Warm-ups, greeting songs, riffs and rhythms

Bringing our bodies, our brains, our voices, ourselves to life. Preparation for singing. Singing throughout the day.

1,2,3,4,5

Brilliantly simple game - just sing the numbers to the tune of Knees Up Mother Brown. Suitable for all ages.
score

Baby 123

Warm-up song from Trinidad, both physical and mental. Two lively variations on Head and Shoulders. Sung here by Sharon Durant and Beccy Owen.
mp3 | score

Balloon Warm- Up for KS1 - by Casey Middaugh, North London

balloon

Engine No.9

Simple melody also used as a round or waiting canon. (see score & mp3’s for examples). Taught by Su Hollingsworth at Vocal Union Training Day, Sage Gateshead.
mp3 score

Good Morning Everybody - Jilly Jarman

Written for Beaconside Schools -Singing Communities project.
Greeting song which allows high and low sounds and play acting. Jazzy with piano accompaniment KEY STAGE 1 & 2
score

Hammersmith gathering warm-up - Em Whitfield-Brooks

Really successful session in an intensive conference. Go to projects page

Hello Everyone How Are You?

Great easy introduction song. KEY STAGE 1 & 2
mp3

Here I am! - James Ramage

Fun song-game for taking the register or going home time. Easy call and response with simple guitar accompaniment. Written for the reception and Year One class at Warcop School during Vocal Force training sessions.
score | mp3

playground clapping games

These are demonstrated by school students from London and Bath at CLJazz week in Wales. Some they learned from other people and others made up themselves, or adapted. Thanks guys!

cup game hi low a sailor

Cups game:

............Hi low chick o lo : ...A sailor went to sea, sea, sea...

Miso Soup - Alison Coates

Warm-up song with a fun look at sol fa. With actions.
KEY STAGE 1, 2, 3
score | actions

One two three four five! - Jilly Jarman

Simple warm-up song using numbers for pitches, with a high and low five.
Great for everyone to have a go at conducting
score

Pussy Cat - Sarah Grey & Alison Scott

Easy song, lyrical with piano accompaniment.
KEY STAGE 1 & 2
mp3 | score | Warm-up ideas

Sasquatch - Vocal Union training day.

Call and response song, using consonants - good fun - all about yetis etc.
KEY STAGE 2 & 3 - adult
mp3 | score

Singing the scale - taught by Steph Brandon.

Warm up exercise from vocal union training day.
mp3

Tanczymy Labada - traditional playground song

Easy song with few words, about a waltz. A great song to get everyone to join in. Make up your own circle games to go with it. Suggestions here. Words given by Emilia Zbikowska
KEY STAGE 1,2,3,4
score

Vi voce Donna Maria

A Brazilian greeting song. Great for circle time, standing in queues waiting for the bell etc. (sorry - score coming soon)

Yoohoo! Where are you? - Vocal Union training day, Sage Gateshead

Warm-up song, excellent for KEY STAGE 2 or training
mp3


Sing Up



Sing Up, the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, produced by Youth Music with AMV-BBDO, Faber Music and The Sage Gateshead supported by Government.
Vocal Union is part-funded through Sing Up and is part of its national singing programme.