written by Metro Music Makers instructor Chelsea Sefzik
One of the most difficult tasks for me as a teacher is finding suitable music for young boys. However, Disney has come out with some fantastic hits over the years, and I want to share with you my top five picks for a young boy’s vocal and character development. (Did you miss my picks for a young female voice? Check it out here!)
1. “Un Poco Loco” from Coco
This song has so many great points that I can hardly believe it. First off, there is the obvious Spanish language. Learning to sing in another language is a big plus for any song. Second, the song has minor jumps, but it sits in middle voice. For any young male student, solidifying pitches can be hard, and this song makes it a fun task. Lastly, with so many intriguing lyrics, I think this song is one that can be played over and over again.
2. “The Bear Necessities” from The Jungle Book
Notably, this song has been approved for Federation competition material, and rightly so. “The Bear Necessities” addresses fundamental pitch jumps in a young singer’s voice while providing a bit of character development in the process. Definitely plug this one into your Disney playlist.
3. “You’re Welcome” from Moana
If you have a young singer who’s got spunk but lacking in high notes, “You’re Welcome” is going to be the perfect song for you. I placed this song right in the middle of my list because while it doesn’t have a lot of diversity in pitch, it does have a challenging rhythm, and a fun rap section to boot. With a fun, narcissistic character, this song will also be great for character development while performing.
4. “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from Toy Story
Most of the time, vocalists have other musical talents, and if you’ve got a young one who plays guitar, this song is perfect for pairing. While I don’t recommend vocal imitating, this song is a moderate, middle voiced song with a medium tempo. It’s great for beginners, and who doesn’t love Toy Story?!
5. “Go The Distance” from Hercules
“Go The Distance” is such an epic and thrilling song to sing. With a dramatic feel and an invigorating key change, this song takes a young belter to the next level. Not to mention, the last note is held through a dissonant chord structure at the end, making it a difficult but rewarding accomplishment.
Bonus: Check out this ballad from the NEW Toy Story 4 movie! Dive in to your full country mode and have a lot of fun with this short, quirky song!
P.S. If you need some help planning your next Disney vacation, one of Metro Music Makers’ Holiday Recital sponsors, Jennifer Zasio with Ears of Experience, has your back!