Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat
Vocal Round (or instrumental!)

Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat!  

This fun vocal round has old-fashioned and - to our generation of kids - silly words, but they are still fun to sing.

I couldn't find a single video of a performance of this song!  

Yes, there are videos with similar names and lyrics, BUT DIFFERENT TUNES.  A couple performances were actually using the melody for "White Coral Sands."  

If you find a video that matches this tune, I would love to know about it!

Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat!  Vocal round for Christmas in 3 keys, for 3 parts

The harmonies in this little round are very pretty, but this tune is not particularly easy. 

It is the initial note of line three that is especially hard to get, even though it is also the final note of line 2!  Lots of repetition may be needed - but as is often the case, the trickier the melody, the more fun it is to sing once it has been conquered!

This melody would also work well with violin, recorders, or other instruments.  We're using this in our upcoming Christmas recital.  I hope your students like it too!

The book "150 ROUNDS for Singing and Teaching" includes this and several other rounds for Christmas...



150 Rounds for singers music book

The links to the free printable vocal round PDFs:



Download Christmas vocal round in the key of Bb



Download Christmas is Coming in the key of C (shown)



Download vocal round for Christmas in the key of D


More Rounds at Music-for-Music-Teachers.com


Ah, Poor Bird

 A pretty round with a reach of an octave, slow-moving notes, and easy intervals.  The scale-wise movement makes this song easy for a beginner.


Beauty's But an Idle Boast

With lyrics from an older time, this is more difficult than many rounds, but compensatingly more beautiful, with more complex harmonies as well!


Canoe Song

From Canada, a minor harmony round with energy and a catchy melody.


Christ is Born

New lyrics for an old round by Haydn - well-suited to a mix of voices, a satisfying round


Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat

Lots of big interval jumps, even octaves, make this round fun and tricky.


Coffee Canon

Originally from Germany (Kaffee), this is great fun to sing, and a lasting favorite with my students!  With English lyrics - by me - that mention mochas, lattes, and "coffee black!"


Come, Follow

A fancy melody from the 1600's with rhythmic intricacies, that is also pretty!


Dona Nobis Pacem

Difficult!  Quite difficult for beginners, this beautiful round works best with a bigger group of singers, or even instrumentalists, unless your singers are experienced with harmony, and good note readers.


For Health & Strength & Daily Bread

Pretty, and fairly easy, as it moves primarily in descending steps, this is a wonderful Thanksgiving song!


Frere Jacques

The famous French melody.


Good Night, Stars Our Light

Meditative, slow, and minor... a lovely round.  This is a lullaby.


Good Night to You All

Not a lullaby!  This is a brisk bidding farewell to friends, in a major key.


Haida, a Hebrew round

Haida is vigorous and fun - there are two spots that invite a clap, adding to the rhythmic feeling of this song.  Along with "Coffee," this is a favorite, frequently requested!


The Hart, He Loves the High Hill

This brisk but pretty round from England contrasts a deer with a rabbit, and a man with a woman!  "The lady loves her WILL!" (getting her own way).


Have You Seen the Ghost of John

An unbelievably pretty round, with lyrics that DO NOT do it justice!   One of my students' perennial favorites.  I have added alternate lyrics in Latin, to make it sing-able for Christmas.


Heigh Ho, Nobody Home

The first round I use with beginning singers. Very singable!


Hinneh Mah Tov

Another brisk Hebrew round, lovely and minor.


Kookaburra

A fun 2-part round from Australia, good for classroom singing


Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A happy song, easy to learn!


Music Alone Shall Live

A very pretty little tune with nice major harmonies. A quick study! 


Oh How Lovely is the Evening

Short, and very easy.  This is a sweet melody with simple harmonies.


Rise Up, O Flame

A pretty song with lovely lyrics


Shalom Chaverim

A song about peace, from Israel. Very lovely.


Viva la musica

A little different - there is a bit of dissonance to learn to sing through.  A joyful melody!


White Coral Bells

A pretty little round with two parts and two verses, about white coral bells flowers along a garden path.


White Sand and Grey Sand

A street-seller's cry from England.  



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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Doris:
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Lori, homeschool mom, songwriter/musician and private music teacher:
Just wanted to say "thank you" for this site and for all of your dedication and hard work!

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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.