Ambos A Do

A game song from Puerto Rico that is a variant of a song that probably came to Spain in the eighteenth century from France, known as Un Beau Chateau (A Beautiful Castle) that gradually lost its meaning over time, becoming the nonsense words Ambos A Do.  This version could be used to practice re.

Source: Folkways Recording of Deisy Parilla (age 10) with other children (1977).

Amambrocha To

This is a question-answer Cuban-American Game Variant of an old Spanish song in which the players name jobs they would like in Spanish.

Source: Ziamora Andux (Age 13) and Evelia Andux (Age 11) (1939) from the Library of Congress Recording

Al Haetz

This is a simple Israeli children's song about the singing of the birds in the trees.  A great K-1 level song for singing the "tzif, tzif, tzif" of the birds on so and mi.

Sources: Einstein, J. and Prensky, F. (1955) Songs of Childhood
Ben-Ezra M. (1958) Israeli Children's Songs Sound Recording New York Folkways Album 7226

Sail Away

A nice piece with a large range.  Two accessible descants for upper elementary.

Sources: Locke, E.Sail Away
Brumfield, Susan.

Allo, Monsieur

This is a French-language chant to accompany a ball-bouncing game.

Source: Recording of “Allo, Monsieur:  Le Jeu de la Balle” (The Game of the Ball) from Smithsonian Folkways recording, “Children's Game Songs of French Canada." #110                                                                   

Arirang

This haunting Korean folk tune has been sung for over six hundred years.  Dr. Campbell suggests pairing it with a traditional changgo drum pattern.

Source: Campbell, Patricia Shehan. Tunes and Grooves for Music Education. p. 25

Bumba

I learned this drumming pattern from Haiti, and really enjoyed the sound of it in an ensemble.
Source: John Avinger

Bee, Bee

I use this chant as a counting-out game with young children until they have learned it well.  Then, I use bee icons to teach the concept of one and two sounds to a beat (Ta ti ti).
Source: SPU Summer Kodály Institute, Level 1 Notes.

Zudio

An African-American Play Party for two lines of partners. Download dance steps or alternate improvisational dance.

Sources: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Tradition. pp. 137-138
Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy. p. 410

Ye Toop Doram

Farsi Ball Game from Iran and West Afghanistan
Source: Brown, Nyssa.  January 2010 Northwest Kodály Educators Workshop Notes.
Transcribed from Joan Litman

Yankee Doodle

An English song that became a popular square dance in America.
Sources:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p.409
Additional Lyrics from Pioneer Girl, Fact and Fiction of Laura Ingalls Wilder, A to Z

Witch, Witch

A tag game that's great for Halloween
Source: Locke, Eleanor G. Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play p. 1

Who's That Tapping at the Window?

A guessing-game song that's great for vocal or instrumental improvisation.
Source: Ed. by Erdei, Peter.  150 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play. p. 7

We Are Dancing in the Forest (Wolf Game)

This game is very popular with my students and can either be a chase or freeze game.
Source:  Eisen, Ann and Robertson, Lamar.  An American Methodology: An Inclusive Approach to Musical Literacy p. 402

Wallflowers

This circle game from the British Isles has Irish and Scottish variations and seems to refer to a deadly measles outbreak, of which there were many recorded in the 1700s and 1800s.
Source: Locke, Eleanor G.  Sail Away: 155 American Folk Songs to Sing, Read, and Play.  p. 16
Information about measles outbreaks from the Keighley and District Family History Society website which cites statistics from the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies.

Vamos A Jugar

This is a fun Spanish-language playground game collected from San Antonio, Texas.
Source: SPU Kodaly Summer Institute, Level 2 Materials

Up, Down

This game is great for the primary grades, especially at Halloween.
Source: Trinka, Jill.  The Little Black Bull and Other Folk Songs, Singing Games, and Play Parties. Folk Music Works. 1996. pp. 50-51

Uncle Jessie

This song from the Georgia Sea Islands can be used with all ages with either movement exploration or a partner ring play.
Source: Jones, Bessie and Hawes, Bess Lomax.  Step It Down: Games, Plays, Songs, and Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. pp. 112-114

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Source: Ed. by Kerby, E. C. Folk Songs North America Sings p. 165

Tommy Tinker

I remember singing this song when I went to outdoor camp and acting out the part where Tommy sits on a red-hot clinker (a hot coal)!  It makes for a rousing round when four groups are standing with alarm and crying, "Ma! Ma!"
Sources: Zanzig, Augustus D.  101 Rounds for Singing. Published by World Around Songs Inc. p.19
Stephanie Trinneer from song sung in childhood.