Pass the Pumpkin is a playful fall music activity and tradtional song arranged and adapted by educator and composer Sarah Bonsignore. She uses the song (and Loona Dorn backing track) with both her Pre-K group classes and her piano students. Combining singing, rhythm, movement, and play, the song gives young musicians a fun way to experience important musical concepts before they even realize they’re “learning” them!

Set in D harmonic minor, Pass the Pumpkin introduces students to the wonderfully mysterious sound of the minor scale while reinforcing simple ti-ti ta rhythm patterns. Students can clap the rhythm, play it on the piano, tap it with rhythm sticks, or sing along as they begin connecting the sounds they hear with the musical patterns they see.

And, of course, there’s a pumpkin!