The parody song "The Bear Missed the Train" is based on a famous Yiddish tune "Bei Mir Bistu Shein." There are two distinct sections in this song that repeat creating a form we call AABA. This means the "A" section repeats followed by a different "B" section and finally the "A" returns. This form is hugely popular in musical styles from classical to pop. Differentiating sections in music contributes to discrimination or knowing same and different. There are a few ways to hear this for yourself and help your child hear different sections. First listen without looking at the answer key below and see if you can hear the two different sections.

How'd you do? :-)

The "A" section includes:

The Bear Missed the Train

And now he’s walking

While the "B" section includes:

And now he’s walking near

And now he’s walking far

And he’s whispering in your ear

And he’s driving in a car

Help your child to hear the different sections by dancing with your two favorite dance moves. Only do one of your awesome moves during the "A" section and your other fantastic move during the "B" section. Another idea—dance in one section and freeze in the other. Or lie down during one section and jump in the other section.