Listen to this Canadian folk song. It is popular in Quebec, a province in Canada which speaks French. In Quebec, this song has been popular with children to sing while they play with a spinning top. The word moine means "spinning top." As you listen:
Take turns spinning a top.
Find three things on the globe: North America (continent), Canada (country) and Quebec (province).
Think about how the tempo changes. (It gets faster) Why? (It becomes more exciting and fun.)
"Ah! Si Mon Moine Voulait Danser!" is a French phrase that sounds like ah see moh mwah-neh voo-leh dahn-seh. It means Oh! If my spinning top wanted to dance! Practice saying this phrase together, then practice singing it together.
As you sing the melody, notice the words that change.
In the beginning of the song: If you'll come now and dance with me.
In the middle of the song: If you'll come now and sing with me.
At the end of the song: If you'll come sing and dance with me.
Practice the harmony in the following phrases:
Dance away the day now, and dance away the night, now.
Sing away the day now, and sing away the night, now.
Sing away the day now, and dance away the night, now.
At the end, voices split into harmony on will be. If you'd like the challenge of singing a high G, choose the high part. If not, choose the low part.
Perform a simple circle dance. Divide the class into two circles, one inside the other. One circle walks clockwise while the other circle walks counterclockwise. As the tempo increases, make sure you are still keeping the steady beat.
For the harmony, stop the circle and keep the beat by bending your knees.
As the verses change, change direction of the circle.
Optional: Watch the choreography video by John Jacobsen for this song. When confident singing the song, learn the choreography!
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