Through music, we are brought together and we can gain a better understanding of people from all corners of the Earth.

We call this series “I Don’t Read Music” since we are targeting beginners of all ages: children, teens, parents, and grandparents.

This book includes 54 popular, rhythmic, and easy-to-play folk songs and melodies from all over the world. Since this book is aimed at the absolute beginner without any knowledge of reading music, we do not use the classical music staff and do not show the note duration. Each song here is written without classic musical notation but only with circles and numbered notes inside. First of all, we recommend following the QR-code which you will find on each page, listening to the song on YouTube, and then trying to repeat what is heard in the recordings. It will help to understand the rhythm pattern and duration.

Keep in mind that folk music traditionally is not learned from sheet music or notes. Instead, it is learned by repetition and through being passed from generation to generation. We believe in this method of teaching, which is easier and more enjoyable. For learning purposes, all songs have been simplified and adapted especially for kalimba. Most songs have been transposed for one octave.

So you can use an 8-note kalimba, but if you want to play all 54 songs, you should have a 10- or 17-note kalimba.

Getting to know music from around the world can be one of the most exciting and appealing ways to be introduced to new and different cultures. Music is a universal language, meaning that it transcends borders and opens up an entirely new way of thinking.

This book includes complete melodies as well as substantial segments of uncomplicated, famous traditional folk songs from 30 different countries. Their goal was to assist you in acquainting you, your kids, or students with the musical traditions of diverse nations and cultures.  

Table of contents

North America

Alice the Camel

Ani Couni Chaouani

Aura Lee

Chicken on a Fence Post

Bim Bum Biddy

Buckeye Jim

Li'l Liza Jane

The Farmer in the Dell

Kum-Ba-Yah

Peace like a River

Land of the Silver Birch

My Paddle

Latin America

Brinca la Tablita

Cucaracha

DoDo Petit PoPo

Tingalayo

Cumpleanos Feliz

Lost my Gold Ring

Africa

Banuwa

Che Che Koolay

Do-Do-Ki-Do

Funga Alafia

Kanzenzenze

Labe-igi-Orombo

Obwisana

Sansa Kroma

Shosholoza

Siyanibingelela

Welcome Song

Europe

Five Little Duck

Five Little Monkeys

Hush Little Baby

Old Mother Hubbard

This Old Man

See-Saw Margery Daw

Donde estan las Llaves

Au Clair de la Lune

Pirouette Cacahuete

Frere Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)

Un Petit Cochon

Vous Diraije Maman (Twinkle Little Star)

Giro-Giro-Tondo

Mein Hut (My Hat)

O, Tannenbaum

Asia

Kalinka

Ekmek Buldum

Kum Bachur Atzel

Anile, Anile

Gayatri Mantra

Maha Mrityundjaya Mantra

Zhao Peng You

Hotaru Koi

Australia and Oceania

Epo-i-Tai-Tai-e

Kangaroo, Skippy Roo