Rounds are so much fun to sing! Our kids’ faces beamed as they began to sing their own melody within a musical piece. Most of us learned simple rounds like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” during our childhood. In this form, each singer sings exactly the same melody. As soon as the first completes a full phrase, the 2nd singer enters, beginning the melody over the top of the 1st and so on, with each succeeding voice adding its own layer. The various voices of the round always start on the same pitch and go back to repeat the melody immediately upon completion, for as many repetitions as is preferred. This circular pattern forms the basis of the name “round.”
Just as a square is a specific type of the larger category of rectangles, a round is the simplest form of a canon. A very old form of composition, one voice states a melody which is then imitated in the other voices. As mentioned above, in the case of rounds these imitations are always repeated in unison with the original starting pitch. However, many canons become quite complex, imitating the original on other pitches of the scale or using proportionally longer or shorter note values as compared to the original. It is really a type of musical puzzle, simple yet put together in a clever way.
Why include rounds in your family singing? This form is both accessible and challenging to young and old singers alike. The simplicity of learning just one melody together in unison eventually sounds and feels quite complicated as all fit their melody into the whole while maintaining independence. And so by this tool we introduce the root of harmony – singing our own part while keeping our ears open to how it fits in with the others. Being able to listen to both ourselves and other singers surely must be part of why singing is so good for our brains!
I’ve decided to divide this step into two posts – first a group of simpler rounds, so that you can start with songs which will build confidence and vocal independence slowly. In my next post I will give you a group of 7 rounds our family chose for their well-crafted characteristics and the sense of musical satisfaction they bring, with more challenging harmonies and textures. They can be used with more experienced singers as your family grows in age and ability.
Remember to start each round by learning the entire melody together as a unison song, repeating until all are secure. Next, divide your group in half to sing the round in two-parts. Continue to divide the group into as many parts as the music allows:
Simple Rounds
Are You Sleeping (Frere Jacque)
Medium Level Rounds
Viva, Viva la Musica (Long, long live music!)
White Coral Bells Upon a Slender Stalk
Here are two of the middle level rounds we sang with our family:
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