Resource Kit

UmbalayoA bright and simple echo song that

encourages vocal improvisation

Written and recorded

by Susie Davies-Splitter and Phil Splitter

www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter

 © Welcome to Music Umbalayo

About this Resource

'Umbalayo' Resource Pack includes:
· Learning Outcomes
· Lyrics
· Activities
· Lyric Video

‘Umbalayo’ is a bright and simple echo song made up of nonsense

words and funny vocal sounds. It is suitable for pre-schoolers up to
grade 3 to develop voice exploration, creativity and improvisation. It’s
written by Susie and Phil and comes with a new lyric video, learning
outcomes and activities.

Learning Outcomes
To speak then sing the echoes
To discuss the meaning of vocal sound effects and scat
To create a beat ostinato for the A section
To extend into vocal improvisation in the B, C & D sections
To accompany on percussion instruments and ukuleles

www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter

 © Welcome to Music Umbalayo

Activities
Say – echo say the words
Sing – echo sing the words
Improvisation B, C, etc sections
Improvise vocally using new nonsense words either
spoken or sung
Choose a leader to scat using notes from the
pentatonic scale
Improvise on non melodic percussion, melodic
percussion and recorders over a pentatonic scale
Ostinato Parts- repeated patterns
Say spoken ostinato – chika, chika, chika, chika, chika,
chika, chik, chika, chika, chika, chika, chik, chik, haa
Sing 3 part harmony Dng, Dng, Dng, Dng, Dng ostinato
Extensions - transfer ostinato 3, 4 & 5 to instruments
Accompaniment
Add a bordun on marimbas, xylophones or
Boomwhackers
Add a djembe accompaniment - see ostinato 3
Add a ukulele or guitar accompaniment

www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter

 © Welcome to Music Umbalayo

Lyrics

Ukulele
Play and sing the song in the key of C using the C
chord all the way through
Accompany with a down strum or down and up strum
In the B and C sections, leaders or small groups
improvise on open strings or on the ukulele wood and
the others echo or answer with something different

www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter

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Umbalayo - Links
Recorded on 'Boomerang Jam'

Recorded on 'Blackbelt Ukulele 1'

Choral Arrangement - 2-4 parts with piano

accompaniment and percussion arrangement.

Click on any of these logos to find us

in the socials and on YouTube

Click on these logos to find this song

on these streaming platforms
www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter
 © Welcome to Music Umbalayo

Umbalayo
YouTube Lyric video

This was recorded at the

International Society of Music
Education conference in
Beijing, China in 2010 with
school kids. Susie and Phil
prepare the students for
creative exploration through
imitation with body percussion
and vocal improvisation then
kids are encouraged to be
leaders.
Click here to watch on YouTube

Watch Susie teach you

the song on YouTube

www.welcometomusic.net Susie Davies-Splitter & Phil Splitter