Unit 30 · La Musique · A1 · Premium
French Music Songs for Kids
Drums, guitars, trumpets and a band made of kitchen pots: songs about making music, where every instrument plays right after its name. These French songs also include a freeze-dance game, with every line next to its English meaning.
4 songs · 42 key words · lyrics with English translation on every song
The music songs
Les Instruments
The Instruments · 3:11 · Premium
le tambour, la guitare, le piano, le violon
Le Concert des Casseroles
The Kitchen Band · 2:19 · Premium
la casserole, la cuillère, le couvercle, le bocal
L'Orchestre des Animaux
The Animal Orchestra · 2:10 · Premium
l'orchestre, l'éléphant joue de la trompette, le chat joue du violon, la grenouille joue du tambour
Les Statues Musicales
Freeze Dance · 2:28 · Premium
danse !, statue !, la musique, quand la musique s'arrête
French music words from these songs
Every key word and phrase across the unit, with its English meaning.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le tambour | drum |
| la guitare | guitar |
| le piano | piano |
| le violon | violin |
| la trompette | trumpet |
| la flûte | flute |
| le xylophone | xylophone |
| le tambourin | tambourine |
| écoute ! | listen! |
| qu'est-ce que c'est ? | what is it? |
| je joue du tambour | I play the drum |
| la casserole | pot |
| la cuillère | spoon |
| le couvercle | lid |
| le bocal | jar |
| tape | bang |
| tapote | tap |
| secoue | shake |
| plus fort | louder |
| plus doucement | softer |
| on fait de la musique | let's make music |
| tous ensemble | all together |
| l'orchestre | orchestra |
| l'éléphant joue de la trompette | the elephant plays the trumpet |
| le chat joue du violon | the cat plays the violin |
| la grenouille joue du tambour | the frog plays the drum |
| l'oiseau joue de la flûte | the bird plays the flute |
| l'ours joue du piano | the bear plays the piano |
| prêts ? | ready? |
| jouez ! | play! |
| bravo | bravo |
| on salue | a bow |
| danse ! | dance! |
| statue ! | freeze! |
| la musique | the music |
| quand la musique s'arrête | when the music stops |
| comme une statue | like a statue |
| ne bouge pas | don't move |
| ne ris pas | don't laugh |
| tourne | spin |
| vite | fast |
| lentement | slow |
Tips for parents
- Make a kitchen band with pots, wooden spoons and a jar of rice, and use the French words for each one.
- Play freeze dance for real: pause the music and say the French word for freeze.
- Pretend to play each instrument as it is sung — strum, blow, bang — so the word goes with a movement.
Questions parents ask
- Do we need real instruments?
- No. Pots, spoons, a box and a jar of rice are enough, and miming works just as well. What matters is that each word goes with a sound or a movement.
- Which French words are in these music songs?
- 42 key words and phrases, including le tambour (drum), la guitare (guitar), le piano (piano), le violon (violin), la trompette (trumpet), la flûte (flute), le xylophone (xylophone), le tambourin (tambourine). The full list is above, and every song page shows the complete lyrics with translation.
- Are the French music songs free?
- The lyrics, translations and word lists here are free to read. Playing the songs is part of Premium, which you can try free for 7 days. The first unit, greeting songs, is free forever.
- How long are the songs?
- Between 2:10 and 3:11 each, about 10 minutes for all 4. Short enough to replay, which is where most of the learning happens.
Unlock the French music songs
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