Lesson 6: Mary Had a Little Lamb with Echo Ellie! 🐑🐘

Hello again, wonderful musician! I am Echo Ellie, and I am so excited because today you are going to learn one of the most beloved children's songs of all time: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"! This song is special to me because it repeats and echoes just like my name. Everything you learned in the last lesson with Hot Cross Buns will help you here. Let's get started!

About "Mary Had a Little Lamb" 🐑

"Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an American nursery rhyme that was first published in 1830. It was inspired by a real girl named Mary Sawyer who brought her pet lamb to school one day! The song became so famous that it was one of the very first songs ever recorded on Thomas Edison's phonograph. That is over 100 years ago! Today, millions of children around the world learn this song as their introduction to music.

Your Hand Position

Just like in Lesson 5, place your right thumb on Middle C, pointer finger on D, and middle finger on E. This song also uses only these three notes, so you already know exactly where your fingers need to be. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

The Melody Pattern

"Mary Had a Little Lamb" has a special pattern. The first two lines go: E-D-C-D-E-E-E (pause) D-D-D (pause) E-E-E (pause). Notice how the note E repeats a lot? Listen for the echoes! Each musical phrase bounces back like my elephant voice echoing through the jungle.

Step-by-Step: Let's Play Mary Had a Little Lamb! 🎹

Line 1

E (finger 3) — D (finger 2) — C (finger 1) — D (finger 2) — E (finger 3) — E (finger 3) — E (finger 3, hold a little)
"Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb..."

Line 2

D (finger 2) — D (finger 2) — D (finger 2, hold a little)
"lit-tle lamb..."

Line 3

E (finger 3) — E (finger 3) — E (finger 3, hold a little)
"lit-tle lamb..."

Line 4

E (finger 3) — D (finger 2) — C (finger 1) — D (finger 2) — E (finger 3) — E (finger 3) — E (finger 3, hold)
"Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb..."

Line 5

D (finger 2) — D (finger 2) — E (finger 3) — D (finger 2) — C (finger 1, hold)
"Whose fleece was white as snow."

Now play the whole song through from Line 1 to Line 5. You have now played two complete songs on the piano! Echo Ellie is trumpeting with joy!

Listen for the Echo! 🐘

Do you hear how Line 1 and Line 4 are exactly the same? And how Lines 2 and 3 are just repeated notes? That is the echo! When music repeats itself, it makes it easier for us to learn and remember. Many songs use repetition. Can you spot the repeated parts in your favorite songs at home?

Practice Challenge 🌟

1. Play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" three times through from memory.
2. Play both "Hot Cross Buns" AND "Mary Had a Little Lamb" back to back as a mini-concert!
3. Sing the words while you play. "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb..."
4. Try playing with your left hand! Place your left pinky on the C below Middle C and play the same pattern.

Two songs in your pocket already! You are becoming a real musician. In the next lesson, Piano Panda returns to teach you the most famous children's song of all: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Get ready to reach for the stars!