Hello, Friends! I’ve missed checking in with the music ed community over the past few months, but I’m excited to jump in with some fun and seasonal Halloween folk songs and activities over the next few weeks! And it seems like today is the perfect day to post my first one, as it’s * insert spooky sounds here * Friday the 13th! * whoooo-ooooo *
I stumbled across today’s folk song when researching for a book of Halloween Folk Songs I was illustrating a few years back. I had never heard it before, and haven’t heard it a ton since, but I was so tickled when I picked my son up from preschool the other day and heard them singing another variant of this folk song! It definitely inspired me to get my act together and start sharing folk song with you all again. I need to try to get to pick up early enough that I can transcribe the variant, I think I might actually like it better? It was more melodically interesting, although this simple variant is great for practicing P5 leaps, quarter note/eighth note/quarter rest rhythms, and exploring musical form. The actions I have suggested as an activity on the downloadable song card help the children physically feel that the first, second, and final lines all begin with the same motif, and thus have the same actions. Pretty neat!
If you’d like to hear the folk song sung through, check out my instagram reel where I sing it and my cute little almost 2yo offers a few “meows”! She’s the best. In fact, “meowing” would be an excellent opportunity for thematic vocal play. You could watch some videos of cats meowing and try to having meowing conversations, or your could tell a story with lots of meowing, or you could use the printable I’m sharing on Monday to let the kids hold and meow like they are speaking for the cat. Lots of fun options for the ever-important need for vocal play to build ease, flexibility, and playfulness in a child’s range!
I have already prepared a cute printable black cat to play the game with, and I will be sharing that on Monday! You can also play the game with the child hiding, or a stuffed animal cat.
Click here to download the free 4x6 song card
Happy (* *spooooooky* *) Singing!
-Lauren