In the States, as we approach the end of May and then the month of June, many schools are having graduation or “moving up” ceremonies. These time-honored traditions usually involve students receiving a diploma that declares that they have graduated from a certain grade level or school. They can also include crossing over a bridge or a stage to signify moving up to the next school year.

Graduation Song

If you have been reading the music education networks, you have probably come across numerous requests for an elementary graduation or “moving up” ceremony song for the students who will be leaving the school. For example, a district might hold a fourth-grade graduation if the elementary school ends at that grade level and middle school begins at fifth grade.

Many music educators have to find an age-appropriate song for the graduating students to sing at the ceremony. These songs usually consist of a message of hope, growing up, or something else that is very positive. This does limit our choices for songs and many teachers ask for advice on what songs would work well.

End-of-Year Graduation Songs Wakelet

The request for a great song last year inspired me to create an “End-of-the-Year Graduation Songs Wakelet.” This Wakelet is broken into categories of PreK/K, Higher Elementary, Middle School, and Articles about Graduation. The Wakelet has links to YouTube videos of the songs, lyrics, and articles of various songs that have been used with specific age groups. The link is here or you can click below.

Graduation Songs Medley Rhythm Play-Along

From that Wakelet, I picked five of my students’ favorite moving up and graduation songs over the years. They are:

From there, I listened and mashed up the five songs to create a medley.

Rhythm Patterns

Though not all songs are in a four-meter (one is in cut time), I chose to keep it all in a four-meter to help the elementary students read the rhythm patterns successfully. The rhythm values are:

• Quarter Note - Crotchet

• Half Note - Minim

• Whole Note - Semibreve

• Eighth Notes - Quavers

• Quarter Rest

How to Teach the Rhythm Play-Along

• I begin with a movement game that involves the rhythms in the medley.

• I then project the rhythm slides that go along with the medley that you can download here.

• I use Wheel of Names to choose students to perform the medley rhythm patterns. When they clap the pattern, they then earn a pair of rhythm sticks to perform with the play-along video.

• Once all students have had a turn (or sometimes I spin the wheel of names in groups of two or four to speed up the process), they are ready to perform the medley play-along with their rhythm sticks.

• I vary it up by calling out, “only those who are wearing a solid color shirt will play now.” Then I would call out, “now only those who are not wearing solid color shirts.” You can then lessen the sound of all of the students performing at once.

Boomwhacker Play-Along

Next week, a Boomwhacker Play-Along Video to this medley will premiere on my YouTube channel. Stay tuned!