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Have you ever heard a song that makes you want to march in a parade or stand tall with your hand over your heart?
Patriotic songs are musical pieces that honor, celebrate, and reflect the history, ideals, and culture of a country.
Famous examples include lively tunes like You're a Grand Old Flag, traditional anthems like America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee), and folk favorites like This Land Is Your Land.
Famous examples include energetic tunes like You're a Grand Old Flag, anthems like America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee), and folk classics like This Land Is Your Land.
How do singers make one patriotic song sound like a fun parade, but another sound grand and peaceful?

Music Tools: Tempo and Dynamics

To change the feeling of a song, singers use two main tools: tempo and dynamics.
Tempo is how fast or slow the music moves, while dynamics tells us how loud or soft we sing.
What happens when we put these tools to work on a classic American marching tune?

Marching Fast: Yankee Doodle

During the American Revolution, soldiers sang Yankee Doodle with a bouncy beat to keep their spirits high on long marches.
We sing this song with a brisk, quick tempo and crisp, cheerful dynamics so everyone feels like marching along.