This may be my most traveled song to date.
I’ve heard it sung across the country from schools and
nature centers to summer camps. One popular variation is substituting
“turtles and snakes” for “frogs and snakes.”
I’ve also heard “the forest” line changed to
the name of the place where it is being sung. Have at it!
Salamander Faces! Try
adding finger snaps, hand motions, and your best salamander
faces to the song. For those already comfortable singing rounds,
this song is a good introduction to real harmony singing.
I like thinking of the low-to the ground part (alto and bass)
as belonging to the salamanders and bears; the high part (soprano
and tenor) belongs to the higher up tree frogs, squirrels
and chipmunks. Once people can handle each part individually,
try combining them and trading back and forth. Younger children
love crawling or hiding like a shy amphibian or reptile in
time with the music as well.
Night
Heron Music • 72 Meeting Hill Road, Hillsborough, NH 03244 • USA
• ph (603) 464-4321 •e-mail info@nightheron.com
Listen
to the sound file
Try
adding finger snaps, hand motions, and your best salamander
faces to the song. For those already comfortable singing rounds,
this song is a good introduction to real harmony singing.
I like thinking of the low-to the ground part (alto and bass)
as belonging to the salamanders and bears; the high part (soprano
and tenor) belongs to the higher up tree frogs, squirrels
and chipmunks. Once people can handle each part individually,
try combining them and trading back and forth. Younger children
love crawling or hiding like a shy amphibian or reptile in
time with the music as well.