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Content

The books aim to provide simple exercises for singers to use to warm up with, and to extend their singing technique.

The Food Songs book contains references to a wide selection of foods.

[Author’s note: Why food? Because these songs are pretty much intended for young people, and if there’s one thing which interests young people, it’s food! And stimulated, engaged people sing with more passion.]

We have tried to keep the selection of foods as general as possible, and in teaching situations it is common to change some of the words to suit a young person’s likes and dislikes. [That said, some of the food words are chosen to illustrate certain vowel/consonant techniques.] We’ve tried to include meat and vegetarian options (even burgers can span a wide range of ingredients!) and to be sensitive to cultural requirements.

The Adults book covers similar ground to the Food book, but with more complicated songs. The words in this book are by Shakespeare and other classic English poets. All have been chosen to be suitable for young people and adults (and some young people’s feedback has been that they’ve been able to quote them in English exams without any revision!).

Terms and conditions

This site is free to use, and its resources are free to distribute.

If you would like to share them with others, please feel free.

We have opened up this site for everyone as a way of keeping singing teaching going during the Coronavirus shutdown; once the virus is gone and a normal teaching schedule resumes, we may remove the book downloads.

If and when these terms change, we will indicate this on the front page of the site

The Food Songs


The original recipe! Simple songs about food. Click on the cover above to get the whole book in pdf form.

The Adult Songs


Adult because they are settings of words by Shakespeare and other great poets of the past. Click on the cover above to get the whole book in pdf form.

Food songs soundtracks

Tomato Soup

Keep the top notes of each set nice and clear. Don't forget the slurs - where you have more than one note per syllable. And a 'P' on the end of 'soup', please

Sausages

If you don't like sausages (and don't forget that the song does mention vegetarian ones) then you can sing about something else, or add the words "but I don't like them" on the last note!

Apple Pie

Make sure that you get the ending right - especially that note on "and" in "and I'll eat the whole lot up". Big breath!

Pizza

Like the start of 'Twinkle, Twinkle'. Substitute your favourite pizza topping instead of Margherita if you want!

Breakfast

Groups of notes on the same syllable (melismata or runs) are a feature of this song. Remember to group them properly. Don't forget the last syllable of the word "sausages" has two notes!

Burgers

Learn how to cook a burger. Use your insides to support the notes as they go up and down, and make sure that you join it all together. Practise by sliding between the notes!

Some Honey :)

A song in which the intervals increase as you go through. And then, at the end, they fall again... And a strange meal as well! Don't forget the repeated note at the start of the second half

My Honey :(

The same as the last one, but this time in the minor key.

Energy Drinks

The good type of energy drink! Sevenths are difficult - make sure you get down to the low notes and the way up to the high ones (head voice if necessary).

Salad Leaves

Octaves is another way of saying 'eighths', but also remember that they are the same note, one register higher. However, they're a long way apart and tiring to sing, so support with your body. Get quieter, smoother and a bit slower at the end (for the 'salad dressing'.

Jelly and Ice Cream

Make sure of the tuning. It has to be dead accurate. Try it unaccompanied and see how well you manage to keep pitch.

Colours of Food

Distinguish between tones and semitones, keeping the tuning. Another song which is difficult when unaccompanied, but try it and see how you do

Curries!

If you don't like curries, use the alternative words at the end. Louds, softs, staccato and legato. Explore those musical textures!

Meatballs and spaghetti

Keep the phrases smooth - see how much you can do in one breath! Starts on a fairly high note: do a little hum instead of the 'M'

Sandwiches!

A patter song! It's fast - make sure you keep up, but also make sure that you hold that long note for its full length!

Trifle!

Triads and thirds (and seventh chords) are what this is about. Make sure you're accurate about all those notes. And keep a nice pulse going

Cookies

Make sure that you're singing the right notes in the 'chocolate chip...' section. And follow the dynamics. Work at it - this isn't an easy song!

Sweetcorn and peas

This one IS difficult! We've given you the first few notes of the tune to remind you, as the piano doesn't play most of the tune. There are two sets of words: the set above the stave is the more challenging!

Bake a Cake

How to bake a cake (if you can get to the flour (! a lockdown joke)). It's a recitative: you, the singer, are pretty much on your own and have to make the words and notes work with the accompaniment.

Five a Day

5/4 will try to trip you up: make sure that you count carefully!

Potatoes

Most of this song is off the beat! And it's also a study in the many ways to cook potatoes!

Mushrooms

Mushrooms grow in unlit spaces - that's what this song says. It's a bit gloomy, so as well as sixths expect some chromatics

Adult songs soundtracks

On Either Side the River

A Tennyson excerpt. Sing it smoothly, and make sure that you count the right number of beats on the long top note!

Over hill, over dale

Accurate pitching is essential, as are clear words - especially articulate the 'L' in 'hill' and 'dale'

Some are born great

Take a breath in the middle - unless (and until) you don't need to! A good vowel on the first note (think 'sum' rather than 'some') is essential

If music be the food of love

Make sure you count the correct number of beats between phrases, and jump accurately on the intervals

Full Fathom Five

As well as accurate pitching, make sure that you get the rhythms right - short-long and long-short.

This Above All

Big breaths will help the support in this song; try to connect the notes as you move up and down the leaps

All the World's a Stage

While the start is comparatively easy, make sure that the second phrase ('They have...' gets up to the top note!

There is nothing

... either good or bad. The last phrase is just a repeat of the previous one, but keep concentrating, because it often feels different

The Smallest Worm

A creepy number for a creepy creature! Accuracy of pitching is everything - see if you can do it equally well unaccompanied!

Under the Greenwood Tree

Ninths are pretty rare in any song, but you want to be ready when you do find one. This study has loads of them, both major and minor

One Equal Temper

A longer study in arpeggios, with words by Tennyson. Make sure that you really pitch (and lighten) the top notes. The song starts immediately, so we've given you the first two notes of the vocal part

Who Is Sylvia?

There's a two-bar intro to this one (which isn't necessarily in the book) so you'll have a chance to get the tempo. Rememeber to keep counting!