Ten of the best songs for moving around whilst developing musical concepts!
There is no doubt about it young children need to move. They learn so much about themselves and the world by moving around. Skills like special awareness and gross motor movement among many. Here are my ten of the best songs for encouraging movement during a music class whilst developing musical concepts. They are also often the children’s favourites too!
1. Engine, Engine coloured black
Children love this rhyme as it means they can go fast. BUT it also means they have to learn control when they have to move slowly too. You can make a line (like a train) or have several trains or even individual trains! Encouraging children to move in time with the pulse of the rhyme means the leader must make heir train actions very strong and big for children to see and obviously move in time with the pulse. Alternated between fast and slow so children begin to understand the difference between fast and slow (musically this is an introduction to Tempo). Older children can be the train driver and set the speed.
Engine, engine coloured black,
Going slowly down the track.
Engine, Engine coloured green,
Fastest train you’ve ever seen!
2. Bell Horses
Bell Horses is a rhyme that was originally used to start children’s races. Children absolutely love this song as they can run as fast as they can and be the winner! Make sure you have plenty of space for this one and a finishing post! This is also excellent for developing pulse, listening and introducing children to anticipate endings. Start at one end sing the song whilst tapping your legs (you could shake bells too if you wish) at the end of the song (after away!)
Bell Horses, Bell Horses
What’s the time of day?
One o’clock, two O’clock
Off and away!
3. Ring O’ Roses
Ring a roses is always a favourite. Children love falling down on their bottoms!
Children learn to co-operate by holding each others hands and moving in one direction then at the correct point listen for “all for down”. Start in a circle walk in one direction. When down on the floor tap the second part with your hands and on “Three” jump up!
Ring a ring o’ roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo, atishoo
We all fall down
Spoken:
Down at the bottom of the deep blue sea
Catching fishes for my tea
One, Two, Three!
I love this song – it goes on and on and on. Children will repeat these actions over and over and you can sing this anywhere especially if it has been raining! Actions are: walking during the song and then jump on splash. Again good for pulse, anticipation of ending, listening and also the splash can be loud or quiet depending on how big the puddle is – a nice introduction to dynamics!
Walking in the rain, walking in the rain
Look there’s a puddle, let’s jump SPLASH!
Children love falling, jumping and being swung this song can encompass all three!
For young children hold their hands and shake them in time with the song on three either swing them up high or between you legs; or the can run underneath your legs.
For older children stand in a group of four (two pairs opposite each other hold hands). On first person goes under one of a pairs arms (the arms on the top first) goes over the top of a child who ducks underneath. This repeats until all the children are inside their arms (like a basket being weaved). Then they jump up and down to shake up the sugar pot. I have found children want to do this again and again even nine and ten year olds. Great for pulse, co-ordination and being in time together as a group!
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter
One in a bush
Two in a bush
(First) person goes under (first can be changed to second, third and so on)
Spoken:
Shake up the sugar pot
Shake up the sugar pot
Shake up the sugar pot
We all fall down
A song that can involve as many actions as you can think of. Jumping (a favourite), clapping, shake, wave, hop, stamp, kick…. the list goes on. Fantastic for developing pulse and gross motor movement. Great for tiring children out and adults too!
Jump Jim along, Jim along Josie
Jump Jim along, Jim along Jo
Jump Jim along, Jim along Josie
Jump Jim along, Jim along Jo
This is another circle game like Ring O’Roses. Children hold hands in a circle and move in one direction at the end of the song (after “afternoon”) the children jump on the musical rest. Then it repeats going in the opposite direction. You can go fast or slow, which is good for developing the idea of Tempo. Musicially this develops the “rest” in the song I usually speak the word “boom” at the end to initially help children find the rest.
Sally go round the sun,
Sally go round the moon,
Sally go round the chimney pots,
Every afternoon (boom!)
Not only do children get to pretend to be birds and get to move about but this is a great song for musical phrasing encouraging children to return to their starting place. Start the song on a spot this could be a mat or hoop for example. Children must fly away from their mat and return on the word home. Children will start to feel the duration of the phrase and how long it might take them to return – the third line is longer! Hidden in this is also musical structure (lines 1, 2 and 4 are the same whilst 3 is different).
The birdies fly away and the come back home
The birdies fly away and the come back home
Fly away, fly away all the birdies fly away,
The birdies fly away and the come back home
9. Up like a rocket
Children never get tired of this rhyme. We could do these actions all day in my classes. Children bend their kneeswhilst forming a point with their hands above their head (making a rocket). I love to make the word Up last a very long time starting my voice low and gradually getting higher (developing pitch awareness).Then we jump up. On the second line we make rain with our fingers moving downwards (as my voice descends in pitch) and the last two lines we rock back and forwards whilst motioning train arms. Great fun!
Up like a rocket
Down like the rain
Back and forwards Like a choo, choo train
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