I discovered a new blog, Taming My Flock of Firsties. I love all the wonderful resources that you'll find there. Beth Ann Kempf has provided a free download, March-Song at the Teacher Store. The words are great for today's celebration of St. Patrick's Day and the song is sung to the tune Bingo! Rhythm sticks sound great when you get to the part, M-A-R-C-H.... or simply clapping is fun, too!

My grandson busily works on his March counting printables and oh, how he loves this song!

Now, no one really knows the origin to this popular folk song but perhaps you know it as "There Was a Farmer Who Had a Dog" or "Bingo Was His Name-O."

Bingo Piano Chords

      C            F     C
There was a farmer had a dog,
    C     G       C
And Bingo was his name-o.
C   F
B-I-N-G-O
G   C
B-I-N-G-O
Am  F
B-I-N-G-O
    G             C
And Bingo was his name-o.

Other Verses:
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.

Free Downloads

Looking for free sheet music to print? You'll find Bingo piano solo at http://makingmusicfun.net

Learn to play and sing Bingo in other keys, http://www.pianolessons4children.com

Bingo Book

Did you grow up in a house that was filled with dogs? Well, author Rosemary Wells did. Here's a fun board book, perfect for a 2 year old.

Bingo! (Bunny Reads Back)

I'm sure you can think of so many other ways to add your own words to the B-I-N-G-O theme!

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“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

Kindergarten Music Class: Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow

Linking up with Blue Monday and Mandarin Orange Monday

I miss the days of being a kindergarten music teacher. The children and I had so much fun singing songs, using rhythm sticks and dancing along to some of our favorite tunes. Here's one that we like...

"Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow" is a traditional British and American folk song. For more information on the history of the song, visit Wikipedia.

Yes, it's true that barley is a grain of the grass family. They even have a resource on Amazon: The Oats, Peas, Beans & Barley Cookbook I know these foods are discouraged in the Paleo Diet but nonetheless, I think it's a cute song. Are you familiar with the tune and have you sung a round or two?

Group of children dancing together in a playroom in a nursery school.

There's a teacher online that I highly recommend, Heidi. She shared some statistics about boosting memory power and I totally agree. It works effectively to have children hear music, sing along and use movement. Here's a quote from Heidisongs:

Have your students use as many senses as they possibly can while practicing the material.

10% of what we hear we retain

30% of what we hear and see we retain

40% of what we hear, see and say we retain

70-100% of what we hear, see, say and do we retain.

Example: Children on YouTube Video

Chord Chart

C
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,

F                      G7
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,

C
Can you or I or anyone know

G7                     C
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?

C
First the farmer sows his seed,

F                G7
Stands erect and takes his ease,

C
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,

G7              C
And turns around to view his lands.

Key of F

I play this song brightly and upbeat with a 6/8 time signature in the Key of F. I like to harmonize the melody with the right hand, so the single notes (3rd intervals) look like this:

AC AC AC CBb / FA FA FA /

GBb GBb GBb FA / EG EG EG EG /

FA GBb AF GBb / FA FA GBb AC FA /

EG GBb FA EG / F F F /

F                   C7   F
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,

C7                   F C
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,

F       C7 F C7 F C7 F
Can you or I or anyone know

G7    F      C7   F
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?

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Warmly,

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis