Learning with Music: Games and Activities for the Early Years3

Learning with Music - musical fun from the start for children

This is the 3rd level of early years songs for young children new to singing. We’re adding more notes and rhythms, helping them to recognise the sequence of scales, and division of musical beats. And all of this, through songs and games!

Learning with Music levels

Quick links to other Learning with Music levels.

All Around The Buttercup

All around the buttercup

One, two, three

If you want an awesome friend

Just choose me

Bought Me A Cat

Bought me a cat

The cat pleased me

Fed that cat under

yonder tree

Cat went fiddle-eye

Fiddle-eye, fiddle-eye

Cat went fiddle-eye

Fiddle-eye fee

How Many Miles To Babylon

How many miles to Babylon?

Three score and ten

Will I get back before you do?

Yes and back again

Open the gates and let us through

Not without a beck and bow

Here’s the beck, here’s the bow

Open the gates and let us through

Hush Little Baby

Hush little baby, don’t say a word

Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird

And if that mocking bird don’t sing

Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring

If that diamond ring turns brass

Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke

Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat

If that billy goat don’t pull

Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull

If that cart and bull turn over

Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover

If that dog named Rover don’t bark

Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart

And if that horse and cart fall down

You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town

John Kinacker

I heard, I heard the old man say

John Kinacker-nacker doo-rye-ay

Today, today’s a holiday

John Kinacker-nacker doo-rye-ay

Doo-rye-ay, doo-rye-ay

John Kinacker-nacker doo-rye-ay

Apple Tree

Apple tree, apple tree

Will your apple fall on me?

I won’t cry and I won’t shout

If your apple knocks me out!

Johnny Works

Johnny works with one hammer

One hammer, one hammer

Johnny works with one hammer

Now he works with two

Johnny works with two hammers

Two hammers, two hammers

Johnny works with two hammers

Now he works with three

Johnny works with three hammers

Three hammers, three hammers

Johnny works with three hammers

Now he works with four

Johnny works with four hammers

Four hammers, four hammers

Johnny works with four hammers

Now he works with five

Johnny works with five hammer

Five hammers, five hammers

Johnny works with five hammers

Now his work is done

Let Us Chase The Squirrel

Let us chase the squirrel

Up the hick’ry, down the hick’ry

Let us chase the squirrel

Up the hick’ry tree

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb

Little lamb, little lamb

Mary had a little lamb

Its fleece was white as snow

No One In The House

No one in the house but Dinah, Dinah

No one in the house but me I know

No one in the house but Dinah, Dinah

Strumming on the old banjo

The Little Bells

The little bells of

Westminster go

Ding, dong

Ding, dong-dong

Who's That

Who’s that knocking at my window

Who’s that knocking on my door

Ally’s knocking on my window

Ally’s knocking on my door

Come Butter Come

Come butter come

Come butter come

Mary sits at the gate

Waiting for a butter cake

These songs are ideal for young children new to singing. We move to the next level with more notes and more rhythms! Children quickly gain confidence in recognising and singing sounds and rhythms, and even playing them on simple instruments.

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