Sing a song in a new genre
Choose a familiar song and sing it in a different musical genre, experimenting with rhythm, tone, and style to learn musical expression.
Step-by-step guide to sing a familiar song in a new genre
Step 1
Pick one familiar song you love to sing.
Step 2
Choose a new musical genre to try like jazz reggae rock country or opera.
Step 3
Play or hum the original song once to remember the melody and lyrics.
Step 4
Clap or tap the beat of the original song to feel its rhythm.
Step 5
Decide how you will change the tempo or rhythm for your new genre.
Step 6
Decide how your voice will sound in the new genre for example soft gritty bright or smooth.
Step 7
Sing the first line of the song using your new tempo and vocal style.
Step 8
Use your rhythm maker or clap to keep the new beat while you sing the next line.
Step 9
Try changing one phrase by adding a slide vibrato or a short pause for expression.
Step 10
Sing the whole song in your new genre from start to finish.
Step 11
Listen to your performance and choose one small change to improve.
Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I don’t have a rhythm maker—what can I use instead to keep the new beat while singing the next line?
Use a free metronome app, tap a wooden spoon on a pot, or simply 'clap or tap the beat' from the instructions while you sing the next line to replace a rhythm maker.
What should I do if I can't keep the new tempo or I forget the melody when trying to sing the song in a different genre?
Slow the song down, hum or play the original once as the instructions suggest to remember the melody, then 'clap or tap the beat' or use a metronome and sing one line at a time while recording so you can 'listen to your performance and choose one small change to improve.'
How can I adapt this activity for different ages, like preschoolers versus tweens?
For preschoolers pick a very short familiar song, limit choices to simple vocal styles and use hand-clapping for the 'clap or tap the beat' step, while tweens can experiment with tempo/rhythm changes, add ornamentation from the 'try changing one phrase' step, and record to 'share your finished creation on DIY.org.'
What are easy ways to extend or personalize the finished performance beyond just singing the whole song in the new genre?
Arrange a simple backing track with a phone or keyboard, add a slide or vibrato on one phrase as the instructions suggest, create a costume or choreography that fits your chosen genre, and record a video to 'share your finished creation on DIY.org.'
Watch videos on how to sing a familiar song in a new genre
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Facts about music education for kids
🕒 Changing a song's tempo (faster or slower) is one of the quickest ways to make it feel upbeat or dramatic.
🧠 Experimenting with genres trains your musical brain to connect rhythm, harmony, and storytelling in new ways.
🎷 Jazz and blues often use improvisation, so trying a jazz version of a tune encourages creative melody changes.
🎸 Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" transformed a Nine Inch Nails industrial-rock song into a haunting country ballad — a famous genre flip.
🎤 Singing the same song in different genres helps you practice breath control, tone switching, and emotional delivery.
How do I teach my child to sing a familiar song in a new genre?
What materials do I need to try genre-swapping a song at home?
What ages is this activity suitable for?
What are the benefits and fun variations of singing a song in a new genre?
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