Music education is an easy subject that is often overlooked by parents, but it is a very important subject to teach. Children with access to music education achieve higher academic scores, advanced social skills, and an overall confidence boost, so it is a subject that should be included in our teachings, whether in the classroom or at home.
Children sometimes have difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. There are some really great musical games that can be incorporated into the classroom or at home that inspire creativity and help keep your children engaged. The point isn’t always just the game itself, but rather, how to incorporate it within your curriculum. Here are some simple ways to help you include games that you can use in the classroom or at home.
Play Musical Chairs
We all are likely familiar with the game musical chairs, but we can add a fun twist and do it at home virtually with other children. This game promotes strong listening skills in children.
This can be tough for children at home, so one way to do this is to have a video chat with other children so that they can all participate. Instead of using chairs, you can utilize a chat window, which will improve your child’s listening and writing skills. When they hear the music stop, they can type in a word, such as “CHAIR,” or something pertinent to the game itself, and whoever is the last one to type in a word is the one who’s “out,” then the game continues.
Make a Homemade Instrument You Can Play
Instruments create music, and there are so many household items that can be utilized for this. Part of the game can be locating the materials, almost like a scavenger hunt for children to find items they can use to make something that will create sound.
You can make a simple-to-play harmonica out of straws. You can even make a homemade guitar out of some cut cardboard and a bunch of rubber bands. There are plenty of ideas you can find online on how to make instruments.
The objective of the game is to see who can actually play a song on their homemade instrument. You can also have the students play a song together with all of their instruments as a unique classroom band.
Learn a Fundamental Instrument from Home
The piano, for example, is a great beginner instrument. If you’re unable to provide instructions on an instrument from the classroom, you can find virtual piano instructors who offer online piano tutorials that can help make learning the piano entertaining for any student at home. Children can learn the keys by labeling them and making a simple song such as “Happy Birthday” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” out of fun symbols or shapes.
Because you have multiple options, the possibilities of musical games are limitless. Help keep music education relevant and continue to incorporate it in class and at home.
Nicole McCray: Before she discovered her passion for teaching students how to play their first instrument, Nicole was pinching pennies in her 20s while singing across the country. Nowadays, she spends her time contributing to music blogs, parenting forums, and education websites when she’s not providing private music lessons. She finds joy in sharing her insight with musicians, fellow teachers, and parents of musicians-in-training!