Mary Had a Little Lamb

Play a complete song using only B, A, and G
Practice quarter notes and half notes
Develop musical phrasing and breath control

About This Song

Origin: American Traditional (1830)

Difficulty: Absolute Beginner

Notes Used: B, A, G

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: G Major

Fingering Review

Full Song

This classic American children's song tells the story of Mary and her lamb. Play it smoothly with clear articulation.

Lyrics:

Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.

Practice Tips

Steady beat: Count "1-2-3-4" throughout to keep even rhythm
Breath control: Take breaths at the end of each phrase (commas in lyrics)
Smooth transitions: Move fingers smoothly between notes
Clear articulation: Tongue each note clearly with "too"

Practice Exercises

Practice the first line. Notice the ascending B-A-G-A, then three B notes.

Three A notes followed by two B notes. Pay attention to the rhythm.

Similar to the opening - practice for smooth repetition.

The ending phrase with a long final G note.

Historical Context

"Mary Had a Little Lamb" was written by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830, based on a true incident in which a young girl named Mary Sawyer brought her pet lamb to school. The poem was first published in 1830 and later set to music by Lowell Mason. It has become one of the most recognizable children's songs in American culture.

Performance Goal: Play the entire song at a steady, moderate tempo without stopping. Practice until you can play it expressively, like you're telling the story.

Musical Challenges

This song is slightly more challenging than "Hot Cross Buns" because:

It has more notes and a longer melody
It requires better breath control for longer phrases
The rhythm includes both quarter and half notes
It has repeated patterns that must stay consistent

Next Steps

Once you can play this song confidently, try:

Playing it faster or slower to practice tempo control
Adding expression - make some parts louder or softer
Playing from memory without looking at the music
Moving on to "Merrily We Roll Along"