Kum Ba Yah

Reading, singing, and playing three parts, singing in harmony, and
chord identification: tonic (I), subdominant (IV), dominate (V).

Description

Grade: Fifth
Origin: Africa – Traditional
Key: F Major
Time: 3/4
Form: phrases: ABAC – song: AB, chorus/verse
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti/ ri ta ti ti |
syncopation, | ta/a ti ti | ta/a ta | ti ta/ ti ti | syncopation
Pitches: intermediate: Mi Fa So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio (I, F), So\Do (P5), Mi\Do (M3), Do/Mi (M3), Do\So (P4), So/Do (P4)
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; tied notes, syncopation, vocal slur, three part harmony, chorus/verse, chords: tonic triad (I, F), subdominant triad (IV, Bb), dominate triad (V, C), supertonic triad (ii, Ed – diminished), harmony
Key Words: world geography: Africa; “Come By Here,” sacred, laughing, crying, praying, singing, camp song, scout song, civil rights song, protest song, prayer song; possessive: someone’s
Recorder: advanced: practicing B flat, three part ensemble, chord identification

**“Kum Ba Yah”**“Come By Here”

		Chorus:
		Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah! Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
	1.	Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum ba yah! Oh, Lord, kum ba yah!
		Chorus
	2.	Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah! Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
		Chorus
	3.	Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah! Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah! Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
		Chorus
	4.	Someone’s singing, Lord. kum ba yah! Someone’s singing, Lord. kum ba yah! Someone’s singing, Lord. kum ba yah! Oh, Lord, Kum ba yah!
		Chorus

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Kum Ba Yah

Introducing the dotted quarter/sixteenth rhythm and syncopation with the eighth/dotted quarter.

Description

Grade: First
Origin: Traditional African Song – round/canon
Key: D Major
Time: 3/4
Form: ABAC
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti/ ri ta ti ti | ta/a ta |
| ta ta/ ti ti |
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La (adding the 4th (Fa) to the pentatonic scale)
Intervals: beginners: Do/Mi, Mi/So, So\Do, Mi\Do (mastering tonic intervals)
Musical Elements: notes: dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, singing in parts, round/canon
Key Words: “Kum Ba Yah” means “Come By Hear,” sacred, Lord, singing, civil rights song, non-violent protest song

**“Kum Ba Yah”**

		1.	Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah! Kum ba yah, my lord, Kum ba yah. O, Lord, Kum ba yah!

		2.	Someone’s singing, Lord, Kum ba yah! Someone’s singing, Lord, Kum ba yah! Someone’s singing, Lord, Kum ba yah! O, Lord, Kum ba yah!

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Keep in the Middle of the Road

Advanced syncopation, extended range, with an
American Southern English dialect.

Description

Grade: Fifth

Origin: USA – African American Spiritual
Key: D Major
Time: 2/4
Form: AB – verse/chorus
Rhythm: advanced: | ti ti ti ti | ti ti ta |
| ti ti ri ti ri ti ri | syncopation, | ta (ti) ti ri |
| ti ti ti ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ri ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ti ri | syncopation,
| ti ri ti ti ri ti ri | syncopation, | ri ti ri ta |
| ti ti ri ti ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ri ti ri | syncopation, | ta (ti) ti |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La Do – extended range
Intervals: intermediate: So\Mi/So (m3), Mi\Do (M3), Do/So (P5), So/Do8 (P4), Do8\So (P4), La/Do8 (m3), La\Mi (P4), Do/Mi (M3), Do/Fa (P4), Fa/La\Fa (M3)
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth, sixteenth; rest: eighth; pickup beat, vocal slur, syncopation, extended vocal range, tied notes, verse/chorus
Key Words: USA history, African American history, sacred, loud, wait, children, right, left, white gate, road, rough, fix, golden star, bound, am (verb), crown, weary band, world of sin, knock,chance, sinful things, tired, die, watch, sky, wings, fly; contractions: gonna (going to), ain’t (is not) don’t (do not), I’ll (I will), they’ll (they will), you’ll (you will), we’re (we are); abbreviations: callin’ (calling), waitin’ (waiting), standin’ (standing), ’round (around), ’cause (because)

**“Keep in the Middle of the Road”**

		1.	I hear them angels calling loud: Keep in the middle of the road, They are waitin’ there in a great big crowd, Keep in the middle of the road. I see them standin’ ’round the big white gate, Gonna travel along before it gets too late, For it ain’t no use for to sit down, and wait, Right in the middle of the road.
			Chorus:
			So children, keep in the middle of the road, Children, keep in the middle of the road , Don’t you look to the right, don’t you look to the left, Just keep in the middle of the road.
		2.	I ain’t got time for to stop and talk Keep in the middle of the road. ‘Cause the road am rough and it’s hard for to walk, Keep in the middle of the road. I’ll fix my eye on the golden stair, And I’ll keep on a-going till I get there ‘Cause my head am bound for the crown to wear Keep in the middle of the road.
			Chorus
		3.	Come and join our weary band Keep in the middle of the road. Cause we’re bound for home in the happy land Keep in the middle of the road. Turn your back on this world of sin Just knock at the door, and they’ll let you in Cause you’ll never gonna get such a chance again Keep in the middle of the road.
			Chorus
		4.	This world am full of sinful things, Then keep in the middle of the road. When your feet get tired, just put on them wings, Keep in the middle of the road. If you lay down in the road and die, You can watch them angels in the sky, You can put on wings and get up and fly, Keep in the middle of the road.
			Chorus

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John the Rabbit

Comparing straight rhythms to dotted rhythms. Beginning phrases on the second half of the second beat.

Description

Grade: Second
Origin: African – Traditional
Key: G Major
Time: 2/4
Form: AaBBbbCCDE
Rhythm: intermediate: | ti/ ri ti ti | ti ti (ti) ti ri | syncopation, | ti ti ti ti | ti ti (ti) ti | ti ti ri ti |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Do Re Mi Fa So
Intervals: intermediate: call: So/Do, Mi\Do, Do\La, So/So dominate octave skip entrance, Do/So, Do\So entrance; response: no intervals
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, dotted eighth, eighth, sixteenth; rest: eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, call and response
Key Words: Easter, holiday, seasonal, seasons, spring garden, farming, farmer, growing plants, vegetables, rabbit, habit, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, Fall, cotton; contractions: ain’t (am not), gonna (going to)

“John the Rabbit”


Call	Response


Oh, John the rabbit,	oh, yes,

Got a mighty habit,	oh, yes,

Jumping in my garden,	oh, yes,

Cutting down my cabbage,	oh, yes,

My sweet potatoes,	oh, yes,

My fresh tomatoes,	oh, yes,

And if I live,	oh, yes,

To see next fall,	oh, yes,

I ain’t gonna have,	oh, yes,

Any cotton at all,	oh, yes. (no)



Alternate responses:	yes,ma’em
	no, ma’em
	yes, sir
	no, sir

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Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Each staff ends with a quarter rest. Excellent for combined performance with upper grade recorders.

Description

Grade: Third
Origin: USA – Traditional Carol
Key: G Major
Time: 2/4
Form: ABAb
Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti ti | ti ti ta | ta (ta) |
Pitches: beginners: So La Ti Do Re Mi
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi, Mi\La, So/Do, Mi\Do
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth; rest: quarter
Key Words: Christmas, holiday songs, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, lean, soul, whisper, striking, twelve, asleep, chimney, broad, creep, stockings, hanging, shortest, know, skates, sled, picture book, yellow, blue, red, leave, rest, choose; contractions: don’t (do not), I’m (I am), you’ll (you will), I’ll (I will)

**“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”**

	1.	Jolly old Saint Nicholas, Lean your ear this way! Don’t you tell a single soul What I’m going to say; Christmas eve is coming soon; Now, you dear old man, Whisper what you’ll bring to me, Tell me if you can.
	2.	When the clock is striking twelve, When I’m fast asleep, Down the chimney broad and black, With your pack you’ll creep; All the stockings you will find Hanging in a row; Mine will be the shortest one, You’ll be sure to know.
	3.	Johnny wants a pair of skates; Susy wants a sled; Nellie wants a picture book; Yellow, blue and red. Now I think I’ll leave to you What to give the rest. Choose for me, dear Santa Claus; What you think is best.

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Jubilee

Beginners syncopation with the pentatonic scale,
arpeggios built on the tonic (Do) and the sixth (La),
while contrasting straight and syncopated rhythms.

Description

Grade: Fourth
Origin: USA, Kentucky – Play Song
Key: F Major
Time: 2/4
Form: staves: ABACD – song: AB, verse/refrain
Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ti/ ri | syncopation,
| ti ti ta | ta/a | ti/ ri ta | syncopation
Pitches: beginners: La Do Re Mi So La – pentatonic scale
Intervals: intermediate: Mi/So, La8\Mi, Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, Do\La/Do, Mi\Do\La descending vi arpeggio (Dm), La/Mi, La/Do
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth; tonic arpeggio, vi arpeggio (Dm), contrasting straight rhythms to dotted syncopated rhythms (measures 1/3, 5/7, and 9-12), verse/refrain
Key Words: USA history, USA geography: Kentucky, jubilee (50th anniversary), dance tune, jubilee dance, railroad, hard work, farm work, easy work, horse, rocky road, true love, arm, half a chance, up and down, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, contractions: I’d (I would), they’ll (they will); abbreviations: swingin’ (swinging), crawlin’ crawling), darlin’ (darling); homonym: see/sea

**“Jubilee”**

	1.	All out on the old railroad, All out on the sea; All out on the old railroad, Far as I can see.
		Refrain:
		Swing and turn, Jubilee, Live and learn, Jubilee.
	2.	Hardest work I ever done, Working on the farm. Easiest work I ever done was Swingin’ my true love’s arm.
		Refrain
	3.	If I had no horse at all, I’d be found a-crawlin’, Up and down this rocky road, Lookin’ for my darlin’.
		Refrain
	4.	Some will come on Saturday night, Some will come on Sunday; If you give ’em half a chance, They’ll be back on Monday.
		Refrain

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Johnny Works with One Hammer

Adding the second (Re) to the tonic arpeggio.

Description

Grade: Kindergarten
Origin: USA – Singing Game
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABAC
Rhythm: beginners: | ta/a ta ta | ta ta ta ta |
| ta/a (ta/a) |
Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi So
Intervals: beginners: Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, So\Do, Re/So, So\Mi\Do descending tonic arpeggio
Musical Elements: notes: half, quarter; rest: half
Key Words: counting to five (5), hammer, work, one, two, three, four
Keyboard: beginners: five finger exercise for the right, left, and two hands together
Recorder: beginners: playing in F major, adding the right hand (F) to the beginning pitches (BAG)

**“Johnny Works with One Hammer”**

1.	Johnny works with one hammer, One hammer, one hammer, Johnny works with one hammer, Then he works with two.

2.	Johnny works with two hammers, Two hammers, two hammers, Johnny works with two hammers, Then he works with three.

3.	Johnny works with three hammers, three hammers, three hammers, Johnny works with three hammers, Then he works with four.

4.	Johnny works with four hammers, four hammers, four hammers, Johnny works with four hammers, Then he works with five.

5.	Johnny works with five hammers, five hammers, five hammers, Johnny works with five hammers, Then he works no more.

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Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier

One for the girls: four note ascending submediant arpeggio, syncopation, and an imperfect ending on the sixth, La.

Description

Grade: Fifth
Origin: USA – Folk Song American Revolutionary War
circa. 1875-1883
Key: C Major
Time: 4/4
Form: through composed
Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ti ti ta ta/a |
| ta/ ti ta/ ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta/ ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta ti ti | ti ti ta ta ti ti |
| ta/a ta/a |
Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi So La Ti Do
Intervals: intermediate: La\Mi (P4), Mi/So\Mi/So (m3), So\Do (P4), Do/Mi/La/Do8 ascending tonic arpeggio (vi, Am), Ti\So (M3)
Musical Elements: notes: half, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; fermata, imperfect ending: melody ends on the sixth (La) which is in keeping with the subject (imperfect endings do not end on the tonic, (1, Do), ascending submediant arpeggio, syncopation
Key Words: USA history, American Revolutionary War; world geography: tune has Irish (Ireland) origins; girlfriend’s lament, leaving for war, separated by war, Buttermilk Hill, blame, cry my fill, tear, mill, woe, soldier, rod and reel, spinning wheel, sword of steel, dye, dress, red, through, streets, beg, bread, lad, fled; contraction: I’ll (I will); abbreviation: ev’ry (every)
Recorder: intermediate: Excellent sixth (6th) tune following the Beginning Recorder Songs.

“Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier”
also known as
“Buttermilk Hill”

	1.	There I sat on Buttermilk Hill. Who could blame me, cry my fill? And ev’ry tear would turn a mill; Johnny has gone for a soldier.

	2.	Me, oh my, I loved him so: Broke my heart to see him go, And only time will heal my woe; Johnny has gone for a soldier.

	3.	I’ll sell my rod, I’ll sell my reel, Likewise I’ll sell my spinning wheel, And buy my love a sword of steel, Johnny has gone for a soldier.

	4.	I’ll dye my dress, I’ll dye it red, And through the streets I’ll beg for bread, For the lad that I love from me has fled, Johnny has gone for a soldier.

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Johnny Get Your Hair Cut

Playing rhythm instruments and adding movements.

Description

Grade: Second
Origin: USA, Pennsylvania – Folk Song
words adapted, Jess D. Buice
Key: B Flat Major
Time: 2/4
Form: ABAB
Rhythm: beginners: | ti ri ti ri ti ti | ti ti ti ti |
| ti ti ta |
Pitches: beginners: Mi So La Do Re Mi (pentatonic scale)
Intervals: intermediate: Do/Mi8, So\Mi, Mi/So/Do/Mi ascending tonic arpeggio, Do\La
Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth, sixteenth; repeated melodic rhythm patterns, four note tonic arpeggio, playing rhythm instruments, introducing rhythm instruments, moving to rhythm
Key Words: USA geography: Pennsylvania, rhythm instruments: drum, tone block, horn, voice, hands (clap); contraction: let’s (let us)

**“Johnny Get Your Hair Cut”**

	1.	Johnny get your hair cut, hair cut, hair cut, Johnny get your hair cut, just like me. Johnny get your hair cut, hair cut, hair cut, Johnny get your hair cut, just like me.

	2.	Let’s all tap the beat now, tap, tap, tap,tap, Let’s all tap the beat now, just like me. Let’s all tap the beat now, tap, tap, tap,tap, Let’s all tap the beat now, just like me.

	3.	Susie brush your hair long, brush, brush, brush, brush, Susie brush your hair long, just like me. Susie brush your hair long, brush, brush, brush, brush, Susie brush your hair long, just like me.

	4.	Johnny play your drum now, boom, boom, boom, boom, Johnny play your drum now, just like me. Johnny play your drum now, boom, boom, boom, boom, Johnny play your drum now, just like me.

	5.	Susie tap your tone block, tap, tap, tap, tap, Susie tap your tone block, just like me. Susie tap your tone block, tap, tap, tap, tap, Susie tap your tone block, just like me.

	6.	Johnny toot your horn now, toot, toot, toot, toot, Johnny toot your horn now, just like me. Johnny toot your horn now, toot, toot, toot, toot, Johnny toot your horn now, just like me.

	7.	Susie sing your song now, la, la, la, la, Susie sing your song now, just like me. Susie sing your song now, la, la, la, la, Susie sing your song now, just like me.

	8.	Let’s all clap together, clap, clap, clap, clap, Let’s all clap together, just like me. Let’s all clap together, clap, clap, clap, clap, Let’s all clap together, just like me.

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John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt – NEW

"John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" Lyrics, Text Format

Most often sung while increasing pace or dynamics, the advanced syncopated rhythm and intervals make it a challenge and fun.

Description

Grade: Second (2)
Origin: American Camp Song
Key: F Major
Time: 4/4
Form: ABCD
Rhythm: advanced: | ta/a ta ta | ti ti ti ti ta (ta) |
| ti ta ti ta ta | ta/a (ta ti) ti | ti ti ti ti ta/ ti | ti ti ti ti ta ti ti | ta ti/ ri ti ti ti ti | ti ti ti ti ti ti ti ti | ta/a (ta/a) |
Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
Intervals: advanced: Ti/Fa, So\Re, So\Re, So/Mi, La/Fa
Musical Elements: notes: whole, half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, dotted eighth, sixteenth, rests: half, quarter, eighth, repeat sign, rhythm patterns, syncopation, advanced intervals, repeat
Key Words: Camp Song, United States

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
His name is my name too.
Whenever I go out
The people always shout,
“There goes, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.”
Da da da da da da da.

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