I Like To Sing

Derived from an old English poem, this simple tune is a favorite to use with young students, but it is also just exuberant enough to use with singers of any age, especially during Music In Our Schools Month. This song has appeared with several sets of lyrics, but these are maybe the most universal. Here, each verse has our singers liking to sing in various times of the year, in all kinds of weather. It is a light, positive song, full of the joy of singing.

This tune is usually in 3/4, very polite and sing-songy. We didn't think that this would appeal much to kids beyond a certain age. That's why we converted it to 4/4 in a more spirited Latin rock style.

Creativity - Simple songs like this make for nice creativity exercises. It's about liking to do things, so it provides a perfect opportunity for your students to suggest new sets of actions for the verses. "I like to dance," "I like to clap," "I like to jump," and so forth. Or one could turn it around and/or make it humorous: "I hate to sneeze," "I like to nap," "I want to bark," etc. Like that.

This would also be a good tune on which to add simple Latin American rhythm instruments. Egg shakers on quarter or eighth notes, and/or claves or rhythm sticks playing a simple pattern would be great – something like quarter note, eighth rest, eighth note, quarter note, quarter rest. It's also a nice tune for a bongo or conga part, or guiro playing quarter, two eighths, quarter two eighths, and repeating.