Professor Owl instructs his class of birds on how to find
melody around them. Professor Owl demonstrates how melodies are assembled by playing a tune on a small piano. Following this, the class flies off to discover the many melodic sounds of nature. The chorus sings about the sounds of nature (
"The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree"). Professor Owl notes that the only two creatures that can sing are birds and humans. The next scene uses melody to illustrate the various stages of a person's life, beginning with "
Rock-a-bye Baby" for birth, followed by "
The Alphabet Song" for school; "
Far Above Cayuga's Waters" for college; "
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes" for courtship, followed by "
Here Comes the Bride (and there goes the groom)". The later stages of life are represented by "
Home! Sweet Home!", "
Happy Birthday to You", "
Silver Threads Among the Gold", "
The Old Gray Mare", "
Auld Lang Syne" and "
Oh, Dem Golden Slippers". Finally, an example is shown on how a simple melody can be expanded into a symphony: an elaborate version of the simple tune which opened the lesson. The cartoon ends with a reprise of
"The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree". ==Cast==