Singing rounds for the classroom ought to be easy and energetic.
Haida, an Israeli song with only two lines, fits the bill! Download this Hebrew folk song in five different keys, plus a LETTERS-IN-THE-MUSIC-NOTES version just for those non-piano-playing singers!
Singing this catchy round is very fun! My students actually ask to do it AGAIN and YET AGAIN at yet another recital (and I inwardly groan but usually acquiesce).
Here is the free sheet music for the musical round song in the lowest key, Eb minor:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
My bad - I did not add chord symbols to the melody line. But, the chord progression is just I-V-I, I-V-I, over and over again. The "I" chord is minor, and the "V" chord is the associated major, up a 5th from the tonic.
If you are saying, "HUH?" then an example would be:
Am - E - Am.
Or, in the music above, Eb minor - Bb major - Eb minor
(Ebm-Bb-Ebm)
What is the meaning of the word "haida" in the Hebrew Chassidic round or song? Apparently (I don't speak Hebrew!), it is like singing "lah-de-dah-de-dah" or the like in English.
My primary purpose in giving students rounds is to teach them to sing independently: to hear a harmony, and yet carry their own line.
Therefore, we might do a lot of very slow singing so as to savor each new blending of sound.
Whereas the key of Ebm is the lowest written version, the arrangement in Am is the highest:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
I found this performance to be fun - a lot of cute children.
Sometimes, these public performances seem over-long; as a frequent recital-giver, I worry that the sameness of the music might tax the patience of the audience. Perhaps that is why the director of this adorable group of small children decided to add MOTIONS to their performance!
Notice, though, that the children are on RISERS - inherently risky equipment! I'm sure the parents and grandparents of those wee folk were biting their nails as their little ones slowly spun around, and shifted back and forth!
The links to the singing rounds:
Download singing rounds for the classroom "Haida" in Ebm
Download Hebrew folk song in Em
Download Haida Hebrew song in Fm
Download Haida Hebrew song in Gm
The link to an easy-to-play-on-the-piano version:
Download a version with letters in the notes for a non-pianist, in Em (not shown)
All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This", available as a digital download, tells the riveting story of the time when Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a brave young queen risked her life to save her people.
A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!
This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.
This book is available as a digital download from this site. Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.
It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!
This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.
And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!" They will be spending more time at the piano.
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.
Lots of trolls in this book - including one who gives him a Christmas gift!
Emily:
I printed "Flower Duet" off at church this morning, and it looks GREAT!!! :) Thank you so much for sending it on again - it's going to be so beautiful for my wedding!
Also, thanks for even making this music available! I'm a music teacher, so this website was a great find! :) By the way, the friend singing the Lakme part of the duet is very happy that you arranged it in G! :)
Deb:
... I watched your video "Wondrous Love" with your eight gals - Magnificent! So refreshing to see good harmonies sung a capella these days; it seems to be rare!
Do you have a story or even a question about this vocal piece? Share it!
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Are there any recordings of the piano accompaniment only so that I may conduct my group while the piano part is played electronically? I'd be willing to …
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.