Make music fun!
Teaching music to elementary should not be difficult if you know how to make it fun. It can be a great fun as children this age can be responsive to learning, especially about music. Elementary students are still young to play music but they are old enough to enjoy fun music activities especially when done in groups. They can’t feel that they are learning because they are just enjoying the music class. There are so many music activities that can be fun to try out. Here are 6 fun music activities and ideas for elementary students:
1. Use a flash card
Using flashcards is a great way to teach music to your class. Elementary students respond well with visual aspects with clear and simple shapes. Download some flashcards and simple rhythms. You can also consider making your own. Show one flash card and ask your students to clap the rhythm or play it on a simple instrument. Then try putting two cards together to create longer sounds.
2. Teach conducting
Give your students some instruments that they can use and explain about what you are going to do and what they should do. For example, if you raise your arms, they should play quietly or when you lower your arms, they should make a loud sound. Teach them the signals when they should start and when to stop. Tell your students to pay close attention as you conduct them with more stops and starts – loud and quiet sounds. Once they get used to it, allow them to conduct their classmates.
3. Use musical soundtracks
Elementary students love watching movies so use it to your own advantage. Play a selected part of the movie with a music soundtrack and discuss it with the class. Talk about how it triggers different feelings. This is a great way to help children learn music in movies as well as understand their innermost thoughts.
4. Musical chairs writing
When the music stops, pickup writing where the last person left off. The writing can be note values, rhythm exercise or song lyrics – as long as it is a part of a music.
5. Spin and notate
Use a paperclip and pencil and create a spinner on the center of the color wheel. Spin the wheel and read and draw a note on the staff matching each spin. The students will surely have a lot of fun.
6. Building chords with legos
What better way to learn music than to introduce chords using legos? Children love playing legos and using it to teach music is an effective method in getting their attention.
Liven up your music class and make music teaching fun than ever by using these 6 fun music activities you can use.
