On the very first day of school with my Kindergarteners, I get right into making music with an echo song.
And not just any echo song, I think I’m with hundreds and thousands of other music teachers when we choose to sing Oh My No More Pie.
It doesn’t get easier than this song, but it’s still fun to sing and play.
Read on as we go into details around the sheet music, lyrics, origin, and 4 quick activities I use to extend the learning of this song.
Table of Contents
Oh My No More Pie Sheet Music
There’s not much to talk about here with this song musically, but it’s perfect for getting into head voice with a simple echo song.
Its descending melody is ideal for accessing that child’s singing voice without being too hard.
Interestingly, I’ve heard two major variations for this folk song:
- Descending minor triad
- Descending major triad
I believe the original is more often the minor triad. It seems to be more common.
This leads me to believe the major variation is more of a misremembering later on, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. This is exactly how variations pop up in folk songs, after all.
Note: For the purposes of the breakdown, I’ll analyze the minor version.
Where I First Heard It: Linda Louisell, retired from Mt. Pleasant, MI
Grade Level: Kindergarten and First Grades
Type: Echo song
Tonal Center: La
Range: Perfect 5th
Tone Set: L d m
Rhythm Set: Paired eighth notes, quarter notes
Form: a
Suggested Key: D Minor (F Major)
Pitch Focus: La
Rhythm Focus: quarter vs. eighth notes
Oh My No More Pie Lyrics
Here are the full lyrics. I also make moves with each one, and I’ll tell you what I do.
I add a bonus couplet at the end, just to feel extra silly.
To be honest, I’m not sure why I added it, but it’s been 10+ years now, so it’s too late to change. Ha!
| Lyrics | Motion |
|---|---|
| Oh my | Hands on face like you’re surprised |
| No more pie | Cross arms, look sad |
| Pie’s too sweet | Shake fists by head and make a “too sweet” face |
| I wanna piece of meat | Tap your belly |
| Meat’s too red | Mime throwing meat away |
| I think I’ll take some bread | Clap hands together |
| Bread’s too brown | Mime throwing bread away |
| I think I’ll go to town | Walk in place |
| Town’s too far | Bend over tired |
| I think I’ll drive the car | Mime driving a car |
| Car won’t go | Hands on hips, stomp foot |
| I kicked and hurt my toe | Mime kicking |
| Toe gives me pain | Rub toe |
| I think I’ll take the train | Make a train motion with arms |
| Train had a wreck | Clap hands together |
| I fell and hurt my neck | Rub neck |
| Stepped in the mud* | Step both feet |
| Now I’m squished like a bug* | Hands up and sing in squeaky bug voice |
*These are my bonus lyrics.
Once the song is over, feel free to start again!
No More Pie Song History
Despite my searching, I have been unable to find an origin for this echo song.
I know it’s famously taught by Dr. Feierabend during his First Steps In Music program, but there doesn’t seem to be a clear source.
If you know any information about the source, please feel free to email me at dynamicmusicroomATgmailDOTcom.
I’d love to learn more and give you credit for your find!
4 Quick Ideas For Extending Learning
There’s not much to this No More Pie song, but there are a few ways I like to extend the learning a bit.
Solo Singing
For solo singing, I take a microphone (real or pretend) and go around the room.
I still sing the first part, but the student I hold the mic up to gets to sing the response all on their own.
If they don’t want to, that’s OK. I tell them to simply shake their head and say, “No thanks!”
I never want to force kids to sing on their own. Creating positive musical experiences and feeling towards music is our greatest calling as music teachers.
Team Singing
For this challenge, I split the class into two groups.
When I hold the microphone or other object to one side, that team sings. When I hold it on the other, the other team sings.
If I hold it straight up, they both sing.
It’s a simple twist that forces them to pay closer attention (and get used to taking turns in music).
Singing Vs. Talking Voice
For this game to work, your kids need to have heard the terms “talking voice” and “singing voice.”
If I sing the lyric, they have to echo me like normal.
If I talk the lyrics, they shouldn’t do it, and they shake their head at me.
This is great practice for hearing the difference between the two.
Make Up New Lyrics
Making up new lyrics is always fun.
For Kindergarten, you’ll need to give them a lot of prompts to get through the song in a reasonable time.
First grade does a much better job with this type of activity.
If you’re doing this in Kindergarten, I’d suggest waiting until the second half of the year.
I’ll give the initial line, and they have to come up with the second half.
Here are some prompts I offer:
- Pie’s too sour…
- I think I’ll have a snack…
- I’m going for a run…
- I think I’ll ride the plane…
- I’m going to go to school…
- I want to play the drum…
You may also want to check out the Green Grass Grew All Around. Click the link for our sheet music and lesson guide.