Song Set Archives - Donna & Andy

20 Best Camp Songs – Donna’s Camp Song Collection

Andy Duinker — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:09:30 +0000

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Camp Songs

Print copies available on Amazon

Purchase a Print copy on Amazon. Enjoy!

Go to Donna's Amazon Author Page to see more Donna Rhodenizer books.

Also, click the "Follow" button to get notified when additional new books become available.

Teaching tips

Use camp songs at the beginning of the school year to “break the ice” and encourage students to join in singing. They are more likely to participate if their nervous laughter is covered by the laughter resulting from a silly song.

Camp songs can be used as warm-ups. Canons and rounds that are delightful around an evening campfire are also lovely as an easy harmony exercise and vocal warm-up. Action songs get students singing and moving to warm up (or wind down!) physically before singing.

Use camp songs as an end-of-year activity. Students anticipating the end of the school year may find it difficult to settle. Camp songs have a good combination of fun and exuberance to handle attitudes at this time of year.

Use camp songs to give your students a library of songs they can share in summer social settings when someone says, “Let’s sing something!” As much as the students learn from singing games and pedagogical songs, they are not the type of songs a student would suggest when they are contributing to a sing-along.

Read the lyrics carefully before using any camp song in this collection or anywhere else. Some lyrics that are acceptable to some may be considered inappropriate for others. You will need to make your own assessment of what is appropriate for your unique setting/school. “When in doubt, leave it out,” has always been sage advice.

Ask the students if they have a favourite camp song to share. Again, this is best done with some monitoring from the teacher!

Composer's Notes

Camp songs are fun to sing and can leave a lasting impression. I remember with great clarity being at camp and hearing "The Bear Song” for the first time. I listened in horror as that bear closed in on the singer. I could see that huge tree and the branch so far from the ground. When the runner jumps and misses, my heart was racing and I couldn’t figure out how this could possibly end well. The twist at the end when the singer actually missed the branch on the way up, but caught it on the way down was funny and a relief all at the same time. Fast forward to decades later, and I still love sharing this song with my students. The call and response format makes it accessible for the students with no words to remember (it’s all up to you, the song leader!). It is still a relief when the safe arrival on the branch concludes the song.

I also remember the crackle of the fire, darkness settling slowly and gently around us as we sang and roasted marshmallows. Singing songs in this setting is such a great memory.

Music and singing was a huge part of family life when I was growing up. My love of music has carried on to become my chosen profession, what I enjoy for fun, and my greatest joy. Perhaps young singers will learn a silly camp song, discover that they enjoy singing and include music in the activities they pursue for the rest of their lives. That’s a pretty big mandate for the lowly camp song, but you never know!

Couloring Page - Download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you sing the songs in the Camp Song Collection. You can also colour while you play the song videos.

You are invited

When you have enjoyed singing these camp songs - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Please send us your performance videos - we might be able to post them on this page!

Camp Songs come in a variety of categories:

Songs with disgusting lyrics

that make us say, "Eeuw!"

Found a Peanut

Herman the Worm

Tom the Toad

Action Songs

Bim Bum

Dum Dum Dada

I'm Glad I am a Camper

Waddle-ee Ahcha

Call and Response / Echo Songs

The Bear Song

Boom Chicka Boom

Going on a Lion Hunt

The Moose Song

Sing-along Songs / Story Songs

Banjo Song / My Old Banjo

The Chicken Song

The Fox

Long-legged Sailor

Old MacDonald Mash-up

Rattlin' Bog

Canons / Rounds

A Ram Sam Sam

Fire's Burning

One Bottle o' Pop

Bonus

The Rooster Story

Songs with disgusting lyrics - that make us say, "Eeuw!"

Action Songs

Call and Response / Echo Songs

The Bear Song

Sing-along Songs / Story Songs

Canons / Rounds

Bonus

Send us your videos of these Camp Songs and perhaps we can post them here.

Composer, Elementary Music Specialist, Performer

Donna Rhodenizer

Donna Rhodenizer loves playing singing games with her students. In addition to pretending to be a bird flying in and out of windows, an owl hiding in the forest, or a mother chicken calling to her chicks, Donna’s vivid imagination is put to good use composing songs for young singers. She has written over 500 pieces of music in the past four decades and, unless that pesky wolf in the forest causes an early demise, she has plans to write more songs in the future.

The post 20 Best Camp Songs – Donna’s Camp Song Collection appeared first on Donna & Andy.

27 New Singing Games for Young Singers

Andy Duinker — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 17:43:32 +0000

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New Singing Games

for Young Singers

by Donna Rhodenizer

Vol. 1 Grades K-1, ages 5-7

New Singing Games for Young Singers Vol. 1 Grades K-1, ages 5-7

Donna Rhodenizer has written twelve original singing games for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, singers ages 5-7. These songs focus on the early skill development of emerging singers including galloping, action songs, fast and slow, as well as songs with simple tone sets (mainly s-m-l combinations). Individual singing opportunities are built into many of the singing games. Students have the opportunity to work on discerning differences in pitch and pitch matching, leading to singing in tune with others. All of the singing games provide young singers with a play-based learning experience, inherent to their innate learning style and crucial to their skill development. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Vol. 2 Grades 2-3, ages 7-9

Donna Rhodenizer’s second volume of singing games focuses on singers in grades 2-3, ages 7-9. Eleven original singing games focus on providing practice for skills learned earlier and adding songs and skills with expanded tone sets and more complex rhythmic elements. Individual singing games are still a mainstay as students continue to hone their ability to sing in tune with others. Repetition is a key element of singing games, creating opportunity for internalizing musical concepts for labelling and practicing in future lessons. Games with movement, guessing games and even a few chasing options make these singing games interesting and motivating for students. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Vol. 3 Grades 4-5, ages 9-11

The third volume of Donna Rhodenizer’s singing games is created for singers in grades 4-5, ages 9-11. Ten original singing games delve into more complex musical elements such as minor tonalities, wider tone sets and complex rhythms. Singing games with individual responses include singing as well as rhythmic and melodic improvisation. Musical challenges for this age group are offered using a play-based learning style that creates a relaxed atmosphere for exploring and learning without pressure. All songs include scores and game instructions, plus adaptations for small group and individual instruction.

Print copies Available on Amazon

Print copies are available on Amazon.

Go to Donna's Amazon Author Page to purchase your print copy.

Also, click the "Follow" button to get notified when additional new books become available.

Composer's Notes

New Singing Games for Young Singers

My music classroom has been singing based from day one. Everything we did hinged on singing, and the best way to get kids to sing is to make it a game. Singing games were part of my music education courses and my approach was influenced by my training in the Kodaly teaching method, also founded on the use of singing games to teach concepts to children.

Over the years I have had certain singing games that I enjoyed sharing with my students. I knew they liked those particular games, it was exciting to play them, and they were motivated to participate. As time and political correctness became an issue in our classrooms, some of the singing games from decades (centuries?) ago began to come into question. Old singing games that were based on less than favourable past-times and ways of doing things began to be considered inappropriate and needed to be removed. Song context aside, the games that went with some of those songs were favourites of my students (and of mine as well) so I set about to create new songs that would fit the games that went with the old songs. I had collected quite a few singing games by the time I was chatting with Nikki Loney (Full Voice Music) about doing a question and answer online session with teachers about singing games. With my collection already started (sort of) it seemed like an opportune time to put together an official version of these songs.

What started out as a single collection across grade levels (K-5) started to get too large and unwieldy for a single book. We decided to split the book into K-2 and 3-5. Then THAT got too big so we revised and split the book into 3 volumes. Now there were not quite enough songs to make a reasonable sized book (in my estimation) so in addition to the songs I already had, I designed some new ones. Trying to figure out games that would work for each of the songs had us galloping, passing sticks to the beat, counting bars to match dance steps and having lots of fun! I also needed to think outside of my elementary classroom focus and create adaptations for singing games that could be used by private vocal teachers with small groups or just one student. That was a fun challenge!

I ended up writing six new songs in a week to insert into various age groupings. I was reminded of my days in the classroom when I needed songs for specific events and I ended up writing them. It was an intense, productive two weeks and I was exhausted but creatively energized by the whole process.

You Are Invited

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

Please send us your performance videos - we might be able to post them on this page!

New Singing Games - Vol. 1 - grade 1-2 (age 5-7)

New Singing Games - Vol. 2 - grade 2-3 (age 7-9)

Also found in New Singing Games - Vol. 1

Also found in New Singing Games - Vol. 3

New Singing Games - Vol. 3 - grade 4-5 (age 9-11)

More Singing Games

Send us your videos of these New Singing Games and perhaps we can post them here.

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4 Dances

Andy Duinker — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 02:22:08 +0000

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4 Dances

Audio & Description

Clap, Clap Bow (Danish Greeting Song)

Greeting song, done without a partner

Students remain in their own spot as they follow the instructions.

Irish Polka

Greeting song, done without a partner

Students remain in their own spot as they follow the instructions.

Sasha (Russian folk dance)

Dance with or without a partner.

Free movement for the B section before returning to a new partner.

Seven Jumps (Danish folk dance, adapted)

Circle dance (whole class moves together)

B section cumulatively adds seven different freeze poses.

Older students love the physical challenge of this “dance”.

Teaching tips

Use simple dances while students are entering and exiting the music room. Students simply do the actions as they walk, stopping now and then to do a fancy step or two. It gets them listening from the moment they enter the room.

Students who do not want to clap hands with a partner can do the clapping motions in the air. They are still participating but they are not being forced into an activity they find uncomfortable.

Use simple movement songs and adapted dances to fill the time when students are waiting (e.g. at a school assembly while waiting for all the students to arrive). Teachers and administrators will love the fact that the children are engaged and not getting into mischief. You will look like a magician in addition to being a musician!

Use dances and movement to create variety in a music class, providing a break from focused mental activities and from sitting for long periods of time. Use dances and movement to prepare or practice beat, phrase lengths, listening to instructions and responding to music. These are all music curriculum outcomes (just in case an administrator asks you to justify having so.much.fun.)

For “littles” use marches, fiddle tunes and other songs with simple musical forms and create your own dances with your students.

Older students appreciate moving to music that is more complex. Use movements that keep the beat without making any sound (tapping shoulders, winking, bending knees, etc.). Let the students be the leader, changing the actions for each new phrase – a great listening exercise!

Composer's Notes

Although I didn’t compose any of these four dances I had fun arranging them to use with my students. And I do have some dancing stories to share!

When I was a student, we didn’t have a music room in my small elementary school. The music teacher would travel to each classroom to teach music (sound familiar?) so we didn’t have much space for things like dance and movement activities. However, dance was part of our gym classes. Our teacher would bring out the record player that looked like a square box. The top was the speaker that would detach and be set up to amplify the scratchy 45 rpm record so we could dance. Those of you who are 50 years or younger may have to go online to read up on what a 45 record looks like! That scratchy little record allowed us to have great fun dancing to A-hunting We Will Go and Seven Jumps (among others). When I was teaching in my first school, among the resources I found in my room was an old 45 rpm dance record that included Seven Jumps! Although I use a version of the music I created on my keyboard, the essence of that early recording has been preserved as closely as I could remember it. My students enjoy this dance as much as I did, and I STILL enjoy doing it with them, although I am not as limber as I was when I was eight years old!

Irish Polka and Clap, Clap Bow were songs that I discovered during my early years of teaching and they became a staple movement activity with my students. They work well as a greeting song as students enter the music room and any time we need a movement break. I also discovered that they could be pressed into service to keep students engaged (and out of trouble) when they were waiting for a school assembly to begin. I taught at a K-8 school with over 600 students. For an all-school assembly, the “littles” sat in the front which meant they arrived in the gym first. They would sit and wait for the rest of the students to arrive and be seated which sometimes took up to 15 minutes. This was long enough for them to become restless and get into mischief. I started doing simple music activities to keep them amused. We did follow the leader/keep the beat activities to lots of lively music. We also had some songs that I taught every class in the lower elementary grades so we could sing a few things while waiting. Then I discovered that Irish Polka and Clap, Clap Bow could be done while remaining seated. The students loved having something to do, the teachers were thrilled to be relieved of managing restless pupils and the principal was delighted with the wonderful behaviour of the students. Music for the win!

Sasha is a dance I discovered late in my career. I wish I had known about it earlier as this quickly became one of my students’ favourite dances (and mine also). The minor tonality and the lively music are a great way to perk up sluggish students, getting them moving and greeting others in the class. Although it is meant to be a partner dance, it also works to do the actions “in the air” if a partner has not been located in time, or if a student is needing personal space and doesn’t want to touch anyone else. I traced my hands and cut out the shapes using spongy craft material. Students without a partner could use my spare pair of hands on the nearby wall. (This is also a great adaptation for those who are averse to touching or being touched by others). Sasha was also a song that was used in the “waiting-for-the-assembly-to-start” rotation of songs.

Dance is such a great way to teach children to listen to instructions, move to the music, feel the beat and phrases, learn about respectful touching of others, and learn dances from other cultures. I didn’t know I was learning all those things when I was in elementary school. Dancing was just fun, and it still is!

Send us your 4 Dances videos and perhaps we can post them here.

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4 Penguin Songs

Andy Duinker — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:41:22 +0000

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Four Penguin Songs

by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

Follow along with the lyrics as you listen to the accompaniment with melody guide for these Four Penguin Songs

I Wonder

Penguin Parade

Pondering Penguins

The Penguin Ball

Part of a Song Collection

These Four Penguin Songs are included in the award-winning song collection "Computer Cat" (total of 12 songs). Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.

Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 93-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)

I only want one Penguin song - can i do that?

You can purchase each Penguin song separately.

Save 25% when you purchase all Four Penguin Songs together.

Stream and purchase Audio tracks

Stream or Purchase the Four Penguin Songs from many streaming sites including:

Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.

The Computer Cat CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (24) is available for download or purchase physical CD on this website.

53 cross-curricular activities

53 Cross-curricular activities are provided in the PDF download (divided over 4 penguin songs) extending the focus of these songs to other subject areas including:

Fine arts: music, visual art, dance, drama,
Language arts
Math
Social studies
Science
Technology

Teacher Tips

Teaching tips are provided with each individual song. See the teaching tips when you visit each penguin song webpage.

Save 25% when you purchase all Four Penguin Songs together.

Colouring Pages - Free Download

Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring these Penguins as you li sten to the Four Penguin Songs. Enjoy!

Composer's Notes

Four Penguin Songs

I wrote my collection of penguin songs as a result of a request made by a classroom teacher at my school. She was doing a penguin unit with her students and she asked me for a penguin song. I didn’t know any, so I wrote my own! When her students came to my music class they told me lots of penguin facts to give me ideas for my songs. I discovered that penguins are amazing creatures. The conditions in which they live and the way they survive, live, and raise their babies are all fascinating. With all the facts I found out, I ended up writing four penguin songs.

Some of the songs rely on the facts that the students told me, but other songs in the set dive into the world of imagination with penguins checking their closets for clothing options, attending the ”penguin ball” for some romantic moonlit dancing on the beach, or having a parade in the snow. All in all, I had a grand time writing these four songs and the students enjoyed singing them. After almost three decades, I am happy to report my penguin songs are still being sung and enjoyed by young singers (and their audiences) around the world!

You are Invited

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

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

See more penguin song videos on these pages.

Save 25% when you purchase all Four Penguin Songs together.

Send us your videos of 4 Penguin Songs and perhaps we can post them here.

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4 Turkey Songs and Games

Andy Duinker — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:07:34 +0000

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4 Turkey Songs and Games

arranged by Donna Rhodenizer

Audio & Lyrics

The download for 4 Turkey Songs and Games includes the vocal scores and audio accompaniment tracks as well. However, I'm sorry you don't have any sample tracks to listen to here at this time.

Teacher Tips

Why are singing games important?

Singing games are a foundational part of elementary music classroom activities. Singing games have a variety of purposes:

Provide the opportunity for students to learn through play-based learning. This is one of their primary, inherent learning methods.
Prepare music elements that will be identified and presented in later classes (sometimes in the next school year!).
Provide examples of music elements to be identified and labelled.
Review and practice music elements that have been labelled.
Provide students the opportunity to make physical responses, assisting in internalizing the concepts in the song.
Provide physical movement “brain breaks” within a lesson.

A well-planned music class will include one or two singing games. Use a singing game early in the lesson to prepare concepts. Close to the end of a class, a singing game can be used to review something the students already know and to practice those elements in a fun, musical context. In a music class that requires concentration and focus, a fun singing game is a great way for students to relax.

Singing games are best used unaccompanied. This allows students to hear vocal modelling from the teacher without obscuring pitches with an instrument. Singing games include the expectation that students are singing. Unaccompanied singing allows them to hear their own voices as they learn to make vocal changes and match pitch/sing in tune with others.

Composer's Notes

4 Turkey Songs and Games

I didn’t compose these four turkey songs but as soon as I discovered them, they became favourite seasonal songs I enjoyed sharing with my students leading up to Thanksgiving. Although it is great to be a composer and write what I want to sing with my students, finding great songs written by someone else is also a great way to go. Each turkey song in my collection serves a different purpose in the music classroom: a sing-along song, a simple finger play, an action song, and a game that is always a great end-of-class activity.

I grew up on a family farm, but my farming background did not include any experience with turkeys. My visit to a local farm was very informative and the turkeys had a few tricks to play on me! I am glad my students are not inclined to wander off when I am explaining a game. I am also happy that my students are MUCH better at participating in the turkey songs that I use in my music classroom.

You are Invited

When you have enjoyed singing these songs 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!

Send us your video of 4 Turkey Songs and perhaps we can post it here.

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5 Halloween Songs

Andy Duinker — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 19:38:19 +0000

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5 Halloween Songs

by Donna Rhodenizer

Blog Post - 5 Halloween Songs

Learn more about Donna's most popular 5 Halloween Songs in this blog post.

You Are Invited

When you have enjoyed singing these songs with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Please send us your performance videos as well - we might be able to post them here on this page!

5 New Singing Games

Andy Duinker — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:02:51 +0000

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5 New Singing Games

by Donna Rhodenizer

Teaching tips

Singing games are fun for the students and creates the opportunity for multiple repetitions of songs that internalize melodic and rhythmic concepts. Singing games taught to younger grades create a foundation of songs that will be used later to label and practice these concepts.

Include a new singing game in the first half of the music class period. Teach the song, play the game and move on to another activity.

When extracting concepts (either labelling or practicing) play the corresponding familiar singing game to refresh the internalized concepts before working on the targeted rhythmic or melodic element.

Use a familiar singing game as a movement activity and “brain break” closer to the end of your music class lesson plan.

Additional teaching strategies (game instructions, concepts being covered and alternate game options) are included in the PDF download.

Composer's Notes

I enjoy playing singing games with my students almost as much as they enjoy playing them. They love the games. I love the fact that we can use the foundations they are internalizing to unlock musical concepts allowing musical skills to develop. What a gift it is to be able to teach using such a fun teaching tool.

I decided to start writing some of my own singing games when information started surfacing about songs that should be “retired” because they were no longer appropriate. We are sad to give up the memories of the fun we have had with these songs, but we want to do our best to make good choices for the songs we use with our students. How can we give up those older songs and find something else to use? As a composer, I have the tools to do something about that!

Singing games are an interesting composing project. They need to be simple, they are usually short, and they have limited musical elements that should be included. I think it is similar to writing a good joke. Introduce the topic, set it up, give the punch line and finish! It is a good exercise to compose in this “frugal” manner. I am always grateful for the inspiration my music classroom brings to my writing process and also the opportunities it provides in creating repertoire needs to which I can contribute.

There are singing games that become favourites because it is a great song. Sometimes it is because of the game itself. I chose two songs that were my students’ favourite games and created new songs that worked with those games. I was reluctant to give up the songs as they were ones that worked well with students in upper elementary grades. Teachers know how difficult it is to find just the right song for these older students. The students are really not as interested in the music, they just want to play the game. Armed with my list of musical elements and the games we wanted to continue playing, I created There’s My Chicken (a great chasing game!) and Old Back Door (a dance song). We are all happy to sing and play these new songs.

I composed Owl in the Pine Tree, Open All Your Windows Wide ,and Dogs Hide Bones to add more variety in the simple songs I use with my students to encourage individual singing and the development of pitch matching. Again, the students are just happy to be getting a turn in a singing game while I am intent on sneaking in those melodic concepts that create a foundation for future music activities.

I am delighted to use my composing skills to benefit my students and to facilitate my music program goals.

20 Best Camp Songs – Donna’s Camp Song Collection

27 New Singing Games for Young Singers

4 Dances

4 Penguin Songs

4 Turkey Songs and Games

5 Halloween Songs

5 New Singing Games

5 Tongue Twisters

5 Valentine Singing Games

A Birdly Debate

A Gift for Me

A Jolly Bunch Are We – Donna & Andy CD

A Robin’s Tale

A Snake Tango Tale

Because

Bedtime Tango

Best Friends

Call of the Ocean

Celebrate Diwali

Christmas A to Z / Winter A to Z

Christmas Pudding

Christmas Recipe

Computer Cat

Dark Night Sky

Deo / Sing Together / Winter, Winter

Ed the Invisible Dragon

Ed the Invisible Dragon – Illustrated Children’s Book

Father Christmas & In the Winter

Fish Wishes and/or Witch Watches

Five Little Snowflakes

Fluffy Flakes of Snow

Four Snow Friends

Freebie – Tongue Twisters

Garden Symphony

Get Up Christmas Mornin’

Get Up in the Mornin’

Hanukkah, Hanukkah

Hello Ghostie!

Hey Santa, Ho Santa

How Do You Say Hello to a Ghost?

I Got a Sister (but I wanted a dog)

I Need a Home for my Dinosaur

I Really Need to Know

I Will Be There

I Wonder

I’m Wishing

I’d Rather be a Bear

I’m Gonna Build a Snowman

It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me

It’s Christmas Time + It’s Winter Time

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs

It’s a Busy, Busy Time of Year

It’s Snowing (Oh yes! / Oh no! / Mixed feelings) (3-song set)

Jiggle Wiggle Freeze

Jingle Bells – Scarf Activity

Jolly Sailors

Just Passing By

Listen Friends

Marching Music & Activities

Midnight March

Mister Santa, I’ve Been Good + Winter Time is Lots of Fun

My Chihuahua

My Hamster

My Kaleidoscope View

My Treehouse

O Little Town of Bethlehem

October Night

Orcas

Où est le cadeau

Pass the Pasta

Penguin Parade

Pondering Penguins

Ramadan is Coming

Rap it Up to Go

Regardez la neige

See My Little Candle / See the Snowflakes Falling

See You Later, Alligator

Seven Sassy Sailors

Sing a Song of Peace

Singin’ the Blues

Splashing in the Puddles

Star Above

Swamp Friends

Thankful

The “Can’t Wait ’til I’m Older” Blues

The Compliant Giant

The Giraffe

The Peace of Christmas

The Penguin Ball

Tobogganing

Turn it Around

Umbrellas

Under My Bed

Valentine Rhythm Activity

Vocal Warm-ups for Choir, Elementary Schools and Vocal Studios

Waiting Patiently for Santa

We Are

We are the Children of the World

Welcome Songs, Greeting Songs and Name-learning Songs & Games

Winter Concert Songs for Children – Vol. 1 – Grades K-1 (ages 5-7)

Witch Watches and/or Fish Wishes

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5 Tongue Twisters

Andy Duinker — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 01:39:45 +0000

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5 Tongue Twisters

by Donna Rhodenizer

Tongue Twisters - Blog Post

Read more about Tongue Twisters in this blog post created by Donna to support teachers with teaching tips and strategies plus additional tongue twister activities.

Teaching Tips

Use a metronome to set a slow and steady speed.

Say each tongue twister slowly and clearly.

Increase the speed of the metronome and continue to strive for accuracy as you speak the tongue twister.

For an added challenge, select an element of the tongue twister for which you will add an action (like a clap, snap or tap). The element you choose may be a specific word, words that rhyme, or words that begin/end with the same letter.

Continue adding the action you have added, but leave out the word where you have added the action.

Speak your tongue twister in canon with another person. Can you stay on track?

Use spoken or sung tongue twisters as a warm-up activity before singing other repertoire.

Composer's Notes

5 Tongue Twisters

When I was in grade 7, our math teacher held multiplication table competitions. Two of us would stand in front of the class and be given a specific times table to recite. I remember doing the 12 times table. Because of my ability to speak quickly (and maybe because I was used to singing and had developed some breath control) it was possible to get all the way to “12 x 12 is 144” without needing to take a breath. My opponent would stop somewhere along the way to take a quick breath and, voilà, I would be at the finish line – the winner! I can still rattle off all those times tables which astounds my grown up children who whip out their phone to do some of those higher combinations that are still firmly established in my memory.

How do math times tables have anything to do with tongue twisters? Like reciting times tables, tongue twisters also incorporate the ability to speak or sing words in rapid-fire succession. I enjoy playing with words and seeing how they sound in various combinations, so tongue twisters are a great fit for how I work with language. I know there is much research on how music and math are connected. Note values correlate with mathematical equations and the harmonic overtone series can be explained using principles of physics. I don’t know if anyone has ever researched the tongue twister – multiplication table connection, but maybe someone should look into that!

My collection of Five Tongue Twisters evolved when Nikki Loney of FULL VOICE Music asked me to create some melodies for a few simple tongue twisters. In addition to creating the tunes, I added lyrics to produce a song with a bit more substance. I chose five tongue twisters and put them together to create a set. The beginning of each tongue twister might sound familiar, and if I did my composer’s job well, the extra parts I have added should sound like they belong with the rest of the words. One-verse and two-verse tongue twisters mean the singer (or speaker) has many more words to accurately manage, increasing the challenge of the tongue twister. I also created a three-verse version of We Will Surely See the Sun that is included as a study in the FULL VOICE Music publication, Songs and Studies for Kids, Introductory A. That should prove to be a good challenge.

Tongue twisters are a fun writing exercise and I know I will return to this form of writing for future compositions.

More Tongue Twisters

More Tongue Twisters to Sing and Purchase

This collection of 5 Tongue Twisters can be spoken or sung and they can be used as a challenge, a game, a warm-up, and for fun. They are a great tool for working on pronunciation and expressive delivery of text.

Pass the Pasta is a two-verse tongue twister that can be spoken or sung. Use it as a challenge, a game, a warm-up or just for fun. It is a great tool for working on pronunciation and expressive delivery of text.

Seven Sassy Sailors enjoy sailing the seven salty seas until they run into trouble and sink their schooner. Their sorry state is reflected by a switch to the minor key. Do not worry, they send an S.O.S, they are rescued, and the song finishes on a happy note.

Witch Watches is a twisty witch tale that fits with a Halloween theme, however, singers will enjoy singing this song at any time of the year.

Fish Wishes is a delightful tongue-twisting tale of two fishes caught in the dilemma of how to share the three wishes they have been granted. They are happy to each have a wish, but how will they share the third wish?

Try this notoriously difficult, but hilariously fun tongue twister warm-up:

Pretty, Itty, Bitty, Kitty Unicorn (by Donna Rhodenizer & Nikki Loney) - on the Full Voice Music website.

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You are invited to send us your performance of any of the 5 Tongue Twisters.

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Send us your videos of your tongue twisters and perhaps we can post them here.

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5 Valentine Singing Games

Andy Duinker — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:07:39 +0000

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5 Valentine Singing Games

by Donna Rhodenizer

Teacher Notes

Use singing games to create a play-based environment for students to explore using their singing voices.

Individual responses assist students developing pitch matching and singing in tune with others.

Singing games encourage multiple repetitions, an important factor in skill development.

When asking for individual responses: Model the pitch for their response, but allow the student to sing their response at whatever pitch is comfortable for them. After confidence and trust is established, the teacher may ask if a child can move their voice to match a pitch. If the pitch is matched, congratulate their effort. If not, ask the class which pitch was higher and which was lower. Without any judgement, the different pitches are labeled. This teaches students to listen for differences and gives them the vocabulary they need to label what they are hearing. The student who has responded should not feel any pressure or anxiety with this process, and the game continues.

Use fun singing games as a “treat” at the end of a music class. Singing games are a fun way of reviewing concepts that have been learned, or preparing new ones that have not yet been isolated and labeled.

See More Valentine Resources

Have a look at Valentine Rhythm Activity for young singers.

More Tunes about Friendship and Love

More February repertoire suggestions - Songs about friends and love.

Review, free Download or Print!

Enjoy!

Composer's Notes

Donna’s childhood valentine memories include making her own valentines to give to her friends, and remembering the spicy flavour of cinnamon hearts. Donna still loves the taste of cinnamon and she loves the fact that Valentine messages and hearts can create an opportunity for her students to develop their composing skills. Donna is enthusiastic about promoting creative manipulation of music elements (composing!) with students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Her personal composing efforts have resulted in well over 500 songs written for solo voice, choir, handbell, recorder, violin and piano.

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When you have enjoyed playing these singing games with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!

Send us your videos of these Valentine songs and perhaps we can post them here.

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It’s Snowing (Oh yes! / Oh no! / Mixed feelings) (3-song set)

Andy Duinker — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 02:14:09 +0000

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It's Snowing

by Donna Rhodenizer

3 song set

It's Snowing

"Oh Yes!" is set in a major key and suitable for singers of all ages.

"Oh No!" is set in a minor key and accessible for older students.

"Mixed Feelings" (mixed major/minor) is for more experienced singers.

Audio & lyrics

"Oh Yes!"

"Oh No!"

"Mixed Feelings"

Composer Notes

It’s Snowing

I have not ever been a fan of snow storms. I don’t like driving in snowy conditions and I really dislike being cold. Snow seems to include both of these things, so it isn’t on my list of favourite things. However, kids love snow and I decided to write a jaunty little tune from their happy perspective. Where I might see the cold weather and snowy conditions as not so great, those who like snow are not bothered by these things at all and they are ready to have a great time in all winter weather.

I had completed my snow song and the music was sitting on my piano when my sister stopped by my house for a visit. She is a fine pianist, and she sat down at the piano and started playing my song. She does not like snow (even less than I do), so after playing only a few bars she stopped. She suggested that a song about snow would not be a happy song in a major key. She then began playing my song again, changing it as necessary to put it firmly into a minor key. It was a great sound and a great idea, and one that I couldn’t pass up! I kept my original song intact, but then changed the lyrics in only a few places and created the accompaniment in a minor key. This became a two-song set, “It’s Snowing (Oh yes!) and It’s Snowing (Oh no!).

I love the deep, full sound of the minor chords. Minor keys are often deemed “sad” but there is a richness to the minor tonality that has a special feeling all its own. The minor key allowed a bit of whining about the snow, while providing a contrasting “colour” to the happy, “yes” version.

I was singing bits and pieces of It’s Snowing and just for fun, I started switching back and forth between the major and minor tonalities. I decided I needed to write one more variation. I started out in the major key, happy with the arrival of snow. This is very typical of how I feel at the beginning of winter. It is exciting to see the first snowflakes when they appear. The fluffy white flakes are so pretty and make the world look completely different after the starkness of leafless trees, and gardens that have been cut back and left dormant for the winter. However, after the third or fourth snow storm, the enjoyment of snow begins to wear thin. I grow weary of repeatedly shoveling the driveway and steps, and scraping ice and snow off vehicles every time I want to go somewhere. After starting out with a happy-to-see-snow attitude, the song switches over to the minor key and finishes with the sentiment that snow is welcome to take a holiday – we have had enough!

I think I have now completed all the versions of “It’s Snowing” that I am going to write, but as a composer, I have learned to “never say never”. I am writing this anecdote in January and we have only had one skiff of snow so far this season. I am still able to sing the happy version of “It’s Snowing” but I will leave the “Oh no!” version close by. I am sure I will be ready to sing it before the winter is over.

Purchase Options

Also Available - It's Snowing (Oh Yes! / Oh No!) at Full Voice Music

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You are invited to send us your performance of It's Snowing.

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Please come back to this page and leave us a Review - Thanks!

Send us your video of It's Snowing and perhaps we can post it here.

Composer, Elementary Music Specialist, Performer

Donna Rhodenizer

Donna “digs deep” in her imagination to write happy songs about snowy weather. Sitting next to a lovely fire and watching a good snowstorm through the window is her favourite way to enjoy a snowy day! Donna puts her imagination to good use as she writes songs that delight young singers (and their teachers!) with her clever lyrics and catchy melodies. She has been writing music for choral singers since she was in high school, with a major focus on writing songs for young singers which developed over her 37 years as an elementary music education specialist. Her music is sung around the world in music festivals, elementary schools, private vocal studios, and community choirs.

The post It’s Snowing (Oh yes! / Oh no! / Mixed feelings) (3-song set) appeared first on Donna & Andy.

Song Set Archives - Donna & Andy

20 Best Camp Songs – Donna’s Camp Song Collection

Camp Songs

More Information - Blog Post

Print copies available on Amazon

Teaching tips

Composer's Notes

Couloring Page - Download

You are invited

Camp Songs come in a variety of categories:

Call and Response / Echo Songs

Sing-along Songs / Story Songs

Canons / Rounds

Bonus

Donna Rhodenizer

27 New Singing Games for Young Singers

Vol. 1 Grades K-1, ages 5-7

Vol. 2 Grades 2-3, ages 7-9

Vol. 3 Grades 4-5, ages 9-11

Print copies Available on Amazon

Composer's Notes

You Are Invited

New Singing Games - Vol. 1 - grade 1-2 (age 5-7)

New Singing Games - Vol. 2 - grade 2-3 (age 7-9)

New Singing Games - Vol. 3 - grade 4-5 (age 9-11)

More Singing Games

4 Dances

4 Dances

Audio & Description

Teaching tips

Composer's Notes

4 Penguin Songs

Audio & Lyrics

Part of a Song Collection

I only want one Penguin song - can i do that?

Stream and purchase Audio tracks

53 cross-curricular activities

Teacher Tips

Colouring Pages - Free Download

Composer's Notes

You are Invited

4 Turkey Songs and Games

Audio & Lyrics

Teacher Tips

Composer's Notes

You are Invited

5 Halloween Songs

Blog Post - 5 Halloween Songs

See also - Dark Night Sky

You Are Invited

5 New Singing Games

5 New Singing Games

Teaching tips

Composer's Notes

More Donna Rhodenizer Videos

Donna Rhodenizer

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