Musical Improv Games

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Hush, Little Baby

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Hush, Little Baby

  • Objective: Improvise a rhyming lullabye one line at a time based on a popular song
  • Instructions:
    • Everyone stands in a circle formation, one person designated to start
    • Get a suggestion of an object from someone in the circle
    • Starting person says line similar to “Hush, Little Baby”, but with other object
    • The next person, clockwise, builds off the line that was just said
    • That next line should reference the previous object then mention a new object
    • The next person, clockwise, does the same thing
    • This clockwise, line-at-a-time, rotation continues for a while
    • Eventually the song ends by someone holding their last note
  • Example:
    • Singer 1: “Someone give me an object you’d find in your room.”
    • Anyone: “A bed”
    • Singer 1: “Hush little baby, rest your head; mama’s gonna buy you a new bed”
    • Singer 2: “And if that bed don’t feel good, mama’s gonna buy you some firewood”
    • Singer 3: “And if that firewood don’t burn, mama’s gonna buy you an urn”
    • Singer 4: “And if that urn don’t hold the ash, mama’s gonna give you a mustache”
    • Singer 1: “And if that mustache don’t trim well, mama’s gonna buy you a Dell”
    • Singer 2: “And if that Dell don’t download files, mama’s gonna buy you floor tiles”
    • The rotation keeps going until someone holds their last note.
  • Notes:
    • If you want to prepare beforehand, it’s best to have the object in mind so that you know what you will rhyme with; then work backwards to figure out what word could be used to set you up for that rhyme.
    • If you fall out of rhythm, take your time to finish your line; others will adjust..
  • Video reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCx4D7KoGo
    • This is the song off which the game is based, just need the first 35 seconds