a cart taking someone off to the gallows!). Grab a ride on someone's lap or a ride-on toy, and perhaps an instrument to join in with the clip clop rhythm. Can you keep up with the horsey towards the end?!
Just let your hooves go clippety-clop Your tail goes swish and your wheels go round Giddy-up! We're homeward bound...
Rattlin' Bog
This is a fantastic Irish folk song. It's a cumulative song where you have to remember all of the previous verses as you go. 'Rattlin' here means splendid. Mainly it's a brilliant song for singing and dancing and clapping. I first learnt it from my sister-in-law! The song is listed as number 129 in the Roud Folk Song Index, and has many other names for similar versions. It's also very like The Tree in the Wood, which you may know. I LOVE this version - sung with extraordinary skill by Seamus Kennedy
Rare bog, a rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o! And in that bog there was a tree A rare tree, a rattlin' tree And the tree in the bog, and the bog down in the valley-o! Other verses... And on that tree there was a branch... And on that branch there was a twig... And on that twig there was a leaf... And on that leaf there was a nest... And in that nest there was an egg... And in that egg there was a bird... And on that bird there was a wing... (different and more epic versions have plenty of other verses as well!)
La Morenada
We love this song about the traditional Morenada dance from Bolivia! Perhaps you can dress up for the carnival, or make a butterfly with your hands to dance along. Can you clap and stamp the pattern of 3 beats? Thanks to Chris Wilson/Hackney Music Service for the backing track.
There's no need to fear
Come along and sing the Morenada
Now the carnival is here!
Con Las Manos
Con Los Pies
La Morenada, La Morenada
Come along and dance the Morenada....
Like a butterfly, the Morenada...
Molly Hare (and a hidden nursery rhyme!)
Can you spot the nursery rhyme hidden in this Old-timey tune called Molly Hare? I won't post the lyrics because you'll probably know them already, and if you don't, they are easy to pick up. I don't want to give away the secret!
The Breakfast Song
Well here's a song that we LOVE to sing about all of the different breakfasts that people might enjoy. I learnt this from working with English Pocket Opera Company, and in a slightly different version with Hackney Music Service. I made up the porridge part as that's my favourite brekkie. One day I'd like to make some up about traditional breakfasts from other places around the world. What do YOU like to eat for breakfast? This is my first attempt at using the A Cappella app to accommodate all of the parts being sung together!
Tall Trees
My sister in law taught be this uplifting song. It starts with a call and response section, but join in with the singing on the second part 'I feel it in my body'. It may be a Native American song or just written in that style - you can find many differing versions online. Hopefully it helps us to remember to stay connected with the earth and the elements. This was shot on a quiet day in Epping Forest!
Tall trees Warm fire Strong winds Deep water I feel it in my body And feed it to the Earth
Good Morning To You
This round is a lovely way to say hello. Don't forget to try it in other languages like we do in the family group. I learnt this from a course with the Royal Opera House.
Good morning to you
Good morning to you
Hello! Hello!
Good morning to you
Sani Bonani
Saying 'how do you do?' in Zulu! I learnt this from Mea Jenkins. Words and music by Mike Reinstein and Reina James-Reinstein. I love the way the repeated ostinato of 'sani bonaninani' fits in behind the call and response tune.
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