CBC Music Class Challenge: 2025 fall edition song list
Check out the great Canadian songs your music class can learn this year
Get ready, music lovers! The CBC Music Class Challenge, presented by MusiCounts, is hitting a big milestone this fall — its 10th anniversary!
For this special 2025 fall contest, we're sticking with the popular format you know and love: classes will learn and perform songs from a curated list. This year's selection features a mix of contemporary Canadian tunes that students might already be humming, plus some of the most popular picks from the last decade. So, if you've got some old arrangements lying around, it might be time to dust them off.
But wait, there's more: starting in January, CBC and MusiCounts will offer a new version of the Music Class Challenge that will invite classes across Canada to create, perform and share new Canadian music like never before.
For the first time, the Challenge will include categories for original compositions created by students. Classes will be invited to work together to write, arrange and perform their own song in any style. We'll also unveil a newly commissioned choral work in an Indigenous language, by a celebrated Canadian composer. The scores for this new piece will be available for free in multiple arrangements, suitable for all grade levels. The Challenge will offer different categories for classes to submit their interpretation of this brand new piece of Canadian music.
Whether you're looking to compose something from scratch or bring a new Canadian work to life, the spring edition of the Music Class Challenge will offer fresh ways for students to participate. We can't wait to share more with you soon!
Thinking about joining the Challenge? Here's what teachers have to say:
So, without further ado, here are the songs for the 10th anniversary fall edition. We'll be adding more throughout the summer, so stay tuned. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to musicclass@cbc.ca.
- Au clair de la lune (traditional)
- Breathless by William Prince
- Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
- Confetti by Charlotte Cardin
- Crabbuckit by k-os
- Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx
- Ghost by Sebastian Gaskin
- Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
- Hand Me Downs by Arkells
- Hello by Aqyila
- I'm Like A Bird by Nelly Furtado
- Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson
- Jeans (Fall On My Knees) by Katie Tupper
- Lost Boy by Ruth B
- Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy
- Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara
- Stitches by Shawn Mendes
Au clair de la lune (traditional)
This traditional French folk song is from the 18th century. Find the sheet music here.
Breathless, William Prince
This folk song by Juno-winning singer William Prince was released in 2015. Find the sheet music here.
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen
Who could forget about this pop earworm by Carly Rae Jepsen? Find the sheet music here.
Confetti, Charlotte Cardin
Charlotte Cardin's hit Confetti is one of her biggest songs, with millions of streams on Spotify. Find the sheet music here.
Crabbuckit, k-os
Crabbuckit was a breakout song from k-os's album Joyful Rebellion that won the Juno for single of the year back in 2004. Find the sheet music here.
Flowers Need Rain, Preston Pablo and Banx and Ranx
This love song features production from Banx and Ranx and smooth vocals by Preston Pablo. Find the sheet music here.
Ghost, Sebastian Gaskin
Sebastian Gaskin won a Juno earlier this year for contemporary Indigenous artist of the year. Ghost is one of their most impassioned songs.
Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen
This classic song was one of Leonard Cohen's most well-known. Find the sheet music here.
Hand Me Downs, Arkells
Hand Me Downs is a single from Arkells' 2018 album, Rally Cry. Find the sheet music here.
Hello, Aqyila
Juno-winning R&B singer Aqyila performed this soulful track at the 2024 awards. Find the sheet music here.
I'm Like a Bird, Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado's debut single helped land her a Grammy win for best pop vocal performance in 2002. Find the sheet music here.
Je te laisserai des mots, Patrick Watson
This hit song was released as a stand-alone single in 2010; now it is Watson's most popular song on Spotify with more than a billion streams. Find the sheet music here.
Jeans (Fall On My Knees), Katie Tupper
Soul singer Katie Tupper's song Jeans is a gorgeous slow burner. Find the sheet music here.
Lost Boy, Ruth B
Edmonton singer-songwriter Ruth B's ballad Lost Boy became a breakout hit after going viral back in 2014. Find the sheet music here.
Paper Heart, Jeremy and Jazzy
This sweet song is an ode to friendship. Find the sheet music here.
Scars To Your Beautiful, Alessia Cara
This song by Grammy winner Alessia Cara is all about self-love and empowerment. Find the sheet music here.
Stitches, Shawn Mendes
Pop star Shawn Mendes had a breakout hit with Stitches, which hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released. Find the sheet music here.