9 Back to School Songs

I hope those of you who are returning back to school or know someone who is about to start a new school year... well, I'm wishing all of you a great school year ahead. One of my grandson's elementary school starts Monday, August 12... today! When does it begin for you? I do hope your summer has been marvelous. I've been with 3 of my 5 grandchildren for the past week, so I've been a bit behind on the computer. So, hopefully I'll catch up!

I've mostly been playing I-V or I-IV-V7 progressions, especially when it comes to kids' songs.  In case you missed a few of my articles on some beginner-intermediate level articles on the subject, if you want, visit Understanding-2-5-1-Progressions and The-II-V-I-Chord-Progression

Wherever you are, enjoy playing some easy familiar tunes with different lyrics for back to school... whether on the piano or guitar, these simple songs will help children feel at ease going to school on the very first day! Lyric credits go to Judy Hall, Cindy Dingwall, Lindsay Hall and Betty Ruth Baker.

1. We Like to Come to School
    Sung to: The farmer in the Dell

       D
We like to come to school,
We like to come to school.
Our school is such a happy place,
                   A7        D
We like to come to school.

Substitute the words terrific, great, yummy, friendly, fun, exciting, etc. for the word happy.

2. It's Time to Go to School
Sung to: She'll be Coming Round the Mountain

        F
It is time to go to school, here we come,
                                                         C7
It is time to go to school, here we come.
        F
It is time to go to school,
                  Bb
We think school is pretty cool,
        F                   C7                      F
It is time to go to school, here we come.

3. I Like to Go to School
Sung to: The Farmer In the Dell

   D
I like to go to school,
I like to go to school.
Heigh-ho-the derry-oh,
   A7                D
I like to go to school.

Additional verses: I like to look at books; I like to build with blocks; I like to listen to stories; I like to draw and paint; I like to sing new songs; I like to play with friends.

4. Off to School We Go
Sung to: A-Hunting We Will Go

C
Off to school we go,
      G
It's off to school we go.
          C                              F
We'll take our lunch and ride the bus,
          C      G         C
With everyone we know.
C
Off to school we go,
      G
It's off to school we go.
       C                    F
We learn our ABC's and more,
          C       G          C
With everyone we know.

5. Waiting For the Bus
Sung to: Frere Jacques

C
I am waiting, I am waiting,
For the bus, for the bus.
When will it get here?
Hopefully it is near.
Here it comes, here it comes.

6. Down At the Bus Stop
Sung to: Down By the Station

C
Down at the bus stop
G                   C
Early in the morning,
See all the children,
G                    C
Everyone we know.
Waiting for the school bus
G                      C
Safely on the sidewalk,
Honk-honk, beep-beep,
G         C
Off we go.

7. The Children On the Bus
Sung to: The Wheels On the Bus

        F
The children on the bus sit nice and quiet
C                        F
Nice and quiet, nice and quiet.
the children on the bus sit nice and quiet
C                          F
When we take a ride.

        F
The children on the bus look out the window,
C                          F
Out the window, out the window.
The children on the bus look out the window
C                          F
When we take a ride.

        F
The children on the bus stay in their seats,
C                     F
In their seats, in their seats.
The children on the bus stay in their seats
C                         F
When we take a ride.

8. To Our School
Sung to: Over the River and through the Woods

C
Over the bridges and through the streets
      F          G7            C
It's to our school we go.
         F                           C
The drivers know the way to go
               G7                        C
As they drive us safe and slow.
C
Over the bridges and through the streets
      F              G7           C
In rain and sleet and snow.
            F                                 C
They drive with care, they get us there
      G7
As over the streets we go.

9. Early Morning Schoolyard
Sung to: Down by the Station

C
Down by the schoolyard
G                   C
Early in the morning,
See the yellow buses
G                    C
Lining up so well.
Dropping off the children
G                       C
Going to their classrooms,
Bong-bong, ding-dong,
G                 C
There's the bell.






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Famous Chord Progression: 2-5-1

You've probably heard of lots of references to chord progressions like the 2-5-1 and 6-2-5-1 turnarounds. A chord progression is a series of chords played one after the other. And chord progressions make up songs.

So, what are the 2-5-1 progressions? First, the numbers come straight from the major scales. The 2-5-1 is three chords because each number of the scale represents a chord.

C Major

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

A 2 - 5 - 1 from this scale is a chord based on "D" moving to a chord based on "G" moving to a chord based on "C". This is called the number system.

Let's take a look at Dmin9 Chord (D minor ninth chord)

L.H. / R.H.

D/FACE

To make the sound stronger, play D and C with your left hand. You'll want to play the D and C far apart to create a nice sound.

If you desire a fuller sound, try playing DAC in your left hand.

With the G13 chord ( G thirteenth chord), play:

G/FACE

You can see that this is the same chord as the one above but the bass is different so it's not a Dmin9 but rather, G13. If you want to make the bass full, play GF or GDF in place of a single G bass note.

Looking at a Cmaj9 chord (C major ninth chord), here it is:

C/ EGBD

If you'd like, play CB in the left hand for a fuller, richer sound.

Combining all three chords, you'll hear these changes in all music styles, especially jazz.

Practice:

Dmin9 to G13 to Cmaj9

This progression, the 2-5-1 is common when a song is either about to end or at a point where it needs to return back to the beginning to repeat another verse. The 2 prepares for the 5 and the 5 creates this tension that is only calmed by resolving to a point of rest - the 1 chord... that is probably the chord that opened the song.

The Major Modes and II-V-I

The basic chords played in jazz harmony come from the major scale and all of its modes. Each mode starts on a different note of the major scale. The Greek names for these modes, in use for over 2,000 years are written below. The Roman numerals I-VII are on the left and correspond to the modal names on the right. In other words, Ionian is always the I mode, Dorian is always II, Phrygian is always III...
the same in every key.

C Major Scale and Its Modes

I         C D E F G A B C       C Ionian
II       D E F G A B C D        D Dorian
III      E F G A b C D E        E Phrygian
IV      F G A B C D E F        F Lydian
V       G A B C D E F G        G Mixolydian
VI      A B C D E F G A        A Aeolian
VII    B C D E F G a B         B Locrian

From these modes come seventh chords. Seventh chords are constructed by playing every other note of each mode.

C      D     E      F      G     A     B      C           (CEGB)
root  2nd  3rd    4th   5th   6th   7th   octave

This particular chord is the C major seventh chord because of the interval relationship between the root of the chord and its other notes. A major seventh chord has a major third, a perfect fifth and a major seventh. Because this chord is built off of the first mode, it is called a I chord.

CE = major 3rd
CG = perfect 5th
CB = major 7th

The second, or Dorian Mode, of the C major scale runs from D to D. The root, third, fifth and seventh of this mode - again form a chord, the D minor seventh chord because of the interval relationship between the root of the chord and its other notes. A minor seventh chord has a minor third, a perfect fifth and a minor seventh. Because this chord is built off of the second mode, it is called a II chord.

D      E       F      G     A     B     C     D             (DFAC)
root   2nd  3rd   4th    5th   6th   7th   octave

Dmin7 = DFAC

DF = minor 3rd
DA= perfect 5th
DC = minor 7th

The fifth, or Mixolydian mode runs from G to G.

G      A      B     C       D      E      F     G              (GBDF)
root   2nd   3rd   4th    5th    6th   7th   octave

This is called a "G seventh" chord, or G dominant seventh and is notated G7.
This chord is a dominant seventh chord because of the interval relationship between the root and its other notes. A dominant seventh chord has a major third, a perfect fifth and a minor seventh. Because this chord is built off of the fifth mode, it is called a V chord.

G7 = GBDF

GB = major 3rd
GD = perfect 5th
GF = minor 7th

These three chord, I, II, and V-major seventh, minor seventh and dominant seventh-are the three most commonly played chords in jazz. Since each one has a perfect fifth (there is an exception though), the third and seventh are the variables. They determine whether the chord is major, minor, or dominant, or what's called the quality of the chord. The following rules sum up the differences between the three chords:

• A major seventh chord has a major 3rd and a major 7th.
• A minor seventh chord has a minor 3rd and a minor 7th.
• A dominant seventh chord has a major 3rd and a minor 7th.

These three chords often occur as a II-V-I chord progression and is the most common chord progression in jazz. The II-V-I in the key of F is Gm7,  C7 and F. 

Memorize the II-V-I progression in every key.

For more information, visit 2-5-1-chord-progressions

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All the best,






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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