Every child I know learned nursery rhymes, most of them little jingles or chants that young voices could accommodate nicely, allowing the expression of joy in a somewhat controlled manner. Music was gifted to my siblings and me by my father for whom music defines life. So it was, at age 14, as I prepared my song for the school talent show, that I learned the "song" that would help me introduce my own children to the world of music and the beauty of harmony.

Nursery Rhymes in Harmony

My friends, four girls, all age 14 as well, were practicing their entry.  I was intrigued.

• Joanie started out first (a capella). She sang a NURSERY RHYME!!! That's right, she sang, "sing a song of sixpence.." Her soprano voice was clear and strong and still..a NURSERY RHYME??? 
• When she finished, Kelly started...in her lovely alto voice, again, a nursery rhyme! "Little Jack Horner...".
• Then it was Becky's turn..lower soprano..."Little Bo Peep...," 
• Finally, Pam begins to sing her deep, almost tenor voice, "Rock a bye Baby". 

Beautiful, but Unbelievable

I was astounded.  My four 14 year old friends were going to make fools out of themselves.  They were getting up before the toughest audience (their peers), dressed in silly childish costumes, singing nursery rhymes.

And then they pitched a note and began singing...all at once, each her own nursery rhyme.  The harmony was incredible!  I had never heard anything like it!

Of course they didn't win the talent show (neither did I, but that's beside the point.) Their song, their harmony, stuck with me forever.

Teaching Harmony to Children of my Own

When my children were knee-high to a grasshopper, having been singing all their very short lives, I decided it was time teach them harmony.  It did so with this song. With only two children, and a husband who did not sing, were had to modify the song a bit, selecting only three rhymes at any particular singing.  However, the three chosen were not always the same!

Today my children are grown and still, at family gatherings, it is this song that everyone wants to hear and which we sing.  I recorded the three of us singing this song two years ago as part of the gift I made for my dad that year.  If you care to listen, contact me via ebay messages and I will send you a link to to the recording.

Teaching Harmony to Groups of Children

As a Girl Scout leader, I used this same song to teach harmony to my "girls."  Breaking the troupe into four groups, I was able to teach each group one of the four nursery rhymes. Again, always starting with the "anchor" soprano, each group of girls is able to pick up their note from the last note of the previous group. Once each group has sung through their nursery rhyme, the leader (me) pitches the four notes and directs the four groups to sing at once!

The beauty of this particular method is that the nursery rhymes and their melodies are well-known to these young singers. They can focus on their own words and tune, sing with enthusiasm and the result is amazing!

Music, nursery rhymes, harmony, giggles and tears...they are the never changing parts of life.  Teach your children well....