Be careful not to get led astray! A roundup of challenging yet fun rounds (canon songs)
A round is a style of singing where you follow the person before you, coming in slightly later and chasing their line.
Many people probably sang well-known rounds like “The Frog Chorus” (Kaeru no Gasshō) and “The Bear in the Forest” (Mori no Kuma-san) when they were children.
So, what other rounds are there besides these?
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of rounds, from classic staples to lesser-known gems.
Songs used for rounds often have fun and amusing lyrics.
If any catch your interest, be sure to pay attention to the lyrics and try singing them as a round for fun!
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Be careful not to get carried away! A roundup of challenging but fun canon songs (1–10)
Piglet’s TrumpetLyrics・Composition: Satoshi Komiyaji
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.
My Friend Kanonsakushi sakkyoku koyama shōzō
Tomodachi no Canon, with lyrics and music by Shozo Koyama, is a song beloved as a choral piece.
The song celebrates how wonderful friends are, and it’s one we’d especially love for children to sing.
You can perform it straight without a round, so it’s fun to alternate between singing it as a round and singing it normally.
What’s challenging is not only the sections where the same melody is sung in a round, but also the parts where harmonies are layered while singing in a round.
Singers who come in later, of course, and those in the lead who are sustaining notes both need to be careful not to get pulled off pitch along the way.
Give it a try for school, daycare, or kindergarten choirs!
Canon of MosquitoesSakushi: Koyama Shōzō / Sakkyoku: Hangarī min’yō
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.
Be careful not to get carried away! A collection of challenging but fun rounds (11–20)
Come, fireflywarabe uta
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!
Coffee CanonSakushi: Komiyaji Satoshi/ Sakkyoku: Gaikoku kyoku
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.
Frog ChorusYakushi: Okamoto Toshiaki / Sakkyoku: Doitsu min’yō
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.”
Three caterpillarsSakushi: Kurihara Michio / Sakkyoku: Komiyaji Satoshi
‘Three Little Caterpillars’ has adorable lyrics where someone squeals “Eek!” at a caterpillar.
When a large group sings it as a round, the final sound effects line up in succession, so everyone might end up giggling and squealing together.
You typically enter two measures later, but I also recommend the one-measure-late version—it’s more challenging and adds extra punch! It could be fun to perform this round within a play that features insects.
When you get to the surprised part, add a pose with both hands thrust forward, and enjoy singing it!