Make Way for Music!

Welcome to
The Toe-Tappin’,
Foot Stompin’,
Egg-Shakin’ Blues
We’re delighted that you and your family
are sharing the joy, fun, and learning of
a Kindermusik class. Here are lyrics to all
the songs on your CDs, plus a collection of
great music-inspired activities just right
for young families. Let the singing and
playing begin!
Words & Music by Susan James Frye
Make Way for Music!
Make Way for Music — CD 1
I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.
(I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.)
I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.
(I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.)
I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.
(I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.)
Doctor Knickerbocker
Traditional / adapted
We’re a Musical Family
Words & Music by Patricia Jiminez-Betts
We’re a musical family,
So clap your hands along with me.
Singing, playing, we will be
Making music.
Vs. 2
…So stomp your feet along with me, etc.
Vs. 3
…So tap your knees along with me, etc.
Wave hello to sisters,
Wave hello to brothers,
Wave hello to grownups,
Let’s make music. (repeat)
You truly are a musical family!
Make a game out of the songs you know.
Everyone gets a turn to sing their favorite song.
Older children will have fun guessing what Mom
and Dad’s favorites are. Younger ones will just
enjoy all the singing! Bounce, clap, or dance while
you sing...movement wakes up the brain and allows more information to be absorbed.
Doctor Knickerbocker,
Knickerbocker, number one.
He ran out the door to have some fun.
Now let’s get the rhythm in our hands
(clap, clap).
Now we’ve got the rhythm in our hands
(clap, clap).
Vs. 2
Now let’s get the rhythm in our feet
(tap, tap), etc.
Vs. 3
Now let’s get the rhythm in our knees
(pat, pat), etc.
Vs. 4
Now let’s get the rhythm in our hips
(whoo-ee), etc.
Can you whistle? Ask a child to whistle,
and prepare to be entertained! Get your
kids to whistle along during the interludes of this
song, using their own personal styles. Be sure to
do the motions during the verses...even babies
can’t help “getting the rhythm” in this song!
I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.
(I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.)
I’m gonna tap, tap, tap my blues away;
I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.
(I’ve got the toe-tappin’ blues.)
Vs. 2
I’ve got the foot-stompin’ blues.
(I’ve got the foot-stompin’ blues.), etc.
Vs. 3
I’ve got the egg-shakin’ blues.
(I’ve got the egg-shakin’ blues.), etc.
Put this song to use when your child
is whining or complaining. “I’ve got the
car-ridin’ blues” is sure to get some giggles...
ride those blues away! What about bath time and
bedtime? Singing about the “bath-takin’ blues”
and “bed-goin’ blues” just might make these challenging times a little easier. Let your family hear
you cheer yourself up, too — haven’t you ever
had the “dish-washin’ blues” after dinner?
1
On Our Way
(Listening & Movement Activity)
After following the directions to this musical activity with your bodies, have your
child try it with a stuffed animal, doll, or action
figure. As she learns to control the figure, she’ll
improve her own self-control as well. Give your
baby a soft stuffed animal too, so he can begin to
emulate what his older sibling is doing.
All aboard! Grab a bell and a whistle and
get in line to make a train. The motions
of this song are easy and fun for children of all
ages. Your baby’s stroller can magically transform
into one of the cars on the train so the whole family is involved.
Drum circle rhythms are really just right —
Caleb and his friends sing and dance into
the night!
Lots of different types of drums are
mentioned in this story. Look them up on
the Internet and find pictures to show your kids.
Be sure to say each type of drum several times
as you look at the pictures together, to help cement vocabulary. For another super fun musical
story for children of all ages, download Freddy
Flamingo & the Kindertown Five (Story) at
play.kindermusik.com.
BOOK: Drum Circle
Rhythm Rascals
Caleb hears the party in the big steel drums.
Ping-a-ping-ping! Now Caleb plays some!
Written by Traci N. Todd / Adapted by Charnan Simon
(Instrumental)
There are so many different rhythms in
this song! Challenge your older children
to copy one of the rhythms, like the opening
drum rhythm, the “clinking” sound, or anything
else they can hear. Bounce your baby on your
lap, and when the rhythm becomes smoother,
move her in a fluid motion from side to side.
Drum circle! Caleb loves drum circle time!
The drums all have their own rhythm and
rhyme.
The people of Mali know a special trick.
When they play the djembe drum,
it soothes the sick.
Caleb feels the power of the djembe drum.
He finds the beat: bum-ba-ba-bum-bum!
A dundun from Nigeria makes sounds
like words.
It’s the smartest drum that you have
ever heard.
Caleb hears the talking drum say his name.
Tip-tap, Caleb! It’s a name game.
Choo-Choo Train
Traditional
Congas from Cuba make you move your feet
To the rhythm of the tropics and the happy
Latin beat.
This is a choo-choo train,
Puffing down the track.
Now it’s going forward,
Now it’s going back.
Now the bell is ringing,
Now the whistle blows.
Caleb can’t resist the happy conga drums!
He dances to the pappy-pap-pap rhythm.
Steel drums from Trinidad — the circle
is complete.
At Carnival time it’s the party beat!
What a lot of noise it makes,
Ev’rywhere it goes!
continued
continued
Mama Paquita
Traditional/Brazil, English words by Margaret Marks
Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita, buy your baby a papaya.
A ripe papaya and a banana,
A ripe banana that your baby will enjoy.
Mama-mama.
Mama Paquita, Mama Paquita,
Mama Paquita says, “I haven’t any money
To buy papayas and ripe bananas.
Let’s go to Carnival and dance the
night way!”
(Instrumental interlude)
Repeat both stanzas, then say “Ole!”
There’s nothing like dancing to an island
tune! This one lends itself perfectly to a
choreographed dance. When the words begin,
take four steps forward, four steps backward, and
then turn in place for eight counts. Encourage your
kids to add their own motions or steps – dances
like these help children understand patterns.
2
Rig-a-Jig-Jig
English Folk Song
As I was walking down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A friend of mine I chanced to meet,
Hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho!
John Jacob
Jingleheimer Schmitt
Rig-a-jig-jig and away we go,
Away we go, away we go.
Rig-a-jig-jig and away we go,
Hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-ho! (repeat all)
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitt!
His name is my name, too.
Whenever we go out,
The people always shout,
Friends are the focus of this song.
Your older child might enjoy singing a
variation of this song using a friend’s name: “My
friend Jason I chanced to meet.” The whole family
will enjoy reading about the wonderful friendship
portrayed in A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni.
Traditional
“There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer
Schmitt!”
La la la la la la la. (Repeat twice)
Do you remember this song from your
own childhood? It’s fun to sing because
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitt is such a
catchy, funny name. Make up some other silly
names to sing to this tune. Learning to pronounce
new words builds your older child’s speaking and
articulation skills. Listening to new words builds
your baby’s aural discrimination...an important
step in learning to speak.
Following the motions to this song is fun!
Older children can demonstrate reaching high and low, while you help your baby by
moving her arms for her – or by lifting her high
and low. The more motions, the better—if your
children are moving, they’re learning. Want some
more ideas? From Head to Toe by Eric Carle is a
fantastic book with lots of motions in it!
Slide Down
Traditional
Climb up the ladder, climb to the tip-top.
Climb up the ladder, climb to the tip-top.
Slide down.
Children love to climb, jump, slide, hang
upside-down, and be thrown into the air
by Daddy. Every time you do an up/down activity
with your child, sing this little song. The best
learning will take place when your child hears the
song, sees the action, and feels the motion all at
the same time!
I Can Reach
Traditional
Drover’s Dream
(Instrumental)
The buzzing instrument at the beginning
and end of this song is a didgeridoo, an
Australian wind instrument made of wood.
Help your children find a picture of a didgeridoo
on the Internet — or better yet, a video of someone playing one. Talk about what it looks like. Do
they like the sound it makes?
I can reach my hands to the sky, to the sky.
I can reach my hands to the sky.
I can reach my hands to the bright blue sky.
I can reach up high.
I can reach my hands to the ground,
to the ground.
I can reach my hands to the ground.
I can reach my hands to the ground below.
I can reach down low.
I can reach down low.
continued
3
Shake Hands
Adapted African-American Children’s Song
Dance, dance, dance!
(instrumental)
Mayo Nafwa
And stop!
Shake, shake, shake!
Mayo nafwa,
Mayo nafwa. namatenge.
Shake hands, everyone, dum-a-lum-lum!
Shake hands, everyone, dum-a-lum-lum!
Lum lum lum lum, dum-a-lum-lum!
Lum lum lum lum, dum-a-lum-lum! (repeat)
Tumu bike kwi?
Tumu bike kwi? namatenge.
And stop!
Dance, dance, dance!
Nako kumulu,
Nako kumulu. namatenge.
(instrumental)
Traditional/Zambia
Kuli amakozi,
Kuli amakozi. namatenge.
Napa panshi,
Napa panshi. namatenge.
Pali nyelele,
Pali nyelele. namatenge.
Nandan
Da yila namatenge. (repeat three times)
Napa panshi,
Napa panshi. namatenge.
Pali nyelele,
Pali nyelele. namatenge.
Nandan
Da yila namatenge. (repeat three times)
This is an African song that has a very
interesting beat interspersed with
sections of call-and-response. Another favorite
African call-and-response tune is Tahboo.
You can download it at play.kindermusik.com
And stop!
Shake, shake, shake!
Shake hands, everyone, dum-a-lum-lum!
Shake hands, everyone, dum-a-lum-lum!
Lum lum lum lum, dum-a-lum-lum!
Lum lum lum lum, dum-a-lum-lum! (repeat)
And stop!
Dance, dance, dance!
(instrumental)
And stop!
Dance, shake hands, and stop.
Stopping on cue helps your child develop self-control. Babies can’t manage this yet,
but if you carry your baby and then stop on cue,
she’ll think it’s really funny and will soon begin
to anticipate the stop. Encourage the giggles
— what better way is there to learn than when
you’re laughing?
I Like to Sing
Traditional
I like to sing when the sun is shining,
Tra la la la la, tra la la la.
I like to sing when the sun is shining,
Tra la la la la, tra la la la.
Vs. 2
I like to trot when the sun is shining, etc.
Vs. 3
I like to swoop when the sun is shining, etc.
Vs. 4
I like to twist when the sun is shining, etc.
When does your family like to sing?
Encourage your older children to think
of some favorite times for bursting into song —
the sillier, the better. Do they like to sing when
they’re in the bathtub? Putting on their shoes?
Eating cookies? Get your younger children involved in singing “tra-la-la-la.” For baby, change
the syllables to something easier to pronounce,
like “ma-ma-ma” or “ba-ba-ba.”
4
Zoom-e-Oh!
Hey, Lolly
Words & Music by Claire Clark
Calypso Song
Away we go, zoom-e-oh!
Away we go, zoom-e-oh!
Up in the sky, down to our toes!
Now hold hands, zoom-e-oh!
Hey, Lolly, Lolly, Lolly,
Hey, Lolly, Lolly-O!
Hey, Lolly, Lolly, Lolly,
Hey, Lolly, Lolly-O!
(instrumental interlude)
This is a silly kind of song.
Hey, Lolly, Lolly-O!
You make it up as you go along.
Hey, Lolly, Lolly-O!
Come back now, zoom-e-oh!
Come back now, zoom-e-oh!
Up in the sky, down to our toes!
Now hold hands, zoom-e-oh!
(instrumental interlude)
Circle around, zoom-e-oh!
Circle around, zoom-e-oh!
Up in the sky, down to our toes!
All done! Zoom-e-oh!
(instrumental interlude)
Multi-sensory learning happens when we
engage two or more of our senses at the
same time. Kindermusik classes are full of multisensory learning, since it incorporates all learning styles and is the very best way for children
to absorb new information. Hearing the words,
seeing the action, and feeling the sensation of
“up” and “down” in this song is multi-sensory
learning at its best!
Hickety Pickety Buttercup
Written by Linda Swears
Hickety pickety buttercup,
How many fingers do I hold up?
FOUR!
Four it is and four you say.
Please play four for us today.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!
Hickety pickety buttercup,
How many fingers do I hold up?
ONE!
One it is and one you say.
Please play one for us today.
ONE!
Vs. 2
Hey, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, etc.
Vs. 3
Hey, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, etc.
Vs. 4
Hey, Baby, Baby, Baby, etc.
Have fun making up your own verses
to this song, choosing other names
to replace Lolly: “Hey, Nana, Nana, Nana” or
“Hey, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.” Then move on to silly or
made-up words, or to favorite inanimate objects.
Toddlers and older children will enjoy making
up nonsense words — and your baby will love
hearing you sing to “Hey, Binky, Binky, Binky!”
Hickety pickety buttercup,
How many fingers do I hold up?
THREE!
Three it is and three you say.
Please play three for us today.
ONE, TWO, THREE!
Your toddler can begin learning to count
with exercises like this, while older children will enjoy choosing the number of fingers to
hold up. As for your baby — count (and tickle!)
his toes to stimulate the sensory receptors on
his feet!
5
Over the River
My Voice
Words & Music by Lydia Maria Child
Traditional
Over the river and through the wood,
To Grandfather’s house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Through white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood,
Oh how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go!
This is my whispering voice.
(echo) This is my whispering voice.
Over the river and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Oh, hear the bell ring,
“Ting-a-ling-ling!”
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day!
This familiar song celebrates Thanksgiving. What are your family traditions
at Thanksgiving? Ask your children what their
favorite things are about this special day, and
consider giving them some input on a brand new
tradition!
This is my speaking voice.
(echo) This is my speaking voice.
Sing-a-Ling-a-Ling
Traditional
Oh, Little One, we sing-a-ling-a-ling
With all our hearts for you.
We hope there’ll be something-a-ling-a-ling
That we can do for you.
In autumn, winter, spring-a-ling-a-ling,
And all the whole year through,
We’ll ring-a-ling-a-ling and jing-a-ling-a-ling
And sing-a-ling-a-ling for you. (repeat)
We’ll ring-a-ling-a-ling
And jing-a-ling-a-ling.
We’ll ring-a-ling-a-ling and jing-a-ling-a-ling
And sing-a-ling-a-ling for you.
This is the perfect song for marching
around the house. Turn it into a game
of follow-the-leader, and let everyone take a
turn going first. Babies can be carried or ride on
Dad’s shoulders. Come on, join the parade!
This is my calling voice.
(echo) This is my calling voice.
This is my singing voice.
(echo) This is my singing voice.
The word “echo” may be a new one for
your children. Take time to talk to them
about echoes and to practice some echoes together. Babies echo naturally as they’re learning
to speak, so talking about how their baby brother
repeats everything they say might be a fun way
to introduce your older children to the concept of
echoing.
I’ve Been Workin’
on the Railroad
Traditional
Doot Doot Deedle Eet
(Voices as Instruments)
There are no instruments on this track –
it’s a cappella, which means that every
sound you hear is a human voice. For more
beautiful a cappella music, download Meet Me
Tonight in Dreamland and In the Shade of the
Old Apple Tree at play.kindermusik.com.
I’ve been workin’ on the railroad,
All the live-long day.
I’ve been workin’ on the railroad
Just to pass the time away.
Can’t you hear the whistle blowin’?
Rise up so early in the morn.
Can’t you hear the captain shoutin’,
“Hey, Dinah, blow your horn!”
continued
6
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow your horn?
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow your horn?
Sing Through the Week
Words & Music by Theresa Case and Kathy Morrison
Sing your way through the week.
Sing and sway cheek to cheek.
Sing and play ev’ry day,
Sing, sing, sing.
Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah,
Someone’s in the kitchen, I know.
Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah,
Strummin’ on the ol’ banjo.
Goodbye to sisters,
Goodbye to brothers.
Goodbye to grownups.
Sing goodbye.
And singin’,
Fee-fi-fiddly-I-O,
Fee-fi-fiddly-I-O,
Fee-fi-fiddly-I-O,
Strummin’ on the ol’ banjo.
(repeat three times)
What a fun, upbeat rendition of a childhood favorite! Time for a family jam —
all you need are some instruments, kitchen utensils, or other beat-keepers, and your voices. Be
sure to point out to your children when the song
speeds up.
Wind in the Corn
Anonymous
I hear the wind blowing in the corn,
Oo, oo, oooo,
Oo, oo, oooo,
I hear the wind. (repeat)
Home Sweet Home
Words & Music by Sir Henry R. Bishop
‘Mid pleasures and palaces,
Though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble,
There’s no place like home.
A charm from the skies
Seems to hallow us there,
Which seek through the world,
Is ne’er met with elsewhere.
Goodbye to sisters,
Goodbye to brothers.
Goodbye to grownups.
Sing goodbye.
Sing goodbye.
You really should sing your way through
the week! Sing while doing chores,
sing in the car, sing while taking a bath, sing at
bedtime. Singing soothes children of all ages,
in all situations. Make singing a regular part of
your routine. Your children will love it, and they’ll
be developing their own vocal ranges as they
join in.
Home, home,
Sweet, sweet home.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
Repeat all three stanzas
A wind chime is heard throughout this
song. You can make your own wind
chime by tying together metal utensils, wooden
spoons, or plastic toys. Notice how the different
materials make different sounds. Kids of all ages
will enjoy making, holding, watching, and listening to these easily made crafts...and hanging
them in their bedroom windows.
Home is where we feel the most comfortable, where hurts are healed, where
“I love you” is freely spoken. Read I Love You:
A Rebus Poem by Jean Marzollo with your
children, and take every opportunity to snuggle
close and tell them you love them.
Times like these will be forever cherished!
7
Make Way for Music — CD 2
We Are Fine Musicians
(Instrumental)
You’ve listened to and identified all the
different instruments in this song. Now
read and learn about even more instruments in
Lloyd Moss’s terrific book Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin.
Skye Boat Song
Galopede (Instrumental)
Belfast Hornpipe
Traditional Morris Tune
Traditional/Irish
The first section of this song features
the flute. Find a picture of the flute for
your children to look at as you listen (can you
mime how the flute is held?). What other instruments do you hear? Even if your children don’t
know the names of the individual instruments,
encourage them to listen for different sounds
— it’s never too early to begin distinguishing
instrumental sounds.
Doesn’t this song make you want to
dance a jig? Make up your own family jig
with fancy foot and leg movements, or just jump
around. Your kids will burn off some extra energy
and you’ll get a great workout!
(Instrumental)
Southwind
Traditional/Irish
(Instrumental)
The instrument you hear on this recording is the mandolin. A mandolin is a
stringed instrument that looks like a small guitar.
Find a picture or a video of this versatile instrument on the Internet to show your children.
How many other stringed instruments can
your family name?
Traditional/Scotland
Take a moment to relax. Lay in silence
and just listen to the music. In our fastpaced, busy lives, we rarely just relax while doing
nothing else. Relaxation is a learned habit. Teach
your children how to relax — it’s a gift they’ll appreciate now and for the rest of their lives.
Maple Leaf Rag (Instrumental)
Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin was an important American composer who was famous for his
ragtime pieces. (Ragtime is a type of jazz.) Go
to your local library and check out a Scott Joplin
CD; your kids will love hearing the intricate
patterns and rhythms. Another great American
composer is Aaron Copland. His music is very
different from Scott Joplin’s — get one of his CDs
from the library and enjoy an American songfest
afternoon.
The Water Is Wide
Üsküdar
Traditional / Arranged by Jon Negus
Turkish Folk Song
The water is wide, I cannot get o’er.
Neither have I the wings to fly.
But give me a boat that can carry two,
And both shall row, my love and I.
On my way to Üsküdar, it began to rain.
On my way to Üsküdar, it began to rain.
La la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la la.
(instrumental interlude)
Repeat first stanza
This is an old folk song you might remember from elementary music class. Share
other folk songs with your children — whatever
our national or ethnic background, folk music carries our culture. You can download some favorite
American folk songs, such as Lavender’s Blue
and Greensleeves, at play.kindermusik.com.
Repeat three times, then
La la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la la.
La la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la la la.
continued
8
Üsküdar is a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey.
How many other songs do you know that
mention cities or places? Challenge your kids
to think of some, and then sing them together.
Younger children will enjoy hearing and moving
to the songs — a perennial favorite is “Well, I
came from Alabama with a banjo on my knee; I’m
goin’ to Louisiana, my true love for to see.”
Arirang Hill
(Instrumental)
Traditional/Korean
Asian music sounds very different from
American music. To hear another interesting Asian song, download Jasmine Flower at
play.kindermusik.com. What instruments do
you hear that are common to both songs?
Bird’s Chorus
Written by Claire Clark
Chickadee-dee-dee
Chickadee-dee-dee
Cuckoo (shh, shh)
Cuckoo (shh, shh)
Hummingbird hum
Hummingbird hum
Bright red cardinal
Bright red cardinal
Repeat all
(All motives sung as a partner-song round)
Voices emulate birds in this song. Can
your children add their voices to the mix
by imitating birds, too? Try it — and then listen to
some instruments emulating birds by downloading
Mockingbird Dance at play.kindermusik.com.
Bird Sounds
(Listening Activity)
Cuckoo
Hummingbird
Chickadee
Cardinal
Find some pictures of a cuckoo, a hummingbird, a chickadee, and a cardinal
(or draw your own!), and listen to their calls
several times while looking at the pictures.
Older kids can play a flash-card game: you play
one of the sounds, and they hold up the picture
of the bird that makes it. Younger kids will be
fascinated by what they hear — and concentrating on specific sounds helps children of all ages
be better listeners.
Blind Man’s Journey
(Instrumental)
Time for a family “air” band. Give a performance of this song while pretending
to play different instruments. You’ll need at least
one guitar player, a drummer, a violinist, and
someone on the flute. Show your children what
these instruments look like and how to “play”
them, then clear yourselves a stage and start
jamming along!
Duérmete, Mi Niño
Latin American Lullaby
Duérmete, mi niño.
Duérmete, solito,
Que Cuando despiertes
Te daréatolito.
Go to sleep, my child.
Sleep in peace and dream,
For when you awaken
I will give you cream.
This sweet little tune is a Spanish lullaby.
Why not add it to your repertoire of nighttime lullabies? If singing isn’t already a part of
your family’s bedtime routine, try it tonight! Start
with old familiar favorites and don’t worry about
the quality of your singing voice — your voice is
still your children’s favorite sound. Whether you
sing or play, soft music will calm and reassure
your children, even as it strengthens the bond
between you.
Old Joe Clark
Traditional/Southern United States, adapted
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la,
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la.
Refrain
Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark;
Fare thee well, I’m gone.
Fare thee well, Old Joe Clark;
Goodbye, Lucy Long.
Old Joe Clark he had a house,
Sixteen stories high.
Every story in the house
Smelled like apple pie.
continued
9
Refrain
Old Joe Clark he had a wife,
Name of Mary Lou.
She had two great big brown eyes;
The other two were blue.
Refrain
Old Joe Clark he built a house,
Told his friends, “It’s neat.”
He built the floors above his head,
The ceilings under his feet.
Refrain
Old Joe Clark had a violin,
Played it all the day.
Never did he fiddle around,
All he’d do was play.
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la,
La la la la la la la,
La la la la la.
This boisterous song lends itself to a
square dance. Make up some moves
and swing your partner, to and fro! Don’t forget
to carry your baby in your arms or give her a
shoulder ride as you do-si-do.
Blue Danube Waltz
(Instrumental)
Johann Strauss, Jr.
A waltz is a type of dance. If you already
know how to waltz, teach your older kids
the simple three-beat waltz step. Let your toddler stand on your feet or hold baby in your arms
while you dance. If you don’t know how to waltz,
find a video online. It’s easy, and your family can
do it together!
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Folk Song
La la la la, la la la la.
La la la la, la la la la.
La la la la, la la la la,
La la la la la la.
Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds
began to sing.
Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before
the king?
Repeat, in a jazzy version, then
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-bap, ba-da-ba-da-ba-da,
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-dap, ba-da-ba-da-da.
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-bap, ba-da-ba-da-ba-da,
Ba-da-ba-da, ba-da-ba-da, ba-da-ba-da-ba - a!
La la la la, la la la la,
La la la la la la.
Repeat standard version, then
Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before
the king?
This song starts out with a straight,
almost classical feel...but soon it
changes to a swinging beat! Help your kids notice
the change by making up a different movement
to match the rhythm of each section. Becoming
aware of these rhythmic differences in songs develops children’s listening skills, and helps them
pick up on nuances in spoken language.
Armenian Lullaby
Traditional
Sleep, my little one,
My loved one,
Babushka Bai-O.
As the bright moon
Watches o’er us,
Babushka Bai-O.
(round)
Sleep, my little one,
My loved one,
Babushka Bai-O.
As the bright moon
Watches o’er us,
Babushka Bai-O.
Children are soothed and charmed by
lullabies from all cultures. To listen to a
peaceful Mexican lullaby, download Rurru
at play.kindermusik.com.
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BOOK: Animals on Parade
Wraggle-Taggle Tambourine
Written by Charnan Simon
(Instrumental)
Pom-piddly-pum!
Dog beat his drum!
Everyone will want a tambourine to play
along with this song. Make your own
by stapling two paper plates together with jingle
bells in between. Let your children decorate the
plates before stapling, and voilà — you have a
band-full of glorious tambourines.
Toot-tootly-toot!
Cat blew her flute!
Click-clickety-click!
Duck tapped his sticks!
Ding ding-a-ding dell!
Mouse rang her bells!
Oh, the music that they made!
I love animals on parade!
Make your own animal parade!
Give your children kitchen-band instruments to play as they pretend to be the cats,
dogs, ducks, and mice in this story. Another
great musical story about animals is Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter. This catchy book will have
the whole family singing along.
Sorida
Traditional/Zimbabwe
Sorida,
Sorida rida rida.
Sorida,
Sorida rida rida.
Da-da-da,
Da-da-da rida rida.
Da-da-da,
Da-da-da rida rida.
Repeat both stanzas twice
Think of some other words or phrases
you can break down into syllables, and
sing them in place of “sorida”. For example:
“I love you, love you, love you,” or “teddy bear,
-dy bear, -dy bear.” Breaking words into syllables
helps even babies and very young children begin
to understand how language works.
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