Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for Five Little Snowflakes

Add actions to the performance of this song. It helps young singers remember the words they are supposed to sing and it also is a nice visual addition to the performance.

For a colourful addition to the song, have each child use a scarf to show what the snow is doing. Repeat the action for each of the repetitions i.e., falling on the ground, falling on the ground, falling on the ground.

• The snow falling - move the scarf in a downward motion
• Dancing in the wind - move the scarf in circles and dance-like movements
• Landing on the ground - hold the scarf in a line between the two hands, like the horizontal plane of the ground. Move both hands side to side while keeping the scarf tight between the hands. Option 2: Holding the scarf in one hand, move the scarf from eye level down to touch on the opposite hand which is held out flat at waist level
• Melting in the sun - Shield your eyes from the sun and move the scarf in a downward motion
• Go back in the sky - move scarf in an upward direction

Decide on a final scarf movement

• Gently toss the scarf and let it slowly flutter to the ground wherever it lands (a pretty effect)
• Create a “pose” and freeze. Include the scarf however you wish.
• Shrug and hold scarf out to one side with the empty hand held out to the other side.
• Ask the students what they would like to do!

Using five different colours of scarves, add a new colour with each verse until all five are involved. The down side of this option is that those who have a scarf that is introduced in verse 4 or 5 must wait for their verse to be sung (the waiting is tough!) and then they only get to add their scarf for a very brief verse. This option might be useful as an alternate way to use the scarves in a classroom setting where students have the option to be included in different verses over several repetitions of the song.

For a non-winter option, use the alternate lyrics: Five Shiny Stars provided with the download.

Five Little Snowflakes

I created the lyrics for Five Little Snowflakes using the tune of a rain song that my students already knew. This worked well for my youngest students who were hardly ready for a concert after only a few months of music class. However, I was required to put them on stage to perform, so I wanted a simple song that I knew they would do well. They loved using simple actions to show the snow gently falling, dancing in the wind and melting in the sun. We finished off the whole snow cycle by returning the snowflakes to the sky, presumably to refreeze and fall as snowflakes on another day. As often happens, someone heard my version of this song and wanted a copy to use with their students. Although it was a good way to create a song quickly for my students, it also complicates things to use someone else’s music with my lyrics when it comes to sharing the song with others. I was reticent to give them the music, which was not my own tune, so I decided to write a simple tune of my own. Now I can happily share my song with whomever I wish! I probably should have just done that in the first place. Better late than never, I guess!

P.S. I was asked for a star song. The simple form of Five Little Snowflakes was pressed into service yet again and alternate lyrics were crafted to create the song Five Shiny Stars. Now there are TWO options for young singers. Music teachers are always searching for simple songs, so I am happy to have this double-option song to offer!

When you have enjoyed singing this song and doing the activities with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Please send us your performing video - we might be able to post it on this page!

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for The "Can't Wait 'til I'm Older" Blues.

The "Can't Wait 'til I'm Older" Blues is one of 12 songs from the Juno-nominated song collection "Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me" Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs using a variety of styles including a lullaby/tango, bluegrass, blues and pop in a variety of skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 122-page book provides the vocal score, full score and separate lyrics pages for 12 songs. Enjoy! 

Please note: audio tracks for the e-book version are sold separately. Print copies of the book include CD (24 tracks)

Stream or Purchase from many streaming sites including:  Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

The Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (24) are available for download or physical CD on this website.

You are invited to send us your performance of The "Can't Wait 'til I'm Older" Blues. Maybe your video will be featured here on this page.

Please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

21 Cross-curricular activities are provided in the PDF download extending the focus of this song to other subject areas including:

• Fine arts: music, visual art,
• Language arts
• Math
• Social studies
• Technology

The “Can’t Wait ‘til I’m Older” Blues

I was listening to an interview on the radio while I was driving. The interview subject was talking about how much they had anticipated growing up, only to find it wasn’t as glorious as they had imagined it would be. That simple thought got me started on this song about youngsters who want to grow up, but once they do, they wish they were young again!

Later, at school I talked to my students and I asked them if they ever wanted to be a grownup and be able to decide things for themselves like what time they went to bed, the kind of car they wanted to drive, and what they would eat for a meal. Most of the students nodded their heads in agreement that adults had things pretty good.  However, I asked them a few pointed questions. When it was time to eat a meal, who cooked that meal? Who bought the groceries for that meal? Who worked at a job to pay for the groceries? What about owning a car? How many of the students drove themselves to soccer practice, piano lessons or to a friend’s house? None! The adults did the driving, and they also paid for the gas, the maintenance on the vehicle and the payments for the car. Things were not looking so rosy for the adults at that point. Now we had the right attitude to sing a blues song!

Each verse explored an item the kids thought would be great to have once they were older: a sporty red car, a great job, and their own place.  Once they examined some of the adult responsibilities that came with those items, the chorus was simple to write:  “I’ve got the ‘Can’t Wait ‘til I’m Older, so I can Wish I were Younger’ Blues.”

Perhaps another day I will write a song for adults to sing as we wish we were carefree kids again! That song will have to wait for another day though. Right now I have to deal with cleaning and shopping and laundry and errands and bills and taxes………

Teaching Tips

    Introduce the song and create an emotional connection by having a discussion.

• Discuss the title of the song. What do you think the composer is going to write about in the song?
• Discuss things that adults can do that children wish they could do (e.g. own a car, have their own house, etc.)
• Are there things that children can do that adults wish they could do? (e.g. playing in the yard while someone else makes dinner, not needing to grocery shop, etc.)

Talk about the blues scale, flatted thirds and accidentals. Find places in the music where the blues notes and accidentals are used.

Listen to the descending blues scale at the end of the song. Practice this several times to become comfortable with the tricky intervals before singing the entire song.

Discuss 12/8 meter. Each of the four beats are subdivided into 3 eighth notes. Count to four while clapping three times on each beat to get used to the feeling of 12/8 meter.

Improvise your own notes and/or lyrics for one (or more!) of the verses. You may create new lyrics, or scat your melody.

You are invited to send us your performance of The "Can't Wait 'til I'm Older" Blues. Maybe your video will be featured here on this page.

Please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!