Instruments
Percussion Singers can use any drum or symbol. They may also use objects found in many homes, including rattles, shakers, kitchen pots and pans, wooden spoons, etc. Singers are always encouraged to clap, and tap their feet.
Keyboard The musical scores are designed to be easy for novice keyboard players to play. The treble clef contains only the melody—the keyboard player may add harmonic notes. The bass clef contains basic rhythms. The keyboard player may play using either hand or both hands. The player may also play the just the chords listed above treble clef.
String Guitar and Ukulele players may strum the chord shown on the fret board notation above the treble clef. The fret board notation is directly above the point in the song where the chord begins. Guitar and ukulele players may use their favorite strum.
Wind Recorders are popular instruments for grade school students. They will find the melody fairly easy to play provided they can read the treble clef.
Other Harmonica can be used: be sure that the harmonica key matches the song’s key. Try using a jaw harp, sliding whistle, paper and comb, or any other device that makes interesting sounds.
Vocal The music scores in this book show simple one note melodies in the treble clef. Singers are encouraged to add hormonic notes as they feel appropriate.
Performance Suggestions
Why Bat Seeps Upside Down Singers do somersaults while singing. Be sure the floor is padded so singers do not injure themselves.
How Birds got their Colors Singers wave scarves with the same color as the bird they are singing about. When singing about the peacock, wave either all the colored scarves or a single scarf with multiple colors.
How Camel Got His Humps Singers raise one shoulder and then raise the other shoulder in time with the song. This symbolizes the awkwardness of the camel as it moves. Singers stand up when the camel floats up and sit down when the camel floats down. Note to the music theorist: this song is written using the Phrygian dominate scale: 1-b2-3-4- b6-b7-1.
What happened to the Dinosaurs? When the dinosaurs meet at the edge of a lake, singers stomp their feet and raise their fists. At the end of the refrain after the third verse, try burping rather than singing the word “Burp!”
Why Dog Shakes Its Tail As the “backup singers” sing the phrase “Wiggle and squiggle and shake and wag,” try wiggling, squiggling, shaking, and waging an imaginary tail.
Where Fireflies get their Lights Turnoff the overhead lights and use flashlights or lite cell phones when singing this song.
Why Giraffe has a Long Neck The singer representing Elephant holds his arm next to his ear to look like trunk. The singer representing Giraffe bites the Elephant’s “trunk” and pulls. Note to the music theorist: The rhythm is a “calypso.”
Why Does the Kangaroo Hop? When singing this song, take turns hopping. At the end of the song, shout the Australian phrase “G’bye.”
How Leopard Got his Spots Throw some confetti when the elephant sneezes. To make it easier to clean up afterward, wad some sheets of paper into balls and toss them into the air when the elephant sneezes. Note to the music theorist: the song is written in 1950’s “do-wop” style
How Moose Got His Antlers Place your wrists on your forehead and make your fingers look like the horns of a Moose. To make fingers look more like moose antlers, put on rubber gloves. Instead of singing the words “HONKED” and “HONK” make a honking sound through your nose.
How Panda Got His Markings Make circles with your thumb and index finger and hold them over both eyes to mimic the dark circles around the Panda’s eyes.
How Raccoon Got His Mask Make circles with your thumb and index finger and hold them over both eyes to mimic the dark circles around the raccoon’s eyes.
How Skunk Got Its Odor Pinch you nose with your thumb and index finger.
How Snake Lost its Limbs During the first verse, wave your hands. During the second verse, stretch your hands forward. During the third and fourth verses, place your hands behind your back so it looks like you have no arms. During the last verse, wiggle your fingers on both hands to like a spider wiggles its limbs.
How Tiger Got Its Stripes. Walk around in a circle, going faster for each verse.
How Turtle Got His Shell. During the first verse, hold your hands up as if they are holding an umbrella. During the last verse, hold your hands over your forehead as if you are looking out of the turtles shell.
How Unicorn Lost Her Horn. Hold your arm straight by the side of your head as if it were a Unicorn’s horn.
How Zebra Got Strips During measures 5-6, 11-12, 17-18, and 23-24 make appropriate sound effects or sing the words from the previous two measures.
Songwriter
James A Larson is the oldest of five siblings, a father, and a grandfather. He has spent much of my life reading and singing with children and helping them to read and expand their imaginations.
“Jim” is a retired computer scientist and Adjunct Professor in Computer Science. He has published four technical books and edited several technical conference proceedings and collections of technical papers. He is also a columnist for Speech Technology Magazine.
This is Jim’s first publication of musical material.