Off to the Races

          When you write a new song for a Children's Theater Show, you really have no idea how it will be received by the children.  The little song I just finished for the Ducks in my new show "The Tale of Chicken Licken" is all about training for running a race.  The idea is very simple.  In the play, we meet the Duck family as they are trying to get down to the lake to get the best worms before the Goose family.  So what sounds more like running a foot race than a pianist practicing his scales all over the piano at lightning speed?  This song starts off with the Ducks in a huddle, tail feathers all a-wiggling.  Then they BREAK and start the chant:

          5K, 10K or training for the Big Relay. 
          Biath-a-lon, Triath-a-lon, or what the heck, a Marathon! 
          1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - Go_______Ducks!

After a bit of stretching, they sing:

          Off to the Races, we're off to the Races!
          We'll go through our paces.  Our Race is today!
          Off to the Races, we're off to the Races!
          We'll go through our paces.  Our Race is today!

          That is really all they sing, just repeated a few times.  Perhaps that is why the children seem to like it so much.  I had no idea that this little song that came about through a burst of inspiration in a time of desperation could possibly be a hit.  I just had to hurriedly finish it before the camp started a couple of days later.

          I am happy to report that the little Ducks, mostly 5 and 6 year old boys, love the song and more importantly, they love the idea of getting to run around the stage to the music.  I had planned on just having the Ducks sing the song by themselves, but now that all the children have heard it, they can't help singing along.  So, why not?  Everyone on stage will sing it and even join in the exercise routine in the middle of the number.  It is an awesome feeling to have created a fun song that the children tell me keeps going round and round in their heads.  Good!  Then I'm not alone!