Song Start – Musical Game

Song Start - Musical Game | Soundscapingsource.com

Here’s a simple music trivia game for you.

Rather than “Name That Tune” or “Finish the Phrase” games, in which you give the first part of a song and ask clients to finish it, try flipping that around and asking seniors to give you the BEGINNING of the song.

Here’s the procedure:

1. Say, “In honor of the first month of the year, I’m going to ask you to remember the first part of several songs. I’ll give you the end of the song, and you give me the beginning.”

2. Sing (or say) one of the endings listed below, and wait for your clients to name the first line of the song.

  • If they’re stumped with the short ending, try giving them a longer one.
  • If they come up with the song title, but not the first line, congratulate them for getting that right! Then, give a word or two from the beginning of the song, and see whether your seniors can keep it going.

3. Once they figure it out, be sure to let your seniors sing the song all the way through!

Song Endings:

Here are some song endings that worked well for my groups, followed by the first line and the song title. Add some of your own to match your folks’ favorite songs.

…Please don’t take my sunshine away (You are my sunshine – “You Are My Sunshine”)

…one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ball game (Take me out to the ballgame – “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”)

…go rockin’ robin – you’re really gonna rock tonight (He rocked in the treetops all day long – “Rockin’ Robin”)

…don’t fence me in (Oh give me land lots of land under starry skies above – “Don’t Fence Me In”)

…let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (Oh the weather outside is frightful – “Let It Snow”)

…you never caught a rabbit and you ain’t no friend of mine (You ain’t nothing but a hound dog – “Hound Dog”)

…and I’m crazy for lovin’ you (Crazy, crazy for feeling so lonely – “Crazy”)

…there’ll be time enough for counting when the dealing’s done (You gotta know when to hold ’em – “The Gambler”)

…in the Rockies far away (When it’s springtime in the Rockies – “When It’s Springtime in the Rockies”)

…this land was made for you and me (This land is your land, this land is my land – “This Land Is Your Land”)

 I find that this game is a great way to add some variety to a sing-along. It works best with songs that clients know very well already.

Which song endings and titles would you add to this list?

4 Comments

  1. Miriam Furst on January 30, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    What a great idea. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT SONGS OTHER’S SUBMIT

    Here’s a few other ideas:

    ______________covered with snow (On Top of Old Smokey)

    _____________my oh my what a wonderful day (zipee dee doo dah, zipee dee aiy)

    ____________ Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird (Hush little baby, don’t say a word)

    ____________ I’d have baked a cake (If I knew you were coming)

    • Rachelle on January 30, 2013 at 7:40 pm

      Those are great examples!

  2. JoAnn Jordan on January 30, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    What a cool idea! This is one I’ve never tried but will add to my list.

    • Rachelle on January 30, 2013 at 7:40 pm

      How did I find something you haven’t done, JoAnn? 😉 I hope it works well for you.

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