Not all boys enjoy singing but many do. Singing is a great activity for boys. Countless research has demonstrated that singing can benefit people on multiple levels – physically, musically, psychologically, socially and spiritually.
Despite the benefits, keeping boys singing through the middle years (ages 8 to 14) can be a challenge for teachers and parents.
Researchers have explored the problem of missing males in singing programs aimed at this age group and identified a variety of contributing factors such as missing role models, school cultures, gender stereotypes, and adolescent voice change.
My experience teaching boys over 30 years has lead me to believe that these challenges can be partly addressed when the teacher is positive and supportive. Also, when the teaching methods and song choices appeal to boys.
There’s a misconception that boys want to sing fast songs, spooky songs, sport songs, and songs that feature blood and gore. This might be true for some boys, but not all boys like to sing the same sorts of songs. Boys also enjoy slower songs, sentimental songs, comedy songs, and even love songs.
In this blog post, I share more than 60 songs that I have, through trial and error, found appeals.
Let the boys sing!
Pop Music
- Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
- Rip Tide (Vance joy)
- Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)
- Stand By Me (Ben E King)
- I Can See Clearly Now the Rain Has Gone (Jimmy Cliff)
- It Must be Love (Madness)
- I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
- Feeling Groovy (59th street bridge song – Simon Garfunkel)
- Up on the Roof (The Drifters)
- Don’t Worry Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin)
- Count on Me (Bruno Mars)
- Keep Your Head Up (Andy Grammer)
- Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
- Hey Jude (Beatles)
- Moon Shadow (Cat Stevens)
- Octopus’ Garden (Beatles)
- Ob La Di, Ob La Da (Beatles)
Music Theatre and Film
- When I Grow Up (Matilda)
- Electricity (Billy Elliot)
- Pure Imagination (Willy Wonka)
- If Only You Would Listen (School of Rock)
- It’s Possible (Seussical)
- Any Dream Will Do (Joseph)
- Consider Yourself (Oliver)
- Bright (Julie and the Phantoms)
Jazz Standards
- I Got Plenty of Nothing (Porgy and Bess)
- Swinging on a Star (Frank Sinatra)
- Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra)
- Straighten Up and Fly Right (Robbie Williams)
Children’s songs
- Never Smile at a Crocodile
- One Eyed Jack The Pirate Chief
- The Purple People Eater
- My Highland Goat
- The Mexican Woodpecker
- My Grandfathers Clock
- Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
- The Moose Song
- Rockin’ Robin
- I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones)
Disney
- Just Can’t Wait to be King (Lion King)
- Friend Like Me (Aladdin)
- Bare Necessities (Jungle Book)
- Everything I Am (Tarzan The Broadway Musical)
- Jack’s Lament from A Nightmare Before Christmas
- When You Wish Upon A Star (Pinocchio)
- Kiss the Girl (Little Mermaid)
Folk Songs
- A Capital Ship (Traditional Sea Shanty)
- Ten Thousand Miles Away (Sea Shanty)
- Skye Boat Song (Traditional Scottish)
- Botany Bay (Traditional Australian)
- The Gypsy Rover (Traditional Irish)
- Early One Morning (Traditional English)
- Football Crazy (Traditional Irish)
- Click Go the Shears Boys (Australian)
- The OId Bark Hut (Australian)
- Drunken Sailor (Irish)
- Give Me Wings (O Waly Waly) arranged by Patterson
- Banana Boat Song (Jamaican)
Art Music
- I Need a Home for My Dinosaur (RCM Prep Book)
- The Spider Hunter (RCM Book 1)
- If You Should Meet a Crocodile (RCM 2)
- Cookie for Snip (Burton Lowell Kurth) – RCM Prep Book (2019)
- Old Abram Brown (Benjamin Britten)
- Bist Du Bei Mir? (Bach)
- Ching A Ring Chaw (Aaron Copland)
Song Collections
- Heroes and Vagabonds: Solo Songs for the Male Changing Voice (Book and CD arranged by Mark Patterson) published by BriLee Music
- Travelling On (Solo Songs for the Male Changing Voice) by Ruth Elaine Schram (Arranger) published by BriLee Music
- Tales of Land and Sea (Solo Songs for the Male Changing Voice) by Mark Patterson (Arranger) published by BriLee Music
- The Singers Musical Theatre Anthology (Teens Edition)
- The Teen’s Musical Theatre Collection – Young Men’s Edition
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