Be careful not to get led astray! A roundup of challenging yet fun rounds (canon songs)

Coffee CanonLyrics by Satoshi Komiyaji / Music by a foreign composer

Canon of Coffee (Caffee)

The Canon of Coffee lets you experience the German note names through a round.

The gap between its bright, nursery-rhyme-like melody and its grown-up lyrics—warning that “coffee is delicious, but if you drink too much, your thinking will get dull”—is quite entertaining, isn’t it? For kids who learned note names with Do-Re-Mi, the term “German scale/note names” might sound puzzling.

Singing this song while explaining, “Note names aren’t just Do-Re-Mi; they differ by country,” might spark more children’s interest in music.

Come, fireflychildren’s song

[Children’s Song] Hotaru Koi / A Cappella [Round]

This is another famous children’s song that has stayed in the hearts of Japanese people and has been sung for generations.

Many people probably associate this song’s lyrics with the idea that fireflies like sweet water.

Although “Hotaru Koi” is a little more challenging for children to sing as a round compared to “The Frog Chorus” or “The Bear in the Forest,” its somewhat nostalgic and poignant melody makes it well worth a try.

By the way, besides the lyrics that are commonly sung nationwide, there are regional variations with different words, which are quite interesting—so if you’re curious, definitely look them up!

Piglet’s TrumpetLyrics and Music by Satoshi Komiyaji

Little Pig’s Trumpet (Round)

A delightful round in which a little pig blows a trumpet and a little bird plays the piccolo! The trumpet sound written as “boopa” evokes the image of the pig trying hard to play a tricky instrument, and you can’t help but smile as you listen.

It’s fun to sing it as a round as is, but it’s also recommended to actually play a whistle or flute in time with the sounds.

Once you get used to singing in staggered entries, gradually increase the tempo to shape it into a lively, upbeat piece.

Canon of MosquitoesLyrics by Shozo Koyama / Music: Hungarian folk song

Selection Basic Practical Skills: Canon of the Mosquito

The Canon of the Mosquito is based on a Hungarian folk song.

When a mosquito bites you, it gets really itchy, right? This slightly aggressive piece says, “Get it before that happens!” The melody is rather dark, conveying a sense of hostility toward the approaching mosquitoes.

It can be sung either as a round or straight through, but singing it as a round adds momentum to the depiction of swatting them one after another.

During the parts where you’re defeating the mosquitoes, adding actual clapping motions to mimic swatting will make the round even more fun.

rice paddleLyrics: Toshimi Komiyaji / Music: Germany

Round song “Oshamoji”

A round song starring the rice paddle that will have you craving freshly steamed rice as you listen.

Many rounds end up with a bit of dissonance partway through, but this one has beautiful harmonies throughout, so you can enjoy singing it in a round all the way to the end.

The compact, easy-to-remember lyrics are a nice bonus.

Even children who aren’t fond of rice might feel like giving it a try after happily singing along in a round while watching a video of fluffy rice being served with a paddle!

Frog ChorusLyrics: Toshiaki Okamoto / Music: German folk song

Frog Chorus (♪ The song of the frogs ~) by Himawari 🌻 ×2 with Lyrics | Children's Song Round | Kaeru no Gassho | Frog Chorus

When you hear “rounds,” many of you probably first think of “Kaeru no Gassho” (The Frog Chorus).

Its lyrics are short and simple, and the melody is easy to remember, making it one of the best songs for even small children to try singing in rounds.

Although it’s a well-known nursery rhyme that every Japanese person is said to know, did you know that its original tune is actually the 19th-century German children’s song “Froschgesang”? Also, the way frog calls are expressed varies by region, so when you actually sing it as a round, it’s a good idea to check in advance how the participants remember the final “frog call” part of “Kaeru no Gassho.”

Canon of CabbageLyrics and Music by Satoshi Komiyaji

Canon of Cabbage, Canon of Bath

Cabbage Canon is perfect for kids who love music—you can learn the German note names while singing it as a round! The German scale uses letter names similar to those used in English-speaking countries for chords, but the pronunciations are completely different.

Memorizing “C, D, A” as “C, D, A” in German (“C, D, A” is pronounced “Tse, De, A”) can feel a bit dull, but if you learn them through a fun round, it’ll stick much faster.

It’s especially essential if you’re studying classical music.

So try singing along, first learning the note names used to spell “Kohl” (cabbage) in German, and then move on to the rest.