how do you make a music class fun

10 Ways to Make Learning Music Fun!

• 1. Name that Composer This is a game slowly learned over time. ...
• 2. Watch a Musical or Ballet ...
• 3. Make Your Own Instruments ...
• 4. Do Re Mi Stairs ...
• 5. It’s How I Feel ...
• 6. Visit a Music Store to Explore the Instruments ...
• 7. Let them Make Noise (outdoors, if possible) ...
• 8. Hide the Musical Toy ...

Full Answer

How can I teach music to my kids?

If your kids are great at reading rhythm or melody, hand out cards with only those. Otherwise, find where your students are and go from there. This is a fun music game for kids to do with movement. It’s not dancing, but it’s a good lead-in to it. Pick from your library of quality musical selections apiece.

What are some fun music activities for kids?

With soda bottles and water, another idea is to make a soda bottle organ. Kids love the soda bottle organ, but I find it a bit complex for me to allow the kids to make it. Still, even with the mess, it’s one of my favorite music activities. This activity only works if you’ve taught about form.

How to make your music classroom a place for learning?

Learning a foreign language is most effective through visiting the country. So the language of music is best learnt through maximum immersion. Make your music classroom the place for learning this creative language. Teaching children to be creative gives them a skill that goes far beyond the music classroom.

How to engage your students with music lessons?

Engage your students instantly by teaching them their favorite songs or genres. All kinds of music can be valuable resources for teaching and learning. There is no need to stick to the genres that have traditionally been associated with music lessons, such as classical and baroque music.

How do you make a music class more interesting?

Here are some best practices regarding how to teach music, whether online or in person.Keep it short and sweet. Children are notorious for having short attention spans. ... Rely on themes. ... Use music your students enjoy. ... Encourage interaction. ... Introduce friendly competition. ... Always stay positive.

How can I make my class fun and engaging?

10 Ways to Keep Your Class InterestingIncorporate Mystery Into Your Lessons.Don't Repeat Classroom Material.Create Classroom Games.Give Your Students Choices.Use Technology.Don't Take Teaching so Seriously.Make Your Lessons Interactive.Relate Material to Your Students' Lives.More items...•

What are some ideas for music activities?

Ideas for Musical GamesTry a game of “freeze dance” Enjoy a game of "Freeze Dance" with one of the songs from your collection. ... Play musical charades. ... Play a prop-passing game. ... Form a follow-the-leader Conga line. ... Play Homemade Drums. ... Musical Hot Potato. ... Musical Drawing.

How do you engage students in music class?

5 Useful Tips for Keeping Your Music Students EngagedPositive Attitude. The simplest way of keeping your music students engaged is to maintain a positive attitude. ... Teach Through Games. ... Smaller, Shorter Activities. ... Use Music Your Students Will Relate To.

How do you make a boring class fun?

10 Ways to Make a Boring Class FunPass notes old school style. It's way better than texting and there is nothing better than the building anticipation to find out the answer to “Do you like me? ... The Wave. ... Play online games. ... Paper toss. ... Read Onward State. ... Invite friends to class. ... Watch a movie on mute*. ... Sleep.More items...•

How can I make my class happy?

Tips on How to Achieve a Happy ClassroomInvest some time to get to know your students. Make an effort to know each and every one of your students. ... Use humor. Use any opportunity to use humor inside the classroom. ... Give praise. ... Give choices. ... Allot time for play. ... Give students a break. ... Allow students to get social.

How do you entertain music?

In conclusion, music is the best form of entertainment for two reasons. First, it has various genres, which ensures there is something for everyone regardless of their age. Second, music can be accessed easily and for free through local radio and TV channels.

How do you make music creative?

15 Ways to Create Musical Ideas and Crush Creative BlockFocus on rhythm first. ... Learn how to craft a good melody. ... Get visually inspired. ... Edit MIDI files and make them your own. ... Use MIDI effects. ... Create a melody over an existing chord progression. ... Start with the drums. ... Listen to other genres of music.More items...•

How do you make music fun for kids?

Some of my favorite musical activities include:Freeze Dance.Draw What You Hear.Music Decoding.Mystery Song Puzzle.Move Like The Animals.Marching Band Movement.Compose Your Own Song.Build An Instrument Crafts.More items...•

How do you motivate students in music class?

Try to choose pieces that students will not only enjoy but will encourage non-stop practicing. It is important to include music that is relevant to today. Ask them who their favorite band is, do they have a favorite song they have always wanted to learn and then follow through and let them learn it.

What are the 5 methods in teaching music?

Orff, Kodaly, Suzuki, and Dalcroze Methods Each teaching method has a system, an underlying philosophy with clearly defined objectives and goals. These methods have been in use for a long time, so they are time-tested and proven to have success.

How do music students attract?

Here are some tips on how to get more music students:Word of Mouth Recruits New Students. Word of mouth is, still, one of the most powerful recruiting tools for any small business. ... Local School Contacts. ... Social Media Visibility. ... Post Flyers. ... Get to Know School Music Teachers. ... Tonara Connect.

What are creative services in music?

The creative services department will work with the product manager and the artist to develop the album art and all the marketing materials that support your campaign and give consistency that helps build your brand.

What music can I use for school projects?

The Big List of School-Appropriate Songs To Keep Everyone Pumped Up and MotivatedBetter When I'm Dancin' by Meghan Trainor.OK OK by HOKO.Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti and Spearhead.Brand New Day by Lindsey Ray featuring Tim Myers.Colors by Black Pumas.More items...•

What creative activities can I do?

Fun Creative Activities for ChildrenCut and Glue. Using scissors is an activity that all children take some time to learn and is an important motor skill too. ... Sticker Fun. ... Raised Salt Painting. ... Drawing With Oil Pastel. ... The Back-And-Forth Drawing Game. ... Playdough Modelling. ... Marble Painting. ... Water Balloon Painting.More items...•

What is creative work in music?

Creativity in music refers to the divergent and convergent thought processes, enacted both in solo and in ensemble, that lead to musical products that are both novel and useful, within specific sociocultural contexts, manifested by way of specific modes of musicianship or combinations of modes that can include but are ...

Why is music school so drag?

One of the reasons music school for kids can begin to drag is that assignments or practice are usually solo endeavors. Make it more fun for your kids by being around and engaging with them while they practice. If they are still young, sit with them, and help. Have them teach you something.

Is it fun to go to music school?

But, kids will have more fun with it, if they go into something thinking that it IS fun! So, be excited and reinforce how special and exciting it is that they get to go to music school!

Is music practice torture?

If you can practice music or watch your favorite TV show, music practice is torture. But… if you can practice music or do chores with the rest of your family, music practice is the best thing ever!

Want to Improve Your Child's Music Skills?

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission – the ultimate learning companion for kids.

1. Name that Composer

This is a game slowly learned over time. I like to play one composer (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc.) for a week or two to give my kids a chance to become familiar with that composer’s sound.

2. Watch a Musical or Ballet

I took my preschool son to a ballet once; it was Beauty and the Beast.

3. Make Your Own Instruments

This is a great rainy day activity and a quick search on the Internet will give you thousands of ideas. No matter what materials you have on-hand, you are likely to be able to create some fantastic preschool instruments.

Pro Tip: Help Your Child Become Better at Music

Enroll your child for the Atlas Mission and let your child play with this award-winning educational program. Your child will become better at music without even realizing it!

4. Do Re Mi Stairs

This is the best game for tiring out wiggly bodies. Create a stair scale by labeling eight index cards with: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. Tape the Do card on the lowest step and go in order placing Re, Mi, and so on up the steps.

7. Let them Make Noise (outdoors, if possible)

I used to think my sister loved me, up until we had a little argument and she sent my kid a kazoo.

Subscribe to and Review the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast

Subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or iTunes so you don’t miss the next episode and you can take it with you as you run errands, clean the house or walk the dog.

What did you think of this episode?

Let me know in the Vibrant Music Studio Teachers group on Facebook. I’ll see you there.

What grade is the video song bundle?

Use the video as a transition activity when you don’t have and time between classes. Video Songs bundle includes songs for grades Pre-K-6th Grade.

Can you use a video in a sub tub?

Finally, you can use the video in your Sub Tub (digital files)

What is the best activity to put into your first day of school?

There’s no better activity to put into your first day of school or first week of school than names games.

Why is behavior a problem in the classroom?

I’d say most of the time there’s a problem with behavior in a classroom, it’s because a procedure or expectation wasn’t set up or isn’t being followed through with consistency.

Who is Zach VanderGraaff?

Zach VanderGraaff is a K-5 music teacher with Bay City Public Schools in Michigan. He's a Past-President of the Michigan Kodaly Educators and Executive Secretary of the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators Association.

Is The First Days of School an Amazon affiliate?

I follow and love the steps from the book, The First Days Of School (this is an affiliate link to Amazon, but I seriously review this every year; it’s so good!).

Do teachers get cute?

Too often, teachers get really “cutesy” with what they use, and while it looks cool, it doesn’t serve the right purpose. A good one needs:

Can you combine music with sharing?

Anytime in the beginning you can combine music with sharing, it’s awesome!

What order should I do your lesson plans in?

The order you choose to do the classes in doesn’t really matter, unless you are doing one of the seasonal ones where of course it makes sense to time these right.

How to do a lesson plan?

The order in which you choose to do the lesson plan themes doesn’t really matter, as they all share the same basic musical principles consistently: 1 Recognising the steady beat. 2 Listening to rhythms and repeating them. 3 Learning the note names and understanding their values. 4 Learning the solfège scale. 5 Pitching and singing notes and intervals and many more things besides. 6 These ideas are introduced and practiced week by week and as the children become more familiar with them, their skills and confidence grows.

Why is it important to be flexible in music lessons?

Flexibility is key. It’s important to be flexible in a music lesson as things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes the kids need calming down, or they might get restless. So it’s a good idea to have a couple of stand-by favourites up your sleeve in case you need to make a last minute change to the lesson.

How long should a music lesson be?

When it comes to music lesson length, short and sweet is best. Each plan is at least 30 minutes long. They can take longer depending on the number of children you have in the group and how many times you need to repeat things. I rotate my themes so that the subject changes each week.

How many weeks of music lessons are there in the fall term?

This term we’re be offering a special discount, seasonal bundle of lesson plans for the Autumn/Fall term, 12 weeks of music lessons for the price of 10 in suggested weekly order to help save time and keep things simple.

Why is repetition important in music?

The order in which you choose to do the lesson plan themes doesn’t really matter, as they all share the same basic musical principles consistently: Recognising the steady beat. Listening to rhythms and repeating them. Learning the note names and understanding their values.

Why is rain a good theme?

This is because it’s a great one to hook the children in with a clear, rhythmic message that’s easy to grasp. The Rain theme is also a good one for the same reason. Different classes offer different things of course, sometimes it might be a seasonal theme.

What are flash cards for music?

Flash cards are a great way to introduce visual aspects of music learning to your class. Elementary students respond well to the clear, simple shapes. Download some flashcards for musical notes and simple rhythms or make your own.

What are some activities that elementary students can do to keep them focused?

rhythm, pitch, dynamics, feeling and. communication. Many of these activities can be adapted to include your students’ favorite songs. As elementary students typically have short attention spans, you may find that using several different activities in one lesson is the best way to keep them focused.

Why is music important in movies?

Musical soundtracks are an important part of every movie. This activity teaches children about the role of music in movies, while also helping them to connect music to feelings. Elementary students will enjoy watching their favorite movies as part of the class.

How to play a high pitch instrument?

Play your instruments (any pitched instrument is fine), and tell them that if you play a high pitch they must reach their arms up high into the air. If you play a low pitch they must curl up into a ball. And if you play a medium pitch they must stand up with their arms pointing outwards to the sides.

How to teach students to conduct their class?

Teach them signals for starting and stopping. Then you are ready to conduct your class. Encourage the students to pay full attention as you gradually conduct them more quickly and with more stops and starts. Once they are familiar with the activity, allow the students to conduct their classmates.

How to teach students to play quietly?

Tell the students to respond. So if you raise your arms they should make a loud sound, and if you lower your arms they should play quietly. Teach them signals for starting and stopping. Then you are ready to conduct your class.

Is music fun for elementary students?

Teaching music to elementary students can be great fun. Children of this age are usually very responsive to learning music. They are young enough to learn through play, but compared to toddlers, they are already old enough for more complex group activities. There are so many music activities for elementary aged children, ...

Why is it important to use your body to play an instrument?

Using one’s body to play an instrument can make learning so much easier as the physical act of doing helps your students to commit the lesson to memory. Remember that even in school, to learn music you must play music, not just talk about it.

Why do kids get bored in Mindchamps?

Mindchamps explains that kids can become overwhelmed when presented with a string of tasks. This makes them get bored and give up. Luckily, it is easy to avoid this scenario in your classroom.

How to teach kids music?

Teaching kids music can be done through singing, playing instruments, and listening to music. Writing lyrics or composing pieces, and learning about musicians and composers are other great ways to learn. You should mix up activities including. listening, playing instruments, reading, writing, composing.

Why is collaboration important in music?

ResourceEd explains that collaboration is a significant element of the world of work. It is important to introduce this as part of school-based education . Collaborative learning teaches skills such as decision-making and problem-solving in a group or team context. Employers value these skills, which can be learnt beginning in early childhood.

How to engage students in music?

Engage your students instantly by teaching them their favorite songs or genres. All kinds of music can be valuable resources for teaching and learning. There is no need to stick to the genres that have traditionally been associated with music lessons, such as classical and baroque music.

What is Solfeg.io app?

Our music teaching app Solfeg.io has a massive song library where you can find music that will appeal to your students. Use Solfeg.io to break the music down and choose specific musical elements to teach to your students. Perhaps the chord progressions, rhythm, or melodic patterns would make a good lesson, and one the students are sure to remember.

What does it mean to have your own plan?

Having your own plan means you can connect with students. You can meet them on the learning journey, spreading the positivity of having direction and goals. Careful planning means you can develop a positive attitude towards your teaching career. This will be automatically passed on to students in class.

What should music activities be for kids?

Music activities for kids should be engaging first and teach a musical element second. They should be appropriate to the age level, use quality musical material, and use different modes of play such as dance, instrument, songs, and more. Some of my favorite musical activities include:

How many different types of saxophones are there?

When most people think of saxophones, they just imagine a single instrument. In reality, there are 14 different types, with one being more common than the others. Often this is followed...

What is music decoding?

Music decoding is when you listen to a pattern and figure out what it looks like.

What happens when you press play on a music player?

When you press play on a music player of some kind, the students move or dance to the music.

Who is Zach VanderGraaff?

Zach VanderGraaff is a K-5 music teacher with Bay City Public Schools in Michigan. He's a Past-President of the Michigan Kodaly Educators and Executive Secretary of the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators Association.

Do everyone like musical chairs?

It may seem silly, but everybody loves musical chairs.

Is putting the two together a win-win?

Putting the two together is a win-win.