Keeping a Beat with Young Children

Keeping the Beat!

Sometimes it is hard for young children to understand the difference between the beat and the rhythm. Here is an easy way to help your class learn the difference. You can give them a big stretchy Chinese jump rope. I sewed about 3 ropes together so the entire class could use the rope at the same time. Then have them sing a song while keeping the beat to the music. The class can instantly see if their rope is going up or down at the same time with the rest of the class and you can assess which children are not on the beat. Then have the class tap the rhythm of a simple song on their knees. The class will see with their eyes a visual picture of the rope demonstrating the difference between beats and rhythms. Repeat the activity with a variety of songs until they can keep the beat together. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Please take a moment to leave a comment below about what works well with students.
 (For more exciting lessons and fun things to do with your class, be sure to Sign up by email on my side bar to claim your monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks).

Music Games Part-2

   



Music Games are a natural way for children to learn important musical skills. My class begs to play fun music games over and over again. I taught the class the names of the percussion instruments and how to hold and play them correctly in order to prepare them to play the game below. In the video my second graders are playing a fun music game called "Bee, Bee, Bumblebee" and are being:

*Prepared to write the rhythm of a known song

*Prepared to write a melody of a simple song

*Learning how to keep a steady beat

*Learning how  to hold each percussion instrument

*Learning the correct instrument names

*Learning singing skills

 

I like including music games with my class because I know that once the children have  learned the music game, I can pull musical concepts from that song and introduce a new music skill to my class.  This song can be found in "Share the Music" and is a  favorite game of my students. I hope your class will like this music game. "What music game do you play with your class?"

 

 

Music Games for Your Classroom

Music Game with Instruments

Music games are one of the quickest ways to teach musical concepts. For example, in the game above, the class is having so much fun playing a music game that they don't realize they are really learning several musical concepts. This music game is teaching the class:

*How to keep a steady beat.

*How to hold each percussion instrument.

*The correct instrument names.

*Singing skills with a group

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Please take a moment to leave a comment below about what works well with your students.
 (For more exciting lessons and fun things to do with your class, be sure to Sign up by email on my side bar to claim your monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks). 

 

Patriotic Music Lessons

Have no time for writing lesson plans? Here is an easy lesson plan you can use anytime of the year. Children young and old love to sing patriotic music. I created this instant slide show which includes fun patriotic activities to help teachers with a no prep sing-a-long lesson for their classroom. Your class will love singing their favorite patriotic songs like Yankee Doodle, This Land is Your Land, Fifty Nifty United States and You're a Grand Old Flag. It includes fun facts about John Philip Sousa and other exciting movement activities. Click on the picture below to claim your patriotic sing-a-long if you need a quick lesson for your class.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Please take a moment to leave a comment below about what works well with your students.
 (For more exciting lessons and fun things to do with your class, be sure to Sign up by email on my side bar to claim your monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks).

Click on the picture to claim your patriotic sing-a-long.





 

 

21 Valentine Activities for Music Class

Activities for 4th-7th grade

*Poem:  teach about 6/8 time signature or about repeat signs (Roses are Red)

*Song: Sippin’ Cider (echo song can google the lyrics)

*Song: Put A Little Love In Your Heart (google lyrics by Jimmy Holiday) 

*Orff Instruments or Boom whackers Song : Love Somebody  teaching V-I chords

*Orff instruments: (teach AB musical form) A= Gorgie Porgie Poem  B= Improving

*Line Dance: Cupid Shuffle

*Game: Biddy, Biddy Hold Fast Lost My Gold Ring(teaching 16th and syncopation)

 

Activities for K-3^rd grade

*Steady Beat Poem: Roses Are Red

*Rhythm Reading: of a known song: Lucy Locket

*Rhythm Reading: tap out the picture syllables for (Hearts and cupcakes) ta & ti-ti

*Any Valentine book: make up a short melody on sol and mi for each page turn. Have the class read the rhythm to the sol and mi song.

*Songs: We Love to Sing

*Song: Skinnamarink

*Song: There Is Love Somewhere (teaching 16^th notes or group singing)

*Song: I Love the Mountains with ostinato for part singing

*Musical form: A=Chocolate Town B= Mother, Mother I Am Sick

*Lines & Spaces: click here for Heart Worksheet

*Game: Ring Around the Rosies  (for teaching steady beat)

*Games: Cut the Cake (for teaching rhythm or Fa notes)

*Game: Lucy Locket Lost Her Valentine/ sing f or piano to find the hidden valentine (for teaching p, f, s-l-m and ta, ti-ti rhythms)
*Cupid Game: Solo Singing

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Please take a moment to leave a comment below about what works well with your students.
 (For more exciting lessons and fun things to do with your class, be sure to Sign up by email on my side bar to claim your monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks).
   
 A Section = Chocolate Town

Up and down, Up and down (s-s  m  s-s  m)

This is the way to Chocolate Town (sss  m-m  s-s m)

B Section = Mother, Mother

Mother, Mother I am sick,  (s-m-s-m-s-m-s)

Call for the doctor quick, quick, quick  (s m-m s m smd)



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