Begin “If You’re Happy” by just playing the melody on a keyboard and asking students to clap when they think they should. Piece of cake, and they will all be so very pleased with themselves. Ask them next to sing the traditional “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands” words.

Then, referring to a chart, which is on the board, ask them to sing “If you’re happy and you know it, play an A, and so on. If you use three keys, all students will get a chance to play.

Here is the chart:

   1.  A-B-G   (key of G, modulate to C)
   
   2.  D-E-C   (key of C, modulate to F)
   
   3.  G-A-F   (key of F)
   
  

Once this is well learned, I teach chords, singing,

“if you’re happy and you know it play chord five”, and then one, and one again.

Only two keys are need for this, and they are (on the board):

   1.  five:  CEG
   
   one:   FAC    (key of F, modulate to C)
   
   2.  five:  GBDF
   
   one:   CEG
   
  

Students really love this and ask for it again and again!

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Rosemary Shaw

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