A silly, high-energy partner hand clap song that is one of the best vehicles in the library for teaching ti-tiri rhythm — and students never realize they're drilling it.
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Why teachers love it
Long Legged Llama is one of the best songs in the library for teaching ti-tiri (eighth, eighth, sixteenth). The rhythm appears repeatedly and naturally throughout the song — students absorb it through the hand clap game before they ever analyze it on paper.
Both the standard melody and the alternate recorder melody are excellent for isolating the solfège syllable "re." Students experience re as part of a song they enjoy, rather than as an isolated exercise — which is always more effective for retention.
Let the children's abilities and age dictate the tempo. Sixth graders will enjoy trying the hand clap at high speed, while most third graders will need to keep it much slower. The same song works as a genuine challenge across four grade levels.
If students are beginning recorder, the alternate melody uses only do, re, and mi — easily played on B, A, and G. This makes Long Legged Llama a smooth bridge between singing and instrumental work in the same unit.
"Long Legged Llama is slightly adapted from 'Long Legged Sailor.' The original verses include terms we would like to avoid for kindness' sake — but a long legged llama with his long-legged wife is simply silly."
Have you ever ever ever in your long-legged life
seen a long-legged llama with his long-legged wife?
No, I've never ever ever in my long-legged life
seen a long-legged llama with his long-legged wife.
Have you ever ever ever in your short-legged life
seen a short-legged llama with his short-legged wife?
No, I've never ever ever in my short-legged life
seen a short-legged llama with his short-legged wife.
Have you ever ever ever in your google-eyed life
seen a google-eyed llama with his google-eyed wife?
No, I've never ever ever in my google-eyed life
seen a google-eyed llama with his google-eyed wife.
Have you ever ever ever in your long-legged life
seen a short-legged llama with his google-eyed wife?
No, I've never ever ever in my long-legged life
seen a short-legged llama with his google-eyed wife.
What members get
More songs like this
The Singing Classroom library has 150+ songs organized and tagged so you can always find exactly what you need next.
Another high-energy partner hand clap game. A natural companion to Long Legged Llama in the same unit.
A memory and concentration game that pairs well with Long Legged Llama — both work well for the same age group and energy level.
A hand clapping challenge game that older students love. Perfect for grades 4–6 who have mastered Long Legged Llama and want the next level.
Another Do-based pentatonic song — great for the younger end of your school if you want a connected concept across grade levels.
Questions
The real problem
Every teacher knows this feeling. You find a song, try it on Monday, and something goes sideways — the kids don't engage, you're not sure how to introduce it, the lesson loses momentum. It's not that the song was wrong. You just didn't have a clear picture of how it actually goes.
That's what makes The Singing Classroom different. Every song in the library — including this one — has a full video of Deborah teaching it with real students. You don't have to guess how to introduce it, how to structure the activity, or how to handle the tricky moments. You watch it. Then you teach it.
150+ songs. Every one demonstrated. No more hoping it works — you already know it will.
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