Kindergarten Songs & Music
When it comes to our early education, the music we hear and sing plays a large role in the our first experiences with the arts. Choosing the appropriate kindergarten songs is important to maximize student’s enjoyment and experience. On the one hand you don’t want to choose songs that are complex that they cannot follow along. However, you also don’t want to fall into the trap of choosing songs that are too simple and not challenging enough.
This goes for any educational setting. Most importantly, you want material that challenges students just enough to propel them forward. This is just as applicable in a musical setting. In any kindergarten classroom, music should be readily available to both experience physically with instruments as well as aurally. This could be in the form of singalongs, listening to prerecorded music and even better, playing and singing along with instruments.
Ideal Songs for a Kindergarten Class
Firstly, you may be asking, what are ideal songs for a kindergarten class? Although I will suggest some songs at the end of this post, what I want to offer is a new way of thinking about this question. Instead of asking what songs to sing or play, we could ask: “What songs would push these particular students to explore music at a deeper level?” Perhaps it’s a classroom of students that have never played an instrument before. It may be their first interactions with xylophones, drums, keyboards or shakers.
What’s wonderful is that if you are their first introduction to music, as with any other language, you can be a catalyst to learning music fluently at this young age. That is to say, these are moments they will never forget and likely take with them for years to come.
Another factor to take into consideration is if your class is an integrated classroom with special needs student or perhaps it’s an entire class for special needs. This will affect what songs and setup you will have to ensure a successful and enriching experience for your students.
Song List
ABC’sAre You Sleeping?
Au Claire de la Lune
Baby Shark
Brahm’s Lullably
Down By the Station
Farmer in the Dell
Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Five Little Ducks
Frere Jacques
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
Hickory Dickory Dock
Hot Cross Buns
If You’re Happy and You Know It
I’m a Little Teapot
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Jingle Bells
Knick Knack Paddywhack (This Old Man)
London Bridge
Los Pollitos Dicen
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Muffin Man
Ode to Joy
Oh When the Saints Go Marching In
Rain Rain Go Away
Ring Around the Rosie
Row Row Row Your Boat
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Wheels on the Bus
Kindergarten Music Classroom Setup
What’s the best way to set up a kindergarten music classroom? While this all depends on the age that you are teaching and the size of your classroom, there are a few general guidelines that will make any music classroom more welcoming.
- Make your classroom welcoming. Music is a creative art. We want to inspire children’s imagination. Decorating accordingly will help their imagination engage as soon as they walk into the classroom. Here are some great music classroom ideas from Pinterest.
- Make things easily accessible. Nothing is worse, even in our homes, than clutter. Making it hard to get instruments or books makes it difficult to feel like playing. Instruments, books, flash cards and keyboards should be organized and easily accessible. A wide open space, if available, is always a good idea for plant of room to dance and movement.
- Post rules on wall. Every classroom has rules and that includes music class. Having a clear list of music room rules on the wall is essential and creates an atmosphere of respect for everyone and the instruments themselves.
- Good speakers. I’ve seen one too many times, teachers playing music from their computer. While this is a great tool, the speakers from a typical computer are not nearly loud enough. Bluetooth speaker are inexpensive and fill the room with great quality sound. Music needs to be heard and many times, loudly! Have fun with it! Here’s one bluetooth speaker I use from Amazon.
Conclusion
My takeaway from seeing hundreds of music classes over the years is that the teachers that still have love for music, get the most out of their students. Remember to keep that musical passion inside of you alive always and transmit that to your students. Keep an inspired room organized and sing as many songs as you can appropriate for the age group you are teaching.
Need more worksheets and activity pages?
To make lessons more enjoyable, we’ve prepared fun worksheets and activity pages for you and your child. Below you will find a link that will take you to all the worksheets. You can also click the worksheet above for today’s worksheet. They are free to print and use as much as you like. You can also order a copy of the workbook anytime by visiting the Color Me Mozartâ„¢ store.
