Australian Folk Songs With Worksheets set 1

NOTES FOR AUSTRALIAN FOLK SONGS AND WORKSHEETS SET 1
This is a set of 5 Australian Folk Songs with associated worksheets.

All songs come with interesting historical information and with a glossary of words used in the songs which provides a fascinating insight into the life of drovers, bushrangers and people participating in the Australian gold rush in the 1800s.

Worksheets include:
- 3 x Sight Reading worksheets
- 2 x Melodic Dictation worksheets
- 1 x Rhythmic Dictation worksheet

These resources and more are also available on MySongFile.com.au


The Sight Reading Worksheets begin with exercises to prepare students for sight-reading the song.

STEP 1: Clap selected rhythms from the song.
STEP 2: Sing exercises in solfa to practise intervals from the song.
STEP 3: Sing the song in solfa from the staff (a few hints in solfa included).


The Melodic Dictation Worksheets begin with exercises to prepare students for dictating the melody of the song.

STEP 1: Answer questions while listening to the song. (If you have students who struggle with dictation, these questions may help. By giving students specific elements to listen for, the dictation becomes more achievable.)
STEP 2: Students are directed to fill in the missing solfa to help focus on selected intervals from the song before needing to write notes on the staff in step 3. (After hearing the melody, students can fill out the tone set individually, as a class, or you can tell them the notes.)
STEP 3: Fill in the missing notes on the staff. (Selected notes are included to assist students in writing the melody).
• Answers are provided.


The Rhythmic Dictation Worksheet begins with exercises to prepare students for dictating the rhythm of the song.

STEP 1: Answer questions while listening to the song. (If you have students who struggle with dictation, these questions may help. By giving students specific elements to listen for, the dictation becomes more achievable.)
STEP 2: Students are directed to fill in the missing rhythms to help focus on selected rhythms from the song.
STEP 3: Fill in the missing rhythms above the staff. (Selected rhythms are included to assist students. This is the rhythm of the song.)
STEP 4: Students who finish early can write the melody of the song on the staff using the rhythms they have dictated. N.B. This optional question is not included in the marks for the worksheet.
• Answers for the worksheet are provided.

AUSTRALIA’S ON THE WALLABY (Comes with a melodic dictation worksheet and a rhythmic dictation worksheet)
• This song comes with historical background and definitions of Australian terms. This information provides fascinating insight into what life was like for those who took part in the Australian gold rush.
• A fantastic song for preparing and practising the melodic elements 'low la' and 'low so'.
• The rhythmic element 'ti-tum' can also be prepared and practised with this song.

THE MARYBOROUGH MINER (Comes with a sight reading worksheet)
• An historic context and definition of words is included to give students a fascinating insight into the life of a miner in the days of the Australian gold rush.
• The Maryborough Miner has a melancholic, lilting melody, well suited to the lyrics.
• The melodic element 'ta' (flattened 7th) can be prepared and practised with this song.
• Compound rhythms can also be practised with this song.

THE WILD COLONIAL BOY (Comes with a melodic dictation worksheet)
• This song (with the included historical context and explanation of words in the song) provides a fascinating insight into the life of an Australian bushranger.
• This is a useful song for preparing and practising rhythms in 6/8 time.
• The melodic elements 'fa' and 'ti' can be practised with this song.

BOLD JACK DONOHUE (Comes with a sight reading worksheet)
• This download includes a section on word meanings and historical context providing insight into the life of an Australian bushranger (outlaw).
• A fantastic song for preparing and practising a 9/8 time signature!
• This song can be used to prepare and practise the melodic element 'low ti'.

THE SPRINGTIME IT BRINGS ON THE SHEARING (Comes with a sight reading worksheet)
• With historical context and terms from the song explained, this resource gives students an understanding of what the life of a shearer and an itinerant labourer was like during the early settlement years in Australia.
• A great song for practising 3/4 time.
• The melodic elements 'fa' and 'ti' can be practised with this song.