When you have a long way to go on a coach journey, don’t consider it wasted time. Have fun with your group and get everyone laughing and chatting to each other with a silly song. If you have some rowdy kids, a song is a good way for them to burn energy without being disruptive. Grown-up groups enjoy a sing-along too, though, and it can be a great way to get a team of work colleagues to bond.
Nursery Rhymes
While these are most useful for young school groups, sometimes adults enjoy reliving their childhood by busting out their favourite nursery rhymes. Old MacDonald is a fun one that they can improvise sounds to, and Wheels on the Bus is obviously a perennial favourite on the road. Why not use the bus’s sound system to provide musical accompaniment? Add in coordinated movements to give everyone a chance to stretch and move; an opportunity for a little exercise is always welcome on a long journey.
Camp Songs
When it comes to keeping people busy and having fun through song, no one has more experience than a camp leader. There are literally thousands of camp songs out there that have been bellowed out around campfires all over the world. Have a look around on various singalong websites for one that suits your group.
Many of them will have an interactive element, where one participant shouts out a certain idea for the group to follow. A good example of this is “Let me Hear your Funky Chicken”, originally a song made for showcasing crazy dance moves. We like to play a bus-friendly version where each verse is sung in a different style, i.e. ‘Let me Hear your Elvis Presley!’. An alternative, easier version to manage is ‘Boom Chicka Boom’. Both songs are sure-fire winners as long as your group has the energy and engagement to pull them off. People’s ideas will get sillier over time, guaranteeing belly laughs before the trip is over.
Famous Songs
Some pop songs are so famous, you can’t remember how or when you learned the lyrics, but you will find yourself singing along from the first word. Sometimes all you need to get a sing-song going is an MP3 player or CD. All our coaches are equipped with a sound system, and you can plug your iPod straight in to control the music yourselves. Playing some songs that everyone knows is a good way to start everyone singing if you are not confident about teaching a song to the group or leading activities. Try to aim the song at your specific group. For instance, California Dreaming is a great one to do—especially if you split the bus into two teams—but some younger people might not know it. Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is always a safe bet, though…