Finding the right songs for girls aged 8 to 13 can be surprisingly difficult. At this age, singers are enthusiastic and full of potential—but they’re also navigating rapid changes in their voices, identities, and confidence. Some songs are too vocally demanding. Others may feel emotionally out of reach, or simply uninspiring to young ears.
Singing at this age can be incredibly powerful—it builds confidence, encourages self-expression, develops musicality, and gives girls a healthy outlet for creativity. But perhaps most importantly, exposure to a wide range of repertoire helps young singers grow. By exploring different styles, eras, and characters, they discover what resonates with them, what challenges them, and what brings them joy.
This list of 150 songs has been carefully curated by an experienced singing teacher and choir director, based on years of working with young voices in studio and classroom settings. These are songs that work—tried and tested in real-life lessons, rehearsals, and performances. They’re age-appropriate, musically satisfying, and well-loved by girls in this age group. Whether you’re a teacher planning repertoire or a parent supporting your child’s musical journey, this collection is designed to inspire exploration, skill development, and joy in singing.
Classic Pop (1960-1999)
These songs are timeless for a reason. With strong melodies, clear structure, and memorable lyrics, classic pop offers a great foundation for developing pitch, rhythm, and musical expression. Many girls connect with these songs’ optimism, nostalgia, or sense of fun.
- ABC (Jackson 5, 1970)
- Blackbird (Beatles, 1968)
- Blame it on the Boogie (Jacksons, 1979)
- Colour My World (Petula Clarke, 1967)
- Dreams (Cranberries, 1993)
- Downtown (Petula Clarke, 1964)
- Eternal Flame (The Bangles, 1989)
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper, 1983)
- Heal the World (Michael Jackson, 1992)
- Hey Jude (Beatles, 1968)
- I Can See Clearly Now (Jimmy Cliff, 1993)
- Imagine (John Lennon, 1971)
- In a Simple Way I Love You (Don Scardino, 1979)
- Lollipop (The Chordettes, 1959)
- Mama Mia (ABBA, 1975)
- Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley, 1987)
- Octopus’s Garden (Beatles, 1969)
- Only You (Yazoo, 1999)
- Our Lips are Sealed (The Go-Gos, 1983)
- Puff, the Magic Dragon (Peter, Paul & Mary, 1963)
- Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head (BJ Thomas, 1969)
- Sing (Carpenters, 1973)
- Spread a Little Happiness (Sting, 1982)
- Summer Holiday (Cliff Richard, 1963)
- Sweet Gingerbread Man (Mike Curb Congregation, 1972)
- Top of the World (Carpenters, 1973)
- True Colors (Cyndi Lauper, 1986)
- Walking on Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves, 1983)
- You Can’t Stop the Music (The Village People, 1980)
Contemporary Pop (2000 - )
Contemporary pop resonates with how today’s girls see the world. These songs are often empowering, emotionally open, and rhythmically engaging—making them ideal for exploring vocal technique, storytelling, and personal expression.
- Better Place (Rachel Platten, 2015)
- Better When I’m Dancing (Meghan Trainer, 2015)
- Birds of a Feather (Billie Eilish, 2024)
- Brave (Sarah Bareilles, 2013)
- Bubbly (Colbie Caliat, 2007)
- Can’t Stop the Feeling (Justin Timberlake, 2016)
- The Climb (Milie Cyrus, 2009)
- Count on Me (Bruno Mars, 2010)
- Cover Me in Sunshine (Pink & Willow Sage Hart, 2021)
- Dance Monkey (Tones and I, 2019)
- Dandelions (Ruth B, 2022)
- Diamonds (Rhianna, 2012)
- Don’t You Worry About a Thing (Tori Kelly, 2017)
- Don’t Give Up on Me (Andy Grammer, 2019)
- Fireflies (Owl City, 2009)
- Fight Song (Rachel Platten, 2015)
- Flowers (Miley Cyrus, 2023)
- Girls (Rachel Platten, 2023)
- Home (Phillip Phillips, 2012)
- Lost Boy (Ruth B, 2015)
- Mean (Taylor Swift, 2011)
- Never Give Up (Taylor Swift, 2010)
- Pocket Full of Sunshine (Natasha Beddingfield, 2008)
- Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Amy Grant, 2022)
- Price Tag (Jessie J, 2011)
- Put Your Records On (Corinee Bailey Rae, 2006)
- Roar (Katie Perry, 2013)
- See You Again (Charlie Puth & Wiz Khalifa, 2015)
- Shake it Off (Taylor Swift, 2014)
- Talking to the Moon (Bruno Mars, 2010)
- Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton, 2002)
- Warrior (Demi Lovato, 2013)
- What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction, 2011)
- What Was I Made For (Billie Eilish, 2023)
- When I’m Gone – Cups Song (Anna Kendrick, 2015)
- Who Says (Selena Gomez, 2011)
Musical Theatre and Film
- All is Found from Frozen 2 (2019)
- Almost There from “Princess and the Frog” (2010)
- Beauty and the Beast from “Beauty and the Beast” (1992)
- Candle on the Water from “Pete’s Dragon” (1977)
- Castle on a Cloud from “Les Miserables” (1987)
- Everlasting from “Tuck Everlasting” (2002)
- Girl I Mean to Be from “Secret Garden” (1991)
- The Girl Scout Song from “Beetlejuice the Musical” (2019)
- Part of Your World from “Little Mermaid” (1990)
- Home from “Wonderland” (2024)
- I’d Do Anything (Oliver, 1968)
- In the Big Blue World from “Finding Nemo” (2007)
- It’s Possible from “Seussical” (2000)
- I Won’t Grow Up from “Peter Pan Live” (2014)
- In My Own Corner from “Cinderella” (2013)
- Journey to the Past from “Anastasia” (2017)
- Lava from Pixar’s “Lava” (2015)
- Maybe from “Annie” (1976)
- Million Dreams from “Greatest Showman” (2017)
- My Favourite Things from “Sound of Music”
- Naughty from “Matilda” (2022)
- Never Land from “Peter Pan Live” (2014)
- Never Ending Story from “Never Ending Story” (1984)
- That Could Be Me from “The Big One-Oh” (2019)
- Tomorrow from “Annie” (1976)
- Reflection from “Mulan” (1998)
- Singing in the Rain from “Singing in the Rain” (1952)
- Sing Your Own Song from “Dear Edwina” (2008)
- Somewhere Out There from “American Tail” (1986)
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow from “The Wizard of Oz”
- Stuck in a Moment from “Sing 2” (2021)
- Try Everything from “Zootopia” (2016)
- Waiting, Waiting from “How to Eat Like a Child” (2020)
- When You Wish Upon a Star from “Pinocchio”
- When I Group Up from “Matilda” (2022)
- Wind in My Hair from “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure” (2017)
- Wouldn’t it be Lovely from “My Fair Lady” (1956)
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me from “Toy Story” (1995)
- Zing Went the Strings of My Heart from “Listen Darling” (1938)
Art Song & Folk
- All the Pretty Little Horses
- Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell, 1970)
- Cookie for Snip (by Burton Lowell Kurth)
- Coconut Man (Aubrey Beswick)
- Dark and Dingy (Glyn Lehmann)
- Forever Young (Joan Baez)
- Garden Song (John Denver, 1979)
- Grandfather Clock (Dunhill)
- Gypsy Rover (Seekers)
- The Little Sandman (Brahms)
- Lavender’s Blue from “Cinderella” (2015)
- Monica Llama (Donna Rhodenizer)
- The Path to the Moon (Eric Thiman)
- Skye Boat Song (Traditional)
- Waiting for the Moon (Ben Bowen)
- Watermelon Lemonade (Donna Rhodenizer)
- Water is Wide (Traditional)
- Watch the Stars (Ruth Seeger)
- Where Go the Boats (Roger Quilter)
- Yonder Come Day (Traditional)
Jazz Standards & Blues
- Accentuate the Postive
- A Tisket, A Tasket (Ella Fitzgerald, 1938)
- Blue Skies (Ella Fitzgerald, 1958)
- But Not For Me
- Bye Bye Blackbird
- Doop-Doo-Dee-Doop (Doodlin Song, Blossom Dearie, 1959)
- Dream a Little Dream of Me (Mamas & Papas, 1968)
- Frim Fram Sauce (Lois Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald)
- From the Start (Laufey, 2023)
- Hippy Hippy Shake (Swinging Blue Jeans, 1964)
- Hound Dog (Elvis, 1956)
- Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
- Paper Moon (Sarah Vaughan, 1959)
- Potato Chips (Slim Gaillard, 1953)
- Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley, 1955)
- Side by Side
- Splish Splash (Bobby Darin, 1958)
- Swinging on a Star
- You Are My Sunshine
- Valentine (Laufey, 2022)
- When The Red Red Robin (Doris Day, 1953)
Classic Children's Songs
Silly, sweet, and educational, these children’s songs are great for classroom use, early lessons, or just having fun while learning to sing.
- Computer Cat (Donna Rhodenizer, 1995)
- Duck Song
- Down by the Bay
- Ed The Invisible Dragon (Donna Rhodenizer, 1993)
- Found a Peanut
- Green Grass Grew All Around
- Hot Chocolate Warmup (Donna Rhodenizer)
- I’d Like to Visit the Moon (From Sesame Street)
- My Aunt Came Back
- My Highland Goat
- My Own Superhero (Shawna Edwards)
- On Top of Spaghetti
- One Small Voice (Jack Hartmann)
- Sushi Warmup Song (Nikki Loney & Mim Adams)
