Music has been around for a very long time and many schools use it as a fun way to educate kids that are in elementary school.
This is because the sound of music makes them respond positively and acknowledge that they can learn new things through the power of music.
There are so many music activities out there that can make students enjoy learning. Together with the professional custom essay writing service CustomWritings.com and its academic writers, we will look at various music activities for elementary students that are known to have a positive response.
The List of Music Activities for Students
Below here are common music activities for elementary students.
#1. The mystery song game
This is a wonderful way for children to improve their hand signs or hearing and is a very easy activity to participate in.
The teacher here will pick a song that children are familiar with and act out the melody of it with their hands. The students can also be encouraged to follow the teacher’s hand gestures.
If they are struggling to guess the song, small clues can be provided to them until they get it correct.
#2. Music with cups
Plenty of schools across the world use this method to get kids interested in musical instruments like the drum and ukulele.
A very easy activity that involves giving every child in the classroom a plastic cup and telling them to put it in front of them, clap, and hit the bottom.
It is a lot of fun and kids can learn how to create different beats and can have more than one cup if they want or be paired up with peers for collaboration.
#3. Music and movement activities for elementary students using chairs
There is no elementary school in the world that isn’t familiar with this classic musical activity, and it involves music and some chairs.
It is important to note that for this game to be successful, the number of chairs needs to be fewer than the kids playing, otherwise it defeats the purpose of one of the best children’s games ever made.
To begin, teachers will arrange the chairs facing alternate directions, and invite the kids to start walking around them while music is playing.
When the music stops, they will be 1 child that will not have a seat and will be eliminated from the game. After that round is over, one chair is removed and the game carries on until 1 child is crowned the winner.
The choice of music can vary in tempo, and it is up to the teacher and kids to decide what works best for them to keep the game entertaining.
#4. Sing or play using apps
Musical activities are far easier to implement now compared to 20 years ago thanks to the advancement in technology.
Technology has introduced a wide range of musical programs or software that teachers can use to get kids into music. These programs are filled with thousands of popular classics and new tunes to get children invested and engaged.
A playlist can be created depending on which tunes the kids react positively to the most and the teacher can sing along to them to liven things up. Music from Disney classics like Lion King, Aladdin, and Jungle Book can be played in rotation.
Kids are most likely to remember the words in the songs the more they hear them because they will memorize beat changes and patterns. A wonderful activity that is only made possible and easy thanks to how far technology has come.
Virtual Music Activities for Elementary Students Using Flashcards
For visual clarity, some teachers will use flashcards to get kids to take part in music activities. Children who are in elementary school are known to respond positively when they see shapes and flashcards that can easily be made from scratch by the teacher or downloaded.
Teachers begin this activity by showing the kids a single flashcard and asking them to clap to the rhythm they see. Once they get in the zone, the teacher can introduce more cards for longer rhythms and sequences.
#1. Playing conductor
This activity is very important because it teaches kids how to communicate, and the different dynamics found in music. Kids can take turns being the conductor, if they take this activity seriously, they can have a career as the leader of a choir or orchestra.
Teachers can give their students a variety of instruments and gestures that they have to respond to. When the teacher raises their hands, it means they should play the instrument loudly and when they lower their hands, it means the sound should be played quietly.
There are more hand gestures, but these two are the basics and can be taught to students including the ones for stopping and starting.
When the student has mastered a handful of signs, the teacher can ask one of them to take the lead for a change to see how their peers respond to them.
A truly amazing activity that can be used to learn music beyond elementary years and build the foundation for getting involved in music as a possible future career.
#2. Music class activities for students using musical instruments
While all the activities mentioned above are amazing in their own right, nothing beats the basics and playing an instrument.
Schools these days have access to great funding and can afford a wide variety of instruments that their students can use to enhance their musical talents.
Students can be split into groups where they can experiment with different sounds and collaborate. If a school can ]not afford real instruments, some can be made from recycled plastic and strings.
#3. Mixing music and art
This is something that only a few teachers across the world do where they will hand their students a piece of paper, play some music in the background and ask them to draw what they fear or hear.
This activity encourages students to be as creative as possible with every child coming up with something unique to them.
In the end, students can share what they have drawn with their peers and this can inspire them to create impressive musical pieces in the future.
#4. Composing music
A teacher can allow students to compose music either on a piece of paper or using an app. There are so many websites and apps that can be used with Flat.io being a favorite for many teachers.
It is a fantastic program that allows creating music notes on their computer devices and is available for free.
For students that prefer to use the old fashion pencil and paper to write their musical notes, teachers should ensure they use a blank staff as it helps make music writing a breeze.
#5. Combine movement and music
This activity is a good way for students to burn energy, and it is where teachers tell them to stand in one place with enough room to move freely.
Once every student has enough space to move around, the teacher can begin playing an instrument where high pitch sound means students should raise their hands in the air while low pitch sounds mean they can curl up in a ball.
If a medium sound is played, students can be told to point their hands forward while standing up. The activity can start with music being played at a slow pace and gradually increase to liven things up.
Teachers can gauge how students respond to different sounds while keeping their class as active as possible.
Wrapping Up
All the activities mentioned above are great ideas to spice lessons up in a classroom because they are fun and will teach children things like different rhythms, dynamics, pitches, communication, and feelings.
The good thing about these activities is that the music and sounds played can be customized to suit the students being taught.
It is a well-known fact that students who are in elementary school have a very short attention span and need some good activities to keep them entertained.
Whether it is online music activities using programs, flashcards, or dance and music listening activities with instruments, all the activities above are amazing, fun, and enjoyable even both at home and school.
