Great Tap Dance Music
It’s difficult to find great tap dance music. I have spent many hours at the music store listening to songs, trying to find a groove that sparks my creativity. Also, tap dancers often have the opportunity to perform with live musicians but don’t know what tune to ask the band to play…
This list along with the new tap dance music website will help make finding music so much easier
Several of today’s top tap dancers shared their top music choices with the Tap Dance Blog! Everything listed below is considered a “jazz standard” so most jazz musicians you encounter will be familiar with them.
I have also included links to each tap artist’s website as well as a link to each recording on Amazon.com! If you would like to find more great tap dance music, or recommend some of your own favorites head over to the “Tap Dance Songs” website and join the email list!
I have also created a “Tap Dance iMix” that includes all of these songs on iTunes.
“Bye Bye Blackbird” – John Coltrane/Miles Davis
“Lullaby of the Leaves” – Mary Lou Williams
‘Anthropology” – Charlie Parker
“Waltz for Debby” – Bill Evans
“Oleo” – Sonny Rollins
“Secret Love” – Sammy Fain
“Shiny Stockings” – Count Basie
“Little Sunflower” – Freddie Hubbard
“A Train” – Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn
“In a Sentimental Mood” – Duke Ellington/John Coltrane
“A Night In Tunisia” – Dizzy Gillespie
“Caravan” – Thelonious Monk
“Now’s the Time” – Charlie Parker
“A Night In Tunisia” – Dizzy Gillespie
“Up Jumped Spring” – Freddie Hubbard
“Billie’s Bounce” – Charlie Parker
“Take 5″ – Dave Brubeck
“On Green Dolphin Street” – John Coltrane/Miles Davis
“Cute” – Count Basie
“A Train” – Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn
“Satin Doll” – Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” – Duke Ellington
Other Articles Featuring Brenda Bufalino, Chloe Arnold, Sam Weber, & Jason Samuels-Smith.
August 31st, 2007 at 10:42 am
[...] Here is some great music for tap dance! [...]
October 19th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I saw a dance group do a very nice tap number with the song YES SIR THAT’S MY BABY.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Thanks for sharing that tune Melissa. Contributions like that help to make this post even more valuable.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
[...] Great Music For Tap Dancers [...]
November 12th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
wadda great list! Joy Spring would be a cool tune to dance to, also Sing, Sing, Sing.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
[...] out this great tap dance list music posted on the Tap Dance [...]
December 13th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Sing sing sing by benny goodman was my solo song for 2 years
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 am
[...] TapDanceSongs and TapDanceBlog [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
[...] You should also check out this post filled with good music to tap dance to. [...]
July 11th, 2008 at 6:05 am
[...] Tap Dance Posts Learn How To Tap With This Video Tap Dance Music: Great Songs 7 Tap Improvisation Tricks That You Need To Know Warning: You Will Never Tap Dance Fast Without [...]
July 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
i am doing a tap dance reserach and I need the web master of this site. Who is he??
thanks
ps excellent music to tap!!
July 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
[...] Tap Dance Posts Learn How To Tap With This Video Tap Dance Music: Great Songs 7 Tap Improvisation Tricks That You Need To Know Warning: You Will Never Tap Dance Fast Without [...]
November 14th, 2008 at 6:05 am
[...] Tap Dance Posts Tap Dance Music: Great Songs 7 Tap Improvisation Tricks That You Need To Know Warning: You Will Never Tap Dance Fast Without [...]
January 11th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Whilst searching for one of the suggested tunes on itunes, I discovered it on an album called “Essential Jazz Masters”. I am in the process of buying/downloading the album which has 150 tracks at a cost of £7.99. So many of the tracks (I’ve sampled only some) seems really useful for tap. Quite a bargain it would seem!
March 8th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
i am looking for some old recordings of songs they use in my three year old daughters tap class any suggestions where to begin to search
March 10th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Hi Robert,
I always recommend that folks start at Amazon.com. They seem to have (or know about) everything! Which songs are you looking for?
Taps
March 10th, 2009 at 6:33 am
[...] Tap Dance Posts Tap Dance Music: Great Songs 7 Tap Improvisation Tricks That You Need To Know Warning: You Will Never Tap Dance Fast Without [...]
April 8th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
i love this music sing sing sing from benny goodman it’s amazing does soemone knows a tittle of a song like this one ?
thx ..
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
sing, sing, sing by benny goodman is the best tap song. it was my tap duet for 5 years and it hit platnium. great song!
May 11th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
My dance class once did a tap number to leaning on a lampost. Most of the other songs we’ve danced to have been more modern, like the song stupid cupid. It worked though!
June 12th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I am looking for a good stevie wonder song for some baby boomers to tap to. we are beginner tappers. suggestions?
August 14th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I’m looking for a good, short piece of tap dance music that’s in the public domain. It’s for a scene in a play and I don’t want performances encumbered by copyright restrictions on the music. (The scene originally used “Bye, Bye, Blues” — but that turns out *not* to be in the public domain.) Best would be a tune that an audience is likely to know and recognize instantly as being virtually a cliche to tap dance to. I’d be grateful for any suggestions.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I was a tapper for 15 years and now I’m about to get married in about 7 months. I want to do a number with my future husband as I surprise during our reception. What’s a good song that would be cute and entertaining? Any suggestions? I really appreciate it.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Hi Shell-Bell,
I would recommend “Fever” by Patti Drew. That was the first thing that popped into my head. Maybe someone else will also post a recommendation!
Taps