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Educational Music Activities At Home

For additional games and activity pages, click on ACTIVITES or on the blog or studio page.

MOVING TEMPO GAME (Beginner-Advanced)

Background: This is a game I came up with for music classes I have taught with large groups of children, but it works with 1 child as well. It is a great way for kids to release some energy, and can be played inside or outside. It teaches students tempo and the Italian terms we use in classical music to learn them. If your child is already a student of mine, they most likely know these Italian terms, including changes in tempo and articulations. Whether you are new here or not, this is a fun way to learn them!

FIRST! What IS tempo? Tempo is the speed at which music is played. In classical music, we typically use Italian words and BPM (beats per minute) to explain this. 60 BPM, for example, is 1 beat per second for there are 60 seconds in a minute. It is great to use a metronome to get a feel for what that sounds like for each one, which you can download on your phone for free or buy a physical one. However, when first teaching this game there is no need for them knowing exact BPM for each tempo marking, as long as they know what the term means.

  • IF YOU HAVE A LARGE HOUSEHOLD YOU CAN TURN THIS INTO MUSICAL CHAIRS. ADDS AN EXTRA ELEMENT OF ENTERTAINMENT! IF YOU FIND IT GETTING TOO WILD, GO BACK TO “WHOLE REST” (4 BEATS STOP IN PLACE-COUNT 1-2-3-4) OR “ANDANTE” (WALKING PACE) FOR SOME TIME.

DIRECTIONS

First teach your child the 6 basic tempo markings (highlighted below).

It is up to you on whether you want it to be musical chairs, or a game moving in place and whoever gets the most amount correctly out of 15-wins! (I believe game rules are meant to be changed anyway to our own specific situation and make it more enjoyable, so feel free to play around with this!) Also, it is even better if you can find music that match the specific tempo markings to play along during the game.

1. 1 person is the "caller".

2. The caller will call out one of the following tempo markings below (starting with the 6 highlighted basic tempo markings), switching them up randomly.

3. Your child will have to move in slow-motion, walk, jog, run, etc. depending on which tempo it is.

4. As they get more advanced and learn more words, add in the additional ones, including the terms for changes in tempo. For more difficulty, have them tell you the BPM.

TEMPO MARKINGS:

  • Grave – very slow and solemn (pronounced “GRAH-vay”) 20-40 BPM SLOWEST SNAIL PACE-WALK IN SLOW MOTION

  • Largo – slow and broad (“LAR-go”) 45-50 BPM

  • Larghetto – not quite as slow as largo (“lar-GET-oh”) 50-55 BPM

  • Adagio – slow, literally “at ease” (“ah-DAH-jee-oh”) 55-65 BPM

  • Andante – literally “walking”, a medium slow tempo (“ahn-DON-tay”) 73-77 BPM NORMAL WALKING PACE

  • Moderato – moderate, or medium (“MOD-er-AH-toe”) 86-97 BPM

  • Allegretto – Not as fast as allegro (“AL-luh-GRET-oh”) 98-109 BPM

  • Allegro – fast (“ah-LAY-grow”) 109-132 BPM JOGGING PACE

  • Vivo, or Vivace – lively and brisk (“VEE-voh”, “VEE-VAH-chay) 132-140 BPM

  • Presto – very fast (“PRESS-toe”) 168-177 BPM RUNNING

  • Prestissimo – very, very fast (“press-TEE-see-moe”) 178 BMP +

For an added element, you can include these terms for changes in tempo and articulations:

  • Accelerando-speed up

  • Ritardando-slow down

  • Legato-smooth, connected (have them smoothly glide across the floor)

  • Staccato-short, detached (have them bounce for this one…this one is a big favorite!)

USE YOUR SENSES ACTIVITY (Beginner-Advanced)

GREAT FOR ALL AGES: INFANTS/TODDLERS TO ADULTS!

Background: This is an organic sensory perception activity I created that EVERYONE already does to some extent. For a little fun history, this one came to me when I realized it was something I invented as a toddler. I would play this by myself CONSTANTLY (there is way too much video footage to account for it). My parents were biologists, but music was in me before I could talk or walk. Growing up in a large Irish-American family, music played a tremendous role in our daily lives. Some of my earliest memories stem from my different perceptions of sound, from our cassettes of Enya, The Chieftans, and "sean nos" style music. Irish music is known for being built around the senses and making us feel happy and sad simultaneously; an essence of rural Ireland and its landscapes making up its melodies (much like our people)! This comes from the four "Celtic Modes": Aeolian, Ionian, Mixolydian, and Dorian. While I obviously had no idea this was a synesthesia exercise as a child, I was able to perceive it and would interpret sound through movements and dancing (interpretive dancing), outfit changes and colors to express the music I was hearing.

You may have heard of "synesthesia". It is rare, but a synesthete experiences an involuntary sense from the stimulation of another sense or part of the body. However, we can all simulate this in some way in order to enhance our perception of the world and our surroundings, just like I did as a child. Did you know in music we use "light", "dark", and colors to describe what we are hearing? This is an emotionally creative way to interpret sounds with other senses in a physical manner.

DIRECTIONS

PAINTING AND SOUND

1. Pick out 5 or 6 songs of contrasting styles and genres. Have paper and a variety of colors on hand (crayons, paints, or whatever is safest for the age group you are with).

2. To create the most organic environment, encourage your child to use their imagination. What colors do they think of when they hear that song? How does it make them feel?

3. Allow them to create in whichever way they interpret. Some kids think of physical objects, others will interpret the music and their drawing more abstractly. This can change for different songs and within the song itself. This is the fun in it!

DANCING AND SOUND

1. Pick out 5 or 6 songs of contrasting styles and genres.

2. To create the most organic environment, encourage your child to use their imagination. What colors or outfits do they think of when they hear that song? How does it make them feel?

3. Allow them to dress up if they wish, according to each song.

4. DANCE! I will include a video on my Facebook website page, "Sara Mangrum, soprano", so you can see a personal example of me as a child doing this (it's worth a watch, funny stuff!).

  • Feel free to include other ways of interpreting the music! Writing is another great way to do this activity! Comment if you have any other suggestions of how you utilize multi-sensory.

  • Advanced/older students: do some research!

  • -Try to find 5 different cultures from around the world and notice the similarities and differences in the music and how it impacts your emotions and senses. What key or scale it is it in and how does that play on our perceptions? What cultural background does the piece come from? What instruments were used and how does that contribute?

CREATE AN ART SHOW ACTIVITY (Beginner-Advanced) ALL AGES!

Did you know the theatre curtain was originally created to encourage a spectacle and ambiance before the show, so the audience can wonder what awaits them? The red curtain has been used because it makes it easier to see the spotlight on the stage.

There are so many ways to go about this activity. For an art show, you can have music playing in the background, puppets, dancing, reciting poetry, singing, instruments, storytelling- let them use their imagination and get creative!

DIRECTIONS

1. Start off by having your child create a "Show Program". It can be themed (Disney, Around the World, Decades, etc), a recital format, OR have them write their own script and storyline! Have exits and entrances, costume changes if they wish, and create different "acts", "scenes", or even an "intermission".

2. Cut out little tickets and write the program to hand out before the show.

3. You can put up a sheet as your backdrop for your children to walk out from behind or have them come out from another room. If they are doing a puppet show, put up a large carboard box and cut out a large square, or something that creates a "wall" to have them sit behind. If you have lighting you can use to create the ambiance of a stage, use that as well!

4. Perform and enjoy the show! Record it as well. It is a great way to have memories to look back on later!

-Try teaching them proper etiquette for performing and being in an audience if you have children watching and taking turns: BOW after finishing! Speak/sing out to their audience, smile, and more importantly...HAVE FUN! Proper etiquette for audience: Clap BEFORE and AFTER the songs and listen!

MUSICAL ALPHABET GAME (Beginner-Advanced)

Did you know there are only 7 letters in the musical alphabet on the chromatic scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G), and then it starts over from A?

DIRECTIONS

1. Using the letters of the musical alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G), come up with as many words as you can in 60 seconds.

2. Whoever comes up with the most wins!

FOR A CHALLENGE:

If your child knows the staff and its letter names, put the noteheads on the staff using staff paper (you can download this online, or make your own by drawing 5 lines) where they belong for each word you come up with.

FOR AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE:

Compose your own songs out of the words you come up with. Be creative! Play them on your instrument when you finish.

FOR ADDITIONAL MUSICAL ALPHABET GAMES AND ACTIVITES, CLICK ON THE ACTIVITY LINK AT THE TOP OR ON THE BLOG OR STUDIO PAGE.

ANATAKSHARI GAME (Beginner-Advanced) Need 2+ players

Did you know this game originates from India? Typically, the players will use music from Bollywood and Classical Hindustani. However, this game can be used with any style of music following the same rules!

DIRECTIONS

1. Decide if you want to play on teams or individually. Agree on what type of songs or genres are allowed.

2. Chose the first singer.

3. The first singer will sing at least two lines of a song and then may stop wherever they wish.

4. Whatever was the last letter of the last word sung (or you can chose to do the last word), the following person must start with.

Ex. "Mommy made me mash my M&M"...the last letter was M, so the next person would start with "Maybe if I prayed every night..." etc.

5. No song may be repeated. The winner or winning team is whoever can go the longest without any incorrect lyrics.

MAKE YOUR OWN INSTRUMENTS ACTIVITY (Beginner to Advanced)

This one is a fun music AND art project. You can create a full live band with the family!

Here is how to create different instruments with objects at home (only if you are okay with them using them):

RAINSTICK: With a sturdy carboard tube, trace the bottom of the tube on construction paper, and cut out. Do this twice, so you have one for both ends of the tube. Draw 6-12 spokes on the circles and cut each spoke line (this will attach to the tube). ADULTS: hammer toothpicks, nails, or thumbtacks through the tube in random locations. Get two pieces of aluminum foil and coil it like a snake inside the tube. Take one of the cut out ends and tape it or wrap a rubber band around it. Fill the tube with rice, beans, or beads. Shake and see if it needs more filling. Finally, tape or put a rubber band around the other side with the second cut out. Decorate. Shake and play!

DRUMS: Empty tin cans, cups, pots, empty yogurt cartons, etc. Clean them out, tape construction paper for the drum head, and decorate!

HARMONICA: Cut 6-8 straws different lengths and tape them together (shortest to longest), decorate your instrument, and blow!

THE FOLLOWING ONES I FOUND LINKS TO ONLINE FOR YOU:

WATER XYLOPHONE: Great for kids who also love science projects! https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/water-xylophone-sound-science-experiment-kids/

MUSIC GAMES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS

CLAPPING AND STOMPING:

You know the song "If You're Happy and You Know It"? That is exactly that game. It teaches children rhythm from a young age, and you can start teaching children clapping from infancy. Start off with the "If You're Happy and You Know It", and then make up some of your own or other favorite children songs and nursery rhymes and include claps and stomps on specific words.

EGG SHAKER:

This one actually goes along with homemade instruments, but it works well with younger children. Fill Easter eggs with beans, rice, or beads, and use scotch tape to seal it together. Decorate it and make music!

HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, AND TOES

This is a great way to teach your baby movement, actions, music, and rhythm from infancy. Within the first year of life they will start recognizing these body parts and associating them with the song. It's also a great way to make your baby giggle!

FREEZE DANCE

All ages love freeze dance, but even when your child is sitting up or standing they can start playing freeze dance.

Feel free to comment any of your favorite musical games with your children, or if you have any inquiries on additional activities you would like me to write on!

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