On The Bus

The lively rhythms played on cymbals, guitars, and mandolin in this happy song help create the feeling of moving along on a big yellow school bus. This all-important mode of transportation is a place where kids can visit, take in the scenery, daydream, and above all, feel safe. Knowing the rules for sitting safely in the bus is important to an overall positive experience.

The easy melody takes its pitch cue in the beginning from the theremin, but it's the brass and bagpipes that keep the bus rolling through the spoken chorus, which is super simple. This is the part that invites kids to put their feet flat on the floor, their "seat" on the seat of the bus bench, their back to the back of the bench, and their face forward. All good rules of safety, set in a memorable way. Don't forget to let your kids do the claps at the coda, too. This adds a little extra movement, involvement, and energy. (In the studio, our younger singers wanted to do the movements in rhythm to the song. Their enthusiasm for getting it right was infectious for the rest of us!)