The Coffee Canon

I’ll never forget the first time one of my classes sang in a round. Not only was I impressed with them, but they were impressed with themselves. I could tell by the looks on their faces, that they’d experienced the joy and wonder that is singing in harmony with others. If you’re looking for a round like this to do with older classes, The Coffee Canon is a great choice. I learned this song in my own high school general music class, before my love affair with coffee even started. I suspect that many of my former classmates would remember it as well, particularly since it may have been one of the few times they were exposed to authentic folk songs.

Class Discussion

After you’ve sang the song for the class, encourage a discussion of the lyrics. Split students into pairs and ask them to discuss what the words can mean. Remind them that there are no wrong answers, you simply want to hear their thoughts. Divide the pairs into groups, so that each group has a different line of text to focus on. Then, gather back together and have each pair share their thoughts. This is a good time to remind students the importance of listening thoughtfully to the ideas of their peers, and it’s a quick and easy way to infuse language arts into your lesson with lyric analysis.

Starting Points

Since you are working toward having the students sing in a round, it’s important that they have an undeniably strong sense of the melody and beat, so that when it’s time to split up, they’ll be able to hold their own. One easy way to get students to practice the melody and beat without boring them, is pulling out rhythm instruments and giving them plenty of opportunities to play their favorite. This might mean creating different stations using hand drums, claves, djembes, castanets, and so on.

Have students play the steady beat while you sing, and give them the chance to switch stations each time you repeat the song. As they grow more comfortable with the melody, encourage them to begin singing along. Gradually, you can stop singing to assess their grasp on the melody and beat.

You might even consider telling them to keep a beat with found sounds, such as a pencil on a music stand or drumming on their seats. Beware of the chaos that might ensue with this one!

Singing in Round

I would encourage you to split this lesson into several different class times. The melody can be tricky, and it’s best to give them plenty of practice singing in unison before attempting a round. When you think they’re ready for the round, split them into three groups and have each group stand in a circle facing the center. Give clear starting signals for each group and try your best to not sing along. If it all falls apart, this is a clue that they haven’t practiced in unison enough, and you’ll need to move back a step so they can strengthen their foundation.

Once your students complete the round successfully, bask in the glow of their accomplishment and celebrate with them. One of my joys in teaching was watching students in awe of their own abilities after singing in a round. It was always an amazing experience for them, and one to be shared with their teacher!