need kid's music game ideas

Subject: need kid's music game ideas
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 02:41 PM

Hi you all, I have a gig this weekend for kids. Will be playing a variety of folk stuff for them and I would like to maybe do a music game or two. Something traditional and real simple that can be learned on the spot. Any ideas? Any associated history info on suggestions might be cool too.

-LG

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: SharonA
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 03:17 PM

Lonesome G: Here's this thread, for starters: Lyr Req: Hi, my name is Joe, & I work in a button factory

Subject: kids' music game- Singing in the Rain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 03:48 PM

Here's one I learned at Cub Scout camp director school. It seems to go over with every age group. It may well be my "greatest hit." The sung part is from the 1929 song, "Singin' in the Rain" (words by Arthur Freed, music by Nacio Herb Brown).

I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feeling
I'm happy again.

Leader: Thumbs up!
Group:   Thumbs up!

All while swiveling hips and holding up thumbs:
Toody-toddy, toody-toddy, toody-ta-ta
Toody-toddy, toody-toddy, toody-ta-ta

Other motions:
Elbows in
Knees bent
Head up
Tongue out

This is cumulative, so on the last one, you'd sing the chorus, and then hear:
Thumbs up! Thumbs up!
Elbows in Elbows in
Knees bent Knees bent
Head up Head up
Tongue out Tongue out

Toody-toddy, toody-toddy, toody-ta-ta
Toody-toddy, toody-toddy, toody-ta-ta

And, of course, people realize they're rather silly saying this with their tongues out)

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: Jacob B
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 05:52 PM

Here's a link to a thread with playparty games, provided you have enough room for the kids to get up and dance.

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: MAG
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 12:04 AM

Bluebird bluebird, through my window,
bluebird, bluebird, through my window;
bluebird bluebird, through my window,
You're the one, my darling.

Everyone in a circle with hands joined, arms up. One child -- the bluebird -- goes in and out the "windows" until the song is finished, and then picks someone to be another bluebird. Continue until everyone is going in and out, and it's chaos.

I'd try to tap it out in solfage, but I usually screew that up. Any simple tune will do.

Another I do just about any ol' time is:

Circel to the left, the old brass wagon,
circle to the left, the old brass wagon,
You're the one, my darling.

right -- in to the center --

The great thing about these is you're training the next generation of square dancers.

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 11:39 PM

Thanks you guys, good ideas.

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 May 02 - 06:56 AM

How old are the kids? Young ones (3-7) love Jump Jim Joe:
Jump, Jump, jump Jim Joe
Shake your head and nod your head and tap your toe
Around, around, around you go,
And choose another partner and you Jump Jim Joe!

Olders (up to about 11) enjoy Zodiac (aka Sodio, Spodio, or Billy Billy)(Longways set with partners)

Let's go zodiac, zodiac, zodiacpartners swing joined hands to the music
Let's go zodiac all night long.

Step back, Sally, make a little alley,
Step back Sally all night long.

Here comes zodiac, zodiac, zodiacOne of the top couple goes down the alley doing something show-offy (etc.)

Here comes another one, just like the other one,
Here comes another one, all night long.

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 01 May 02 - 02:36 PM

The above is from Bessie Hawes Lomax's book -- everything a treasure.

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 May 02 - 02:51 PM

See if you can find "Tommy Don't Lick That Pipe". John McCutcheon does it and it's hilarious. Especially when you try to sing it with your tongue stuck out......

Subject: RE: need kid's music game ideas
From: Fortunato
Date: 01 May 02 - 03:33 PM

Here is a rhyming song game that kids enjoy.
You take an animal, chose a characteristic or body part, and rhyme another animal with the body part. Add a far away and/or strange sounding place name and you get the following:

Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zamboango,
Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zamboango,
Oh, the monkeys have no tails they were bitten off by whales,
Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zamboango,

Or,

Oh, the Zebras have no stripes in Kalamazoo,
Oh, the Zebras have no stripes in Kalamazoo,
Oh, the Zebras have no stripes they were stolen by the Snipes,
Oh, the Zebras have no stripes in Kalamazoo

If the children are quite young you may have to suggest some body parts or characteristics that rhyme well. Examples are:

Knees/Bees; Bats/Hats; Cow/Eyebrows; Bear/Hair; Skunks/Trunks; Ants/Pants; Giraffe/Laugh, etc.

So you might sing (to any melody that fits):

The Hyenas do not laugh in Turkistan,
The Hyenas do not laugh in Turkistan,
The Hyenas do not laugh, they're irritated by Giraffes,
The Hyenas do not laugh in Turkistan,


Cheers, Chance