Singing Rounds for the Classroom, Haida in 5 Keys
Singing rounds for the classroom ought to be easy and energetic.
This round is high energy
Haida, an Israeli song with only two lines, fits the bill! Download this Hebrew folk song in five different keys, plus a LETTERS-IN-THE-MUSIC-NOTES version just for those non-piano-playing singers!
Singing this catchy round is very fun! My students actually ask to do it AGAIN and YET AGAIN at yet another recital (and I inwardly groan but usually acquiesce).
Here is the free sheet music for the musical round song in the lowest key, Eb minor:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Where are the chords??
My bad - I did not add chord symbols to the melody line. But, the chord progression is just I-V-I, I-V-I, over and over again. The "I" chord is minor, and the "V" chord is the associated major, up a 5th from the tonic.
If you are saying, "HUH?" then an example would be:
Am - E - Am.
Or, in the music above, Eb minor - Bb major - Eb minor
(Ebm-Bb-Ebm)
The meaning of the words
What is the meaning of the word "haida" in the Hebrew Chassidic round or song? Apparently (I don't speak Hebrew!), it is like singing "lah-de-dah-de-dah" or the like in English.
My primary purpose in giving students rounds is to teach them to sing independently: to hear a harmony, and yet carry their own line.
Singing slowly
Therefore, we might do a lot of very slow singing so as to savor each new blending of sound.
Whereas the key of Ebm is the lowest written version, the arrangement in Am is the highest:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
A performance of Haida
I found this performance to be fun - a lot of cute children.
Sometimes, these public performances seem over-long; as a frequent recital-giver, I worry that the sameness of the music might tax the patience of the audience. Perhaps that is why the director of this adorable group of small children decided to add MOTIONS to their performance!
Notice, though, that the children are on RISERS - inherently risky equipment! I'm sure the parents and grandparents of those wee folk were biting their nails as their little ones slowly spun around, and shifted back and forth!
The links to the singing rounds:
Download singing rounds for the classroom "Haida" in Ebm
Download Hebrew folk song in Em
Download Haida Hebrew song in Fm
Download Haida Hebrew song in Gm
The link to an easy-to-play-on-the-piano version:
Download a version with letters in the notes for a non-pianist, in Em (not shown)
More Rounds at Music-for-Music-Teachers.com
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.
With lyrics from an older time, this is more difficult than many rounds, but compensatingly more beautiful, with more complex harmonies as well!
From Canada, a minor harmony round with energy and a catchy melody.
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.
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!"
A fancy melody from the 1600's with rhythmic intricacies, that is also pretty!
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!
The famous French melody.
Meditative, slow, and minor... a lovely round. This is a lullaby.
Not a lullaby! This is a brisk bidding farewell to friends, in a major key.
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.
The first round I use with beginning singers. Very singable!
Another brisk Hebrew round, lovely and minor.
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!
A very pretty little tune with nice major harmonies. A quick study!
Short, and very easy. This is a sweet melody with simple harmonies.
A pretty song with lovely lyrics
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!
A pretty little round with two parts and two verses, about white coral bells flowers along a garden path.
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!
Recent Articles
-
Gospel Song Jesus Loves Me: Beginner & Easy Piano, Plus Lead Sheets!
Gospel song "Jesus Loves Me" is well-known to many children. Here are easy arrangements to learn the music & each word to Jesus Loves Me, for early piano. -
Easy Piano Sheet Music Swan Lake -Beginners & Intermediate Pianists!
Easy piano sheet music Swan Lake, lovely solos & duets, with lyrics in the beginner arrangements for dreamy students who love imagining. New arrangements! -
The Wellerman Sheet Music: Easy Piano & Lead Sheets!
The Wellerman: Tabs, sheet music & lyrics for piano, guitar, & more! Such a fun, high-energy song to sing & play - learn it fast with letters in the notes! -
Christmas Carol Lyrics Song from the Bible: Free SATB and Guitar Tab
Christmas carol lyrics from the Bible and an old-fashioned carol-like tune combine in this free Christmas song for SATB choir or a solo vocalist with guitar. -
Traditional Irish Song "Galway Piper" with 3 Piano Arrangements!
Traditional Irish songs tend to be either bouncy, or tender & sweet. Galway Piper falls into the bouncy, fun-to-play camp!
Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church? Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!
All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This", available as a digital download, tells the riveting story of the time when Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a brave young queen risked her life to save her people.
A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!
This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.
This book is available as a digital download from this site. Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.
It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!
This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.
And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!" They will be spending more time at the piano.
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.
Lots of trolls in this book - including one who gives him a Christmas gift!
Emily:
I printed "Flower Duet" off at church this morning, and it looks GREAT!!! :) Thank you so much for sending it on again - it's going to be so beautiful for my wedding!
Also, thanks for even making this music available! I'm a music teacher, so this website was a great find! :) By the way, the friend singing the Lakme part of the duet is very happy that you arranged it in G! :)
Deb:
... I watched your video "Wondrous Love" with your eight gals - Magnificent! So refreshing to see good harmonies sung a capella these days; it seems to be rare!
Comments
Do you have a story or even a question about this vocal piece? Share it!
Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Accompaniment Not rated yet
Are there any recordings of the piano accompaniment only so that I may conduct my group while the piano part is played electronically? I'd be willing to …
About the Author
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.
Recent Articles
-
Gospel Song Jesus Loves Me: Beginner & Easy Piano, Plus Lead Sheets!
Gospel song "Jesus Loves Me" is well-known to many children. Here are easy arrangements to learn the music & each word to Jesus Loves Me, for early piano. -
Easy Piano Sheet Music Swan Lake -Beginners & Intermediate Pianists!
Easy piano sheet music Swan Lake, lovely solos & duets, with lyrics in the beginner arrangements for dreamy students who love imagining. New arrangements!