The Bear Missed the Train

The parody song "The Bear Missed the Train" is based on a famous Yiddish tune "Bei Mir Bistu Shein." There are two distinct sections in this song that repeat creating a form we call AABA. This means the "A" section repeats followed by a different "B" section and finally the "A" returns. This form is hugely popular in musical styles from classical to pop. Differentiating sections in music contributes to discrimination or knowing same and different. There are a few ways to hear this for yourself and help your child hear different sections. First listen without looking at the answer key below and see if you can hear the two different sections.

How'd you do? :-)

The "A" section includes:

      Dm

The Bear Missed the Train

      Dm

The Bear Missed the Train

      A7

The Bear Missed the Train

Dm

And now he’s walking

While the "B" section includes:

Gm

And now he’s walking near

Dm

And now he’s walking far

    Gm

And he’s whispering in your ear

    A7

And he’s driving in a car

Help your child to hear the different sections by dancing with your two favorite dance moves. Only do one of your awesome moves during the "A" section and your other fantastic move during the "B" section. Another idea—dance in one section and freeze in the other. Or lie down during one section and jump in the other section.

Track 14 from my Jazz Pour Le Babes Album Available on cdbaby and iTunes! Sarah Gardner: Vocals Abbie Gardner: Background Vocals Ted Casher: Sax, Clarinet Craig Akin: Standup Bass, Slapfiddle, Electric Bass Bill Winiker: Drums Bo Winiker: Trumpet Herb "Pops" Gardner: Trombone, Piano, Cowbell, Arrangements Joe Hart: Guitar Co-produced by Sarah Gardner and Abbie Gardner.