Listening to Music
Activity 1: Musical Play Center (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary years
Activity: Collect musical instruments that would be of enjoyment and interest to the children. Introduce instruments to the center individually, so the children are not overwhelmed, and learn how to use the materials. The children will create the sounds with the instruments that are provided. Facilitate the children to listen to tone, pitch, volume, and other musical aspects.
Materials: Bells; Empty containers; Paper; Sticks; Rubber bands; Marbles; Beans; Guitar; Electronic keyboard; Any other instruments you are willing to allow the students to use, and can use in a creative manner
Preparations/Safety Precautions: You will need to teach the children how to safely and correctly use the instruments. Example: Only use the sticks on the instruments.
Standards:
The student experiments with a variety of instruments and other sound sources.
The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Activity 2: Recording Studio (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: Using tape recorders, microphones, etc., the students will record the music they create with the use of supplied instruments. The children will then listen to their creation, and discuss musical elements (amount of discussion and critiquing will depend upon age). They may choose to change aspects of the music and record it again.
Materials: Tape recorder; Blank tapes; Microphone; Musical instruments
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to know how to operate the recording machines.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
Activity 3: Multicultural Instrument Center (back to top)
Age: K through elementary
Activity: Provide native instruments from varying cultures, ensuring to have at least one instrument from each culture represented in your classroom. The children will use the instruments and discuss and record the similarities and differences in the sounds created with different instruments. For an extension activity, the children could create music to a story of that culture, using the culture's instruments.
Materials: Instruments for different cultures; Journals; Pencils; Crayons
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to be taught how to use and respect the instruments (especially is they are borrowed), as well as the respect for the culture.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
The student understands music in relation to history and culture.
Activity 4: Instrument Identification (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: Students will identify instruments based upon sound. The teacher or a student will create music with the instrument (without the other children seeing the instrument). The children will figure out what instrument it is, solely based upon sound. The teacher may also want to create a tape with different sounds, such as wind blowing, baby crying, etc. to play for the students as well.
Materials: Sheet to create a wall; Instruments (Bells, guitar, electronic keyboard with different sounds, mini harp, zither, etc.)
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need plenty of exposure and experiences with the instruments as well as experiences concentrating on elements of sound.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
Identify the sources of a wide variety of sounds.
Activity 5: High or low (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: The teacher will create different pitch levels on instruments. The students will respond by standing up when the pitch is high and sitting when the pitch is low. The teacher may prefer to have the children raise their hand with it is high and lower it when it is low, rather than sitting and standing.
Materials: Electric keyboard
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to have a clear understanding of pitch. The children will need to have enough room to move, without bumping into their neighbor.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
The student reads and notates music.
Activity 6: Learning Sounds (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through early elementary
Activity: To teach children vowel sounds, play "Apples and Bananas", performed by Raffi, for the children. This is a catchy song that will help the children to learn vowel sounds and their names. The children can create a book (either individually or as a class) to illustrate the song. This will provide a visual cue for them as well as hearing it.
Materials: "Apples and Bananas", by Raffi; Tape/CD player; Paper; Crayons
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will want to move around while this song is being played, allowing plenty of space for movement. Children who speak different languages may need a little extra help, depending upon their level of knowledge about the English language.
Standards:
The student sings, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
The student understands the nature of language.
Activity 7: Spanish vowels (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: The students will listen to "Las vocals", by Jose' Luis Orozco. This song teaches the children vowel sounds in the Spanish language. The students will learn these sounds and create a musical accompaniment to which they will sing "Las vocals".
Materials: Las vocals", by Jose' Luis Orozco; Tape/CD player; Electronic keyboard; Blank tapes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children may need extra time to prepare for this activity, and create their song.
Standards:
The student sings, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Activity 8: Musical chairs (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: Music is played and when the children hear a certain instrument being played, or a specified melodic pattern is played, they sit in a chair. The children may even play the instrument or create the pattern or melody. No chairs are removed, so the competition is eliminated.
Materials: Tape/CD player; Tapes with various instruments being played; Chairs
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to be familiar with the sounds that different instruments make. They will also need to be taught to look before sitting to avoid accidents.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines.
Activity 9: Class tape (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through early elementary
Activity: Create a list with the children's favorite nursery rhyme songs. Ask the children what instruments are used in each song (you can provide them with support by playing versions of the songs for them so they can hear the instruments). The children will use the instruments they have created and sing to make a tape with their own songs.
Materials: Instruments previously created by the children; Tape recorder; Blank tapes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to have created instruments previously in the classroom.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines.
Activity 10: Drawing to music (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: The teacher will play (either the electronic keyboard, tape recorder, or other instrument) music for the children. Individually the children will draw while they listen to the music. They will represent through pictures what the music makes them feel. This could be expressed through the image, color, and/or arrangement of the images.
Materials: Crayons; Markers; Paper; Paint; Brushes; Easel; Painting shirt
Preparations/Safety Precautions:The children will need plenty of space so that they are comfortable and will be able to express themselves.
Standards:
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
Participate freely in music activities.
Activity 11: Class orchestra (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through elementary
Activity: The children will work together (with facilitation by the teacher) to create a class orchestra. The children will play different instruments, provided by the teacher, conduct the music, and arrange music (based upon selections from other songs). This should be recorded for children to listen to in the listening or music center.
Materials: Instruments (electronic keyboard, drums, maracas, whistle, bells, etc.); Tape recorder; Blank tapes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to know how to play the instruments and how to create varying sounds on the instruments.
Standards:
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting.
The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines.
Activity 12: Copy Cat (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: The children will respond with instruments to melodies played by the teacher or a recording. The children will reproduce the rhythmic patterns and melodic phrases they hear.
Materials: Tape/CD player; Instruments for student use
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to have practice using the instruments.
Standards:
The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Activity 13:Class play (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: As a class, the students and teacher will decide on the type of play the want to create (theme). The teacher will find several songs that would be appropriate for the play (children my assist with this as well, they may have a favorite song). The students will decide which songs to use. They will listen to the songs paying attention to musical elements. They will then perform their musical for parents, and other members of the school.
Materials: Music appropriate for the play; Tape/CD player; Video recorder
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to be provided with plenty of assistance with learning the songs, and performing them.
Standards:
The student sings, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
Activity 14: Relaxation Center (back to top)
Age: Pre-K through elementary
Activity: A center will be created with several different genres of music and a tape/CD player. The children will use the center when they need to relax or get pumped up. They will log the music they listen to and describe (pictures or words) how they are feeling before and after listening to the music.
Materials: Various genres, tempos, languages, etc. of music; Tape/CD player; Music journal; Pencils; Crayons
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to know how to get the tapes or CDs into the player safely.
Standards:
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting.
The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music.
Activity 15: Poetry (back to top)
Age: Kindergarten through elementary
Activity: Using a children's poetry book, the class will choose their favorite poem (they can vote on this). Write the poem on large chart paper. The class will make up a tune to go along with the poem. This will be recorded and kept in the listening center.
Materials: Children's poetry book; Tape recorder; Blank tapes; Large chart paper; Markers
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children will need to know how to decide as a class on one poem. This may mean that some children will not get their first choice and these issues will need to be addressed.
Standards:
The student sings, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
The student understands the relationship between music and the world beyond the school setting.
Activity 16: Name that Sound (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: The students will take turns blind folding each other and playing instruments. The student who is blind folded will have to guess what instrument the other student is playing.
Materials:Blind fold; Drum; Keyboard; Tambourine; Triangle; Recorder; Maraca
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students will have to have some knowledge of instruments before doing this activity. You will also have to instruct them what volume is appropriate play the different instruments.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Identifies, upon hearing, familiar instruments and voice types (e.g., trumpet, piano, triangle, tambourine, child, or adult. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 17: If Your Happy and You Know It (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: Sing “If your happy and you know it” with the class. Replace the actions with playing musical instruments. For example, if you happy and you know it play the drums. Repeat this for all the instruments that you have.
Materials: Drums; Keyboard; Tambourine; Triangle; Recorder; Maraca; Any other instrument you can find
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students will have to have some knowledge of instruments before doing this activity. You will also have to instruct them what volume is appropriate play the different instruments.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 1 – The student sings, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Sings simple songs (e.g., folk, patriotic, nursery, rhymes, rounds, and singing games) with appropriate tone pitch, and rhythm, with and without accompaniment. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Identifies, upon hearing, familiar instruments and voice types (e.g., trumpet, piano, triangle, tambourine, child, or adult.
Activity 18: Weather Music (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: The students will be asked to represent different types of weather, such as sunny snowing, raining, and thundering, with instruments. This activity could also be used with emotions.
Materials: Drums; Keyboard; Tambourine; Triangle; Recorder; Maraca; Any other instrument you can find
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students will have to have some knowledge of instruments before doing this activity. You will also have to instruct them what volume is appropriate play the different instruments.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Understands how music can communicate ideas suggesting events, feelings, moods, or images. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments (e.g., percussion instruments and barred instruments) and maintains a steady tempo.
Activity 19: Move to the Beat (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: The students will take turns playing and changing the tempo of a particular instrument. The other students will move around the classroom to the beat of the music.
Materials: Drums; Keyboard; Tambourine; Triangle; Recorder; Maraca; Any other instrument you can find
Preparations/Safety Precautions: There will have to be some kind of rule in place so that the children don’t knock into each other when they are moving around the classroom.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Knows how to respond to selected characteristics of music (e.g., the melodic phrase is the same or different, the tempo is fast or slow, and volume is loud or soft) through appropriate movement. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 1 – The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments. Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns and accompaniments.
Activity 20: Water Music (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: Before the activity the teacher will fill plastic glasses with different amounts of water and place them in a center. During the activity the students will experiment with the different sounds that the glasses make.
Materials: Plastic glasses; water; spoons; wooden sticks
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Before the activity the teacher may want to put newspaper on the table in case any water spills. The children would also have to be instructed on how hard they should hit the glass.
Standards: Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments (e.g., percussion instruments and barred instruments) and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 1 – The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns and accompaniments.
Activity 21: Tube Kazoo (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity involves making a kazoo and then using it during Person of the Week parades. First they will decorate the tube with markers and crayons. They will then place a piece of 4x4 piece of way paper at one end of the tube. This will be held in place by sliding the rubber band over the wax paper at one end of the tube. Blowing into the open end of the tube will provide a musical vibration.
Materials: Toilet paper rolls; Wax paper; Rubber bands; Markers; Crayons
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each student will be provided with the same materials at each table.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments (e.g., percussion instruments and barred instruments) and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 1 – The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments. Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns and accompaniments.
Activity 22: Old MacDonald Had A Band (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity involves using classroom instruments in place of farm animals during our own rendition of this song. The students will play their instrument when it is called out. This will help students to identify the names of the instruments.
Materials: 4 sets of bells; 4 kazoos; 4 drums; 4 maracas; 4 tambourines
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each student will be provided with an instrument (approx. 20 students).
Standards: Sunshine State (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments (e.g., percussion instruments and barred instruments) and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 1 – The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments. Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns and accompaniments.
Activity 23: This is the way (back to top)
Age:Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity involves helping the students learn the appropriate way to use classroom instruments. Set to the beat of “The Farmer in the Dell”, we will change the chorus to “this is the way we play our…” inserting the various instruments. I will model their appropriate usage.
Materials: 4 sets of bells; 4 kazoos; 4 drums; 4 maracas; 4 tambourines
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each student will be provided with an instrument (approx. 20 students).
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines.
Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 24: Syllable Sound Off (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity involves helping the students learn the number of syllables in a word using musical instruments. We will use single, double, and multiple syllable sight words and student names. We will use the instruments to “tap” out the syllables.
Materials: Rhythm sticks; Sand blocks; Drums; Shakers; Cymbals
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each student will be provided with an instrument (approx. 20 students).
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. performs expressively with appropriate dynamics and tempos on classroom and ethnic instruments. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 25: Sand Blocks and Rhythm Sticks (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity involves creating rhythm instruments to be used in the classroom. We will provide half the class with materials for sand blocks and the other half with materials for rhythm sticks. For sand blocks, each student will receive 1 block, sandpaper, and glue. They will be asked to first use one piece of sand paper to sand down rough edges and then glue another piece of sand paper around the block. For rhythm sticks, each student will receive a dowel rod. They will first use sand paper to sand down rough edges. They can then decorate their sticks with markers, crayons, and/or stickers.
Materials: 10- 4 inch pieces of wooden 2x4’s; Sand paper; Scissors; Glue; 10-1 foot sections of a 3 foot dowel rod; Sand paper; Markers; Crayons; Stickers
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each student will be provided with their choice of materials to make an instrument. Blocks and dowel rods will have been precut for this activity. (Approx. 20 students).
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. performs expressively with appropriate dynamics and tempos on classroom and
ethnic instruments. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
The five following activities can be done in sequence to create a final product, a "rain band." A book that goes along with these activities is Listen to the Rain.
Activity 26: Windchimes (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: The students will create windchimes by using seashells that will rub together to make the sound of the wind blowing. The seashells will be attached using yarn to tie then to a metal coat hanger.
Materials: Seashells; yarn; metal coat hangers
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students will have to have some knowledge of instruments before doing this activity. They will also need to be told how to handle the shells so they do not break.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Understands how music can communicate ideas suggesting events, feelings, moods, or images. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 27: Rain Sticks (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: The students will create rain sticks by using empty paper towel rolls filled with rice and aluminum foil. The children will then put a piece of felt on each side and secure it with a rubber band. The rain sticks can be decorated with markers.
Materials: Paper towel rolls; rice; aluminum foil; felt squares; rubber bands; markers
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The teacher will explain to the students how to put the rice and small pieces of aluminum foil into the paper towel holder so that the desired sound is created.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Aesthetic and Critical Analysis): Standard 1 – The student listens to, analyzes, and describes music. Understands how music can communicate ideas suggesting events, feelings, moods, or images. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines.
Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 28: Maracas (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity allows children to create their own maracas. The children will use two paper plates that will be filled with beans to create the sound of a maraca. The children can decorate their maracas with paint or markers.
Materials: Paper plates; beans; stapler; markers; paint/ brushes
Preparations/Safety Precautions: Each child will need assistance as they staple the outer edges of their plate.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.
Activity 29: Tambourines (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: Children will be able to create their own tambourines by using a paper plate with bells attached around the outer edge. The children will use a hole punch to create a place to hang the bells with yarn.
Materials: Paper plates; small bells; yarn; hole punch
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The children may need assistance with punching holes in the plates.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Music-Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performs independently simple patterns and melodies on rhythmic and melodic classroom instruments (e.g., percussion instruments and barred instruments) and maintains a steady tempo. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 1 – The student improvises melodies, variations, and accompaniments. Improvises simple rhythmic and melodic patterns and accompaniments.
Activity 30: Drums (back to top)
Age: Pre K – 1
Activity: This activity allows children to create their own drums with oatmeal canisters and pieces of canvas. The teacher will need to punch the holes in the canisters and the children punch the holes in the canvas. The children can then string the canvas onto the top of the canister to create a drum.
Materials: Oatmeal canisters; canvas; hole punch; yarn
Preparations/Safety Precautions: The students may need assistance with stringing their drums together tightly.
Standards: Sunshine State Standard (Skills and Techniques): Standard 2 – The student performs on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. performs expressively with appropriate dynamics and tempos on classroom and ethnic instruments. Sunshine State Standard (Music-Creation and Communication): Standard 2 – The student composes and arranges music within specific guidelines. Creates simple accompaniments with classroom instruments.