Folk Songs

Range: Low F to open F. Uses B-flat and B-natural.

Download the book of folk songs HERE!

Hot Cross Buns  LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN C Major // Listen G Major
Mary Had a Little Lamb LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN C Major // Listen G Major
Fais Do Do  LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN C Major // Listen G Major
Twinkle Twinkle LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN
London Bridge LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN
Yankee Doodle  LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN
​Ring Around the Rosy   LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN
Joy to the World  LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN
Ode to Joy  LESSON PLAN // MUSIC // LISTEN

Students should learn these songs by ear. The teacher can model the song, and then the teacher and student can sing it together. The teacher can demonstrate the new fingering. Students should be encouraged to “sound out” the song, not just memorize the fingerings. When not in lessons, students should listen to recordings of the folk songs before playing them. Music is included as reference for teachers, and to provide a duet part.

Students should play at first without tonguing in order to encourage a constant use of air. Once students successfully perform songs without tonguing, teachers can begin a discussion of articulation. It is helpful to work on tonguing for a few minutes each lesson using just the reed and bocal. I do not encourage students to use articulation on their songs until they are able to control their air and play their songs without stopping. I urge students to use, as bassoon pedagogue Kristin Wolfe Jensen states, “one taste bud” to lightly touch the reed to learn a legato articulation style. (www.musicandthebassoon.org)

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