In oral exams you're often asked to hear intervals and then say what they are, without consulting an instrument. I have some tunes that help me out.

The beginning of Beethoven's Fifth is a major third. The beginning of "Hey Jude" is a minor third. I used to get them mixed up, but when I hear an interval, and I'm able to sing "Hey Jude" to it, I know that it's a minor third. If I'm able to hum the theme to Beethoven's fifth you know it's a major third.

Does anyone have any others? I'm trying to come up with a list, because some students don't know songs like hey jude or even *gasp* beethoven's fifth.

And to be clear, I'm not just looking for tunes that *have* certain intervals, I'm looking for mneumonics to help people remember them, so the intervals should be quite prominent.

Good way to remember intervals! What about the beginning of Mozart's Eine Kleine, that's another major third. And the main theme of Chopin's Funeral March includes a minor third right at the beginning.

If more come to my mind, I'll let you know!

Twinkle Twinkle - Perfect 5th
Wagner's Bridal Chorus - Perfect 4th

Diminished octave: Webern Variations, opus 27, measure 15.

Actually, it's a very bad idea to associate an interval with a particular tune or, for that matter, any particular musical context. Out of context it will sound different. Just listen carefully to each interval, imprint the sound in your mind, and practice. Practice singing intervals especially. If you find yourself confusing two, practice just those two for a while. It's really pretty easy.

Some.... (Perfect 8ve).... where.....over the rainbow.....