Instrumental Activity Book - The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York is a classic nursery rhyme that has been transformed into a lively non-instrumental activity designed to engage children in a fun and interactive game. The game involves children forming pairs and creating a longways set. As they sing "Oh the grand old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men," the top couple skips hand-in-hand down the middle to the end of the set and back. When the lyrics reach "He marched them up to the top of the hill and he marched them down again," the top couple leads their line to form an arch at the opposite end. As the song continues with "And when they were up they were up, and when they were down they were down," the remaining pairs join hands, pass through the arch, return to their places, and swing their partners. With each verse, a new top couple emerges, and the game continues, ensuring that all children have a chance to participate in the movement.

In addition to the movement-based game, there are also musical activities that involve singing with actions and claves. Children sing the song while clapping their hands on the word "up" and tapping their knees on the word "down". To incorporate rhythm sticks known as claves, the children are split into two groups. As they sing, they omit the words "up" and "down", instead playing the claves to represent these words. For those ready for a challenge, the "Thinking Voices with Claves" activity requires children to internalise the song and play the claves at the correct moments without vocalising the lyrics. These engaging activities not only help children enjoy music and rhythm but also develop their coordination and listening skills.