Baby Bumblebee Song

Baby Bumblebee Song is actually "Arkansas Traveler" - you know this tune!  It is a terrific melody that is fun to sing. 

Here are three EASY arrangements for beginner piano students.

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

Turn it into a duet

Here is the same setting, but with chord symbols for a partner.  This tune sounds great with a swingy accompaniment, such as Left Hand single bass note + Right Hand triad - a bit of an "oom-pah" sound.

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

For real beginners, longer notes

Do you see how the timing has been doubled in the arrangement below?  This makes counting SO MUCH EASIER for beginners. 

I use "unit" counting, like this:

1-2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3-4!   That's the rhythm of

"I'm... bring-ing home a ba... - by... bum... - ble... - bee........!"

It makes sense to my students, helping them to master those rhythms.

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

This little song is perfect for the Note-Reading exercises my students are doing this year... Armed with a sheet (called the Note-Reading sheet), we will choose ONE NOTE AT A TIME, usually, to locate and write its name beside, with a tiny letter.

Repetition helps recognition

We might start with the bass clef "G" in this song, since it's the first note.  Then, we hunt for the next G, and the next, and the next!

"I see three G's hiding in this line..."

It's way more fun to find notes when they are "hiding!"  

After that one, we might move on to bass clef "A", or even Middle C (easily the most recognizable note), because Middle C remains baffling to most students for a long time, especially when it can be played by either hand, as occurs in this piece Baby Bumblebee.

Middle C... an Anchor in a storm!

Just as the topography of the piano keyboard seems to be like the Rosetta Stone for interpreting the other instruments, lacking black keys as they do, just so Middle C seems to be an anchor for finding your way at the beginning of a piece of music.

The hardest part of the music is...

The beginning!  The beginning!  Students may have difficulty knowing how and where and with what hand to start a piece, for a very long time.  That is why they must practice, practice, practice finding the relationship of notes to a KNOWN note, such as Middle C.  

I'm always learning new ways to help my students over this hurdle - as you are, too, I'm sure!

The links for the sheet music:

Download shared-hands melody of Baby Bumblebee Song

Download the arrangement with chord symbols

Download version with doubled timing of notes

Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!

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About the Author

Dana Thynes

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.