Music Together® and Rhythm Kids®
Song Samples
All Music Together® songs were designed to inspire families to make every day musical—and it’s done just that for millions of parents, teachers, and children over the past three decades. (That’s partly because the music is sophisticated enough for adults to love it as much as children!) And, to keep the curriculum fresh and interesting, we’re always composing, recording, and bringing in new material, inspired by musical traditions from around the world.
Check out a few of our teachers' favorite tunes, from the Music Together and Rhythm Kids collections, along with a bit about how teachers approach them in class.
Tue Tue(Rhythm Kids)
This well-known hand-clapping, singing game from Ghana, offers lots of opportunities to explore singing, dancing, and drumming using phrase play, ostinati, singing in round, and more. Although there is no definitive translation of the lyrics, most Ghanaian children believe that “tue” is a rice dish.
Little Blue Car(Music Together)
Kids love songs about transportation, and this Music Together original became a hit with families as soon as it was added to the curriculum in 2019. Besides being a fun, bouncy moment for children and their grownups, this lap song provides an opportunity for adult and child to move together as one. Beep Beep!
Hey, Ho, Nobody Home(Music Together)
You may recognize this 17th-century English folk tune! Sung on simple “vocables” rather than lyrics in our version, this Song without Words (lovingly called a “doo doo” song by many teachers) supports children’s tonal development by removing the distraction of language so their developing brains can focus on the tonal and rhythmic elements of the music. Songs like this are accessible for grownups, too!
I’ve Got the Rhythm in My Head(Music Together)
This song is a musical adaptation of the playground clapping game, “Down Down Baby,” which was popularized on Sesame Street. Clapping games are part of the oral tradition of almost every culture, and are passed down from generation to generation. This singing game comes to life in class with the claps, taps, wiggles and the favorite exclamation “Ding, Dong, Hot Dog!”
Duermete, niño bonito(Music Together)
Lullaby time is a ritual that signals the close of the Music Together class and inspires families to create a lullaby routine at home. Gently rocking and singing this beautiful triple meter folk tune in Spanish strengthens family and community bonds.
Sandpiper(Music Together)
Playful sound effects, dynamics, and tempo all contribute to the popularity of this versatile original tune where sandpipers run, swim, sleep, and do whatever our imaginations decide they want to do. In a Music Together class, sandpipers can do anything!
Shake Those 'Simmons Down(Music Together)
For this high-energy, action-substitution circle dance, Music Together provides teachers with an extended instrumental version (or “Teacher Mix”), to allow for flexibility in song development. Sing and dance with the recorded lyrics of this Traditional American tune, or create your own substitutions, for a lively, creative song experience. It’s always extra fun–and funny—when the kids’ ideas are incorporated.
Chandamaama Raave(Rhythm Kids)
This song, from Southern India and sung in Telugu, is all about the moon and the many things it brings. As they sing, children bend their arms in the shape of the moon and create different movement variations, both seated and standing. They also learn to sing solos by creating their own verses of what the moon might bring. The recording features a native Telugu singer, traditional Indian instruments, such as the sitar and tabla, and is great for movement, perhaps using scarves or ribbon streamers.