CHILDREN’S

A collection of 62+ fun, creative, musical games for children of all ages

GAMESfor

CHOIRashley danyew

INTRODUCTIONIt's a rainy evening and the 1st graders in your children's choir are extra wiggly. You need a quick change-of-pace to keep their attention and get through rehearsal.

Been there? I think we all have.

There are lots of games you could play, but what about games and activities that focus on music (and maybe get the children up and moving for a few minutes)? This eBook is a collection of my all-time favorite (musical) games and activities for children’s choirs.

Contents include listening activities, singing games, rhythm and movement resources, and practical ideas for introducing percussion instruments in your rehearsal.

Enjoy!

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Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Engaging games that help develop music-listening skills

Moving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Movement-based games and activities for children of all ages

Singing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Musical games that incorporate movement and introduce part-singing

Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Rhythm activities that help develop sense of steady beat, reading skills, and creativity

Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Practical activities that invite children to participate by playing musical instruments

CONTENTS

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LISTENINGListening is a fundamental facet of musicianship.

Learning to listen, identify, discern, and understand music without notation present helps develop the inner listening skills needed to become a well-rounded, well-versed musician.

The games and activities outlined in this chapter are designed with this in mind.

Many are based on the Dalcroze approach to music education. Developed by Swiss composer and music educator, Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, the Dalcroze method promotes learning and experiencing music through movement.

Prepare, introduce, and reinforce new musical concepts such as steady beat, macrobeat/microbeat, meter, tempo changes, duration, and melodic contour with these engaging activities.

“There's a lot of difference between listening and hearing.” - G.K. Chesterton

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Hoop Game Help young singers learn the difference between accelerando and ritardando with this easy listening game. Here is a quick video demonstration. (*Note: Try dividing your choir into teams for this activity). For older children, try this variation (use a medium size ring, as shown in the video or a hula hoop!)

Mystery Song This activity reinforces inner hearing and solfege hand signs and works well at the beginning of rehearsal, especially if you use solfege during warm-ups. Choose a familiar tune. Show children the hand signs for the melody (silently but in rhythm) and have them guess the song without hearing it. Try having them mirror the hand signs with you. If they have trouble, give them the first pitch or two, adding pitches as "clues" until they correctly identify it. (source)

Keep the Beat Use bean bags, balloons, or even tennis balls to help children keep a steady beat (and get out some extra energy!) while listening to a piece of music. Bounce the ball to the beat (if your choir room has a hard floor), pass the bean bag around the circle, or toss a balloon up in the air on the downbeat of each measure.

This is also fun to do with a piece that gradually speeds up (like Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" or Tchaikovsky's "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker Suite).

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Jumping Game This Dalcroze Eurhythmics activity helps children develop critical listening skills while connecting music to the body. Play a series of 4-beat patterns (one chord per beat) in a variety of tempos. Have children spread out around the room and jump on beat four of each pattern. Pause briefly in between patterns. Here is an excellent video demonstration, led by Dr. Gregory Ristow.

Story-Telling Another Dalcroze activity, these creative stories reinforce musical concepts (rhythm, tempo, meter, pitch, direction, high/low, etc.) and help develop quick reaction skills. Here are a few examples from certified Eurhythmics instructor Fritz Anders:

Kings, Queens, Mice, Cowboys, and Spooky Monsters The Bunny Story Cowboys and Horses (Tempo) Cats and Birds (Dynamics) Farmers, Crows, and Scarecrows

Where’s the Beat? This is a fun listening activity for reinforcing steady beat and preparing the concept of subdivision.

From the author, Joanne Smith (1990): "We listen to anything from a piece that they are [working on], to Happy Birthday, or a Mozart symphony. The object is to find the downbeats (tapped with an exaggerated downward gesture). Once the big beats have been established, we discover the lesser beats by snapping our fingers in an upward direction (3/4 becomes Tap, Snap, Snap.) The result is an understanding of meter and full measure counting." (source)

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MOVING“I know, because I have experienced.” - Émile Jaques-Dalcroze

Movement is a natural way to experience, feel, and understand music. We learn by doing, engaging with, acting upon, manipulating, observing, experimenting, and feeling. It’s a natural response.

When connected to music, movement helps develop critical listening, sense of steady beat, responsiveness, discernment, sensitivity to phrase-shaping, inner hearing, understanding of harmony and tension-release, and musicality. It improves coordination skills and connects eye and ear and body and mind.

In this chapter, you’ll find a variety of movement activities designed to promote musical development (and get those end-of-the-day wiggles out!).

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Body Percussion Everyone can be their own one-man band with this fun activity. Starting with your head, demonstrate a motion (bobbing up and down) and sound effect ("boing!"). Add body parts with corresponding motions and sounds until you've reached your feet (seven sounds total). (source)

Take it to the next level by using body percussion to accompany a piece of music. For instance, if the piece is in 4/4, with 4-bar phrases, you might do a sequence of four motions/sound effects, four beats each. Try doing them out of order or backwards (feet up to head) for a little extra fun!

Floating Whole Notes Help children feel the duration of whole notes by having them toss a

balloon or lightweight scarf into the air on the downbeat of each measure. Play a simple accompaniment (or a recording) with four beats per measure.

See a video example here.

Dona Nobis Pacem Introduce this traditional 3-part song using a Dalcroze approach. Develop skills

and vocabulary around melodic contour, rhythm patterns, tension-release, steady beat, and energy. Use this free lesson plan by Jessica Schaeffer and Paula Zerkle.

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Down, Down, Baby This clapping game (from Sesame Street!) includes clapping, stomping, and wiggling and can be done with several children standing in a circle. I love this video.

Long-Legged Sailor This traditional song has fun movements that correspond to each verse: long-legged, short-legged, one-legged, etc. See the movements in action in this video.

Boom, Snap, Clap A fun hand game (source) - works well with pairs of children (have them clap their partner's hands). Try having half the group sing a familiar song (again, duple meter with 4-bar phrases) and half the group accompanying with the boom, snap, clap sequence. See a step-by-step video here.

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Musical Chairs Set up chairs in a row, one fewer than the number of children playing. Play recorded music, then pause suddenly. When the music stops, have children rush to find an open chair and sit down. Remove one chair each round until there is only one chair remaining for all the children! (source)

Whizz! A fun sound effect game: Have children stand in a circle facing inward. Have someone start by 'passing' the sound "whizz!" to the person on his/her right with a sweeping gesture with both hands. Have children continue to pass the action and sound around the circle. At any point, a child may pass the sound and gesture in the opposite direction. Keep a steady beat as you go.

Add in other sounds and gestures as you go (and try changing the tempo!):  - “Diddly-dee" = pass sound (with both hands) over the person on your left or right.  - "Zoom" = pass sound across the circle with a forward action of the arms and body. - "Boing!" = if the person receiving the 'zoom' does not want to accept it, they can put up a shield with arms in

front of their body and bounce the sound back to the sender. The sender must think quickly about what action and sound to do next. (source)

John Kanakanaka Clapping, patting, stepping, and partner-changing make this a fun movement activity for older elementary choirs! Watch a group of 3rd graders singing and doing the movement in this video.

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Singing games are a great way to teach musical concepts, incorporate movement, and give children an opportunity to sing alone and with others.

They're perfect as gathering activities, ice-breakers, or a quick change-of-pace in the middle of rehearsal.

Some of the games included in this chapter are more suitable for younger singers; others for older elementary; and even a few that your youth choir would love. Most of these are meant to be sung in unison, without accompaniment.

Look for video links throughout for demonstrations of corresponding movements.

SINGING“Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” - Psalm 96:1-2

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Bobo Ski Waten Taten This East Coast hand-clapping game calls for children to work in pairs. Each verse has a sung section and a spoken section. At the end of the spoken section, fill in the blank with a variation (face, eyes, elbows, knees, lips, etc.) to incorporate the next time through. Here is an animated demonstration and sound clip and here is a copy of the score. (Source: The Singing Classroom)

We're Floating Down the River This song features two sections - one in triple meter, the other in duple - great way to compare and contrast! In the first section, children make a circle with one person in the middle. As they sing, they step the big beats and move in clockwise motion. For the second section, the person in the middle grabs someone from the circle and they dance together while everyone else stands in place. See a video demonstration of this game here.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear Great for your younger choirs, this circle game gets everyone singing the "call" and gives individuals a chance to sing the "response." I love that they used Beanie Babies as props in this video!

Old Brass Wagon A traditional favorite, this song begins with everyone standing in a circle. As they sing, have children walk/skip around the circle to the left or right. Call out variations at the end of each verse: "to the left," "to the right," "elbow swing," etc. See an example of this song in action here.

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Dum Dum Song A simple song with nonsense syllables and lots of fun movements! This works really well with an upper elementary choir or youth choir (see the Minnesota Boychoir sing it here). Have singers sit in rows (fairly close together). Talk through a few of the movements to get them started. Sing together and call out motions at the end of each repetition.

Jump Jim Joe A song for pairs (or groups of three children) that includes jumping, toe-tapping, and spinning! Watch a video demonstration here.

This Way, That Way A fun singing game that gets everyone moving! Have children make two rows and face each other. For the first part, children join hands with the person across from them, swing their arms back and forth, and dance in place. For the second part, everyone takes a step back and a child from one end takes a turn doing a dance improv down the middle. Everyone else imitates their dance moves as they sing. Here's a fun video to show you what this looks like.

The Singing Bee This fun twist on the traditional spelling bee gives singers an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice by demonstrating various musical concepts. Have six (or so) singers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a straight line. Beginning at one end, give each child a musical concept to demonstrate (e.g. decrescendo, staccato, fermata, sequence, skip, step). If the child is incorrect, he or she must sit down, and a concept is given to the next in line. The game continues until only one child remains. (Source: 99 New Musical Games by Bonnie Krueger)

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“Take my voice and let me sing, always, only for my King.” - Frances R. Havergal

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Sarasponda A fun, nonsense song with a nice melody (an octave leap in the B section!). Once you've taught it, pair up and add hand claps or motions with rhythm sticks, as shown here.

Come and Follow Me Have children form a line. Choose a person at one end to be the leader. As everyone sings, the leader takes them around the room. At the end of the song, when everyone sings, "We will stop this way!" the leader strikes a pose and everyone copies. Then, the leader moves to the end of the line and the person at the other end becomes the leader. Here is a video example.

Find Your Match! Create a list of familiar songs, enough for half the children in your choir. Print two copies, cut apart, and put into a bowl. Have each child draw a slip of paper, but keep their song to themselves. When you give the signal, have everyone beginning humming their song (no words!) and moving around the room. The goal is to find the other person in the room that has the same song! (Source: 99 New Musical Games by Bonnie Krueger)

Three In the Middle A spin-off of Red Rover (sort of?) and similar to the duple section in We're Floating Down the River, this circle game begins with three people locked in

the middle. Everyone sings as they try to escape to the outside of the circle. Those who are able to escape join the circle and those left in the middle "swing" in new people. Here is a fun video demonstration.

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A Ram Sam Sam This Moroccan folk song is a great way to introduce the concept of singing in a round. See music notation, simple hand motions, and teaching suggestions here.

Pavo, Pavo (Spanish Turkey Song) Sing this Chilean folk song with Spanish text. Have children stand in a circle with one child ("turkey") in the middle. During the first phrase (mm. 1-4), children in the circle move clockwise as the turkey struts counter-clockwise. During the second phrase (mm. 5-8), they reverse directions. In the first part of the B section (mm. 9-12), children stand still, shaking their fingers at the turkey. During the last phrase (mm. 13-16), the children in the circle remain still as the turkey closes his/her eyes, stretches out his/her arms, spins around, and points to a new turkey. (source)

Mama Lama A great movement activity for young singers! Have children stand in a circle, singing and tapping their legs and the hands of those on either side of them. Call out children's names or assign each child a number before you begin to give them an opportunity to do a solo movement, stepping in toward the center of the circle (4 beats) and back out (4 beats). Have all children copy this movement during the next eight beats. See a video of this activity here.

Four White Horses This one may take a little practice, but such a fun activity for a group of four people (older elementary or youth choir). This video shows the song and clap sequence a few times (including once in slow motion).

Alley Alley-O A British singing game, this song begins with everyone standing in a line and joining hands. As they sing, children weave under each other's arms until everyone is left standing in a row with crossed arms. Reverse the actions (and continue singing) until everyone is back in a row with joined hands. This one is a little hard to describe in writing, so here's a short video to show you what it looks like.

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Zum Gali Gali This traditional Israeli folk song is a great way to introduce part-singing, as it includes a simple tune and ostinato (see music notation here). It also works well with a simple Orff instrument accompaniment. Here are directions for adding a simplified hora-style dance.

A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea This traditional children’s song features a simple hand-clapping sequence to do with a partner interspersed with cumulative movements that go along with each verse (see, chop, knee, snap, jump). See these video examples  for a few variation ideas.

Bingo A fun hand-clapping sequence to go along with the familiar children’s song! See a demonstration here.

Miss Mary Mack A great partner activity, this silly song and action-packed clapping sequence is fun for one and all. See a video example.

Green Sally Similar to Miss Mary Mack (some of the same lyrics, in fact), this more traditional (and accessible) clapping game makes a fun gathering activity or change-of-pace during rehearsals. Watch here.

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Bim Bum Bitty A great change-of-pace activity for elementary and middle school youth choirs! Three words and a snap-clap sequence that can be done with a group of any size. Try it in a faster tempo as your group gets to know it better! See a video example here.

Wake Me, Shake Me Have children make a circle (facing inward) with one person on the inside. Following the directions in the song, the person on the inside does corresponding motions with one person in the circle - "Wake me, shake me, don't let me sleep too late!" At the end of the song, the person in the circle joins the person in the middle and the song (and motions) repeat. See a video demonstration here.

Say, Say, Oh Playmate This short song has a simple, but fast-moving hand clapping sequence to do with a partner. Here is a quick demonstration. A great gathering activity!

Circle Round the Zero A circle game that's reminiscent of Duck, Duck, Goose, here, the leader walks around the outside of the circle as everyone sings. At the appropriate point in the song, the leader stops behind someone, moves to their side, and steps inside the circle to face them. On the next repetition, that person joins in walking around the outside of the circle. Great video demonstration here.

Quack Diddly Oso This is the hand-clapping version of Duck, Duck, Goose. Participants sit in a circle and “pass the clap” around (using the steady beat of the tune), eliminating one person each round. See a video example here. Alternatively, try playing this with a partner!

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Rhythm is a vital component of music. A strong rhythmic foundation is arguably the most important facet of music. Without a rhythmic framework in place, music lacks structure and a solid foundation.

As directors and teachers, it's important for us to assess whether or not children are able to respond to, remember, and reproduce a short rhythmic pattern to understand where they are and areas where they need more reinforcement (source).

There are lots of ways to practice rhythm and help develop an internal sense of steady beat in your rehearsals - the easiest (and perhaps most effective) is to turn it into a game. Children love games and giving them an active way to participate and experience the new concept will make it both memorable and fun.

In this chapter, you’ll find tried-and-true rhythm games and activities to practice keeping the steady beat, moving, listening, improvising and composing, and developing aural and rhythmic reading skills, pattern recognition, and musical independence.

CHANTING

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BEAT is the steady underlying pulse of the music (like your heartbeat).

RHYTHM is the changing durations of notes that are played or sung.

(source)

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Click, Stomp, Slap, Clap This rhythmic chant includes the words of the corresponding movement (click, stomp, slap, clap), each falling on a different beat within the bar. See a video demonstration here. After the chant is familiar, try having children do only the movements, without the words. This is a great way to develop an internal sense of the beat and foster musical independence.

Rhythm Memory (like the card game) Use two identical sets of rhythm cards (so each card has a match!) and arrange in rows, face down. Have children (or teams) take turns flipping cards over to find a match.

Name Game This is a great activity for the beginning of the choir year as everyone is getting to know each other. Have children sit in a circle and pat their knees: tap-tap-rest-rest. One at a time, have them say their names (in rhythm, if possible) in the two beats of rest (e.g. tap-tap-Ash-ley). Add one measure in between each child so it's not too rushed. Mix it up by going around the circle and having each child name their favorite color, animal, or flavor of ice cream!

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Secret Pattern (like Simon Says) Make up a simple 4-beat rhythm pattern. Chant it for the group and tell them this is a secret pattern. When they hear it, they should not echo back. Chant a series of other patterns and have children echo you. Throw in the secret pattern and see if you catch someone! If no one echoes the secret pattern, the children get one point. If someone starts to echo the secret pattern, you get a point. (source)

Meet the Rhythm Family Reinforce steady beat, note values, and subdivision with this active listening game.

Introduce each note value as a member of the Rhythm family (source) and a character in a story you create. Have children step the note values in their feet, moving around the room as you narrate. Each time they hear a character mentioned in the story, have them change their step to that note value.

Pass a Pattern (like telephone) Have everyone sit in a circle. Whisper  a 3- or 4-beat rhythm pattern to the child on your left or right and have them "pass" the rhythm pattern around the circle by whispering it to their neighbor. Have the last person chant the pattern out loud for all to hear. (source)

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Rhythm Machine A great way to reinforce steady beat and musical independence, and give children an opportunity to improvise. Divide children into groups of 6-8 and have them sit in a circle. Invite each child to create a 4-beat pattern (clap and chant) to repeat over and over again, adding one new pattern at a time until everyone is clapping and chanting their pattern simultaneously. Then, try having children drop out until only one remains. (source)

For older choirs, divide children into groups of four and have them stand in a circle. Invite each child to create a 4-beat pattern with corresponding body motion and sound effect (e.g. stomp-stomp-clap up high, "boom-boom-tongue click"). Layer the patterns on top of each other, as before, or string them together in a sequence, one at a time.

The Cup Game This activity works well with songs in duple meter and with 4-bar phrases. Set a red solo cup upside down in front of each child.

Beats 1-4: Clap two times. Hit the bottom of the cup three times (right-left-right). Beats 5-8: Clap once. Pick up the cup and set it down. Beats 9-12: Clap once. Pick up the cup with your left hand. Hit the top of the cup with your right hand. Hit the bottom edge of the cup onto the table or floor. Beats 13-16: Switch the cup to your right hand. Tap the table or floor with your left hand. Set the cup (upside down) in front of the person on your right. (source)

Working with younger children? Here's a simplified version.

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What’s That Pattern? A fun game for large and small groups that helps develop aural skills, pattern recognition, musical independence, and rhythmic reading. This is a great gathering activity to do before rehearsal!

Have children choose four cards with similar rhythm patterns (e.g. quarter and eighth notes or quarter rest patterns), laying them out for others to see (if you have a large group, divide children into groups of 4-5). Have children (or groups) take turns choosing one pattern of their four to chant out loud (ideally with a neutral syllable such as “bah”) while others try to identify it. For an extra challenge, have children choose eight cards and chant two of their patterns at a time.

Rhythm Train Similar to What's That Pattern?, this game helps with pattern recognition, rhythmic reading, and the development of aural skills. Choose three cards that are similar and hold up for all to see. Choose one pattern to clap or chant. If the children correctly identify the pattern, they earn the card. If they are incorrect, you earn the card.

Keep track of how many cards you've earned by creating rhythm trains (one for you, one for them) using these free printable engine and caboose cards from Color in My Piano. This is also great for group composition and introducing or reinforcing the concept of meter. (source)

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Rhythm Relay A fast-paced rhythm game that's a cross between telephone (or Pass a Pattern, mentioned previously) and a relay race.

Divide children into two rows (sitting, facing each other). Place a beanbag on the floor in between the two lines. Show a one-measure rhythm pattern to the person at the end of each line (try letting them read it for themselves rather than chanting it for them). When you say, "Go!" have children squeeze their neighbor's hand with the rhythm, passing it down the row.

Once the child at the end of each row receives their pattern, they must race to pick up a bean bag and clap the pattern out loud. If correct, their team earns a point. If incorrect, the other team earns a point. The first team to earn five points wins! (source)

Double This, Double That Also known as “Double Ice, Double Cream,” among other variations, this is a fun partner game for younger and older elementary children. Watch a video demonstration.

Concentration 64 After the intro, name a category and (in time) say as many things as you can that fit the category without repeating something you or your partner said. See a video example here. Music would make a great category! (rhythm, anthem, hymn, melody, harmony, meter, etc.)

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Whisper Rhythms This is a combination of Pass a Pattern (mentioned previously) and one of the Pie Game variations (see next page).

Place rhythm pattern cards in a basket or bowl and pass around the circle. Have children take turns drawing a card and whispering the pattern to their neighbor. Once the pattern has gone all the way around the circle, the child places the card face up on the floor and claps the pattern and everyone echoes back. The next child repeats this sequence, but when they place their card face up, they clap both patterns and everyone echoes back. This continues around the circle, each child adding a pattern to the ones before. (source)

Rhythm Bingo For a calmer, quieter activity, consider playing a quick round of rhythm bingo. Here is an easy, printable version from Susan Paradis.

Tea, Coffee, Coffee, Tea Introduce and compare quarter notes and eighth notes with familiar words: "tea" for quarter notes and “cof-fee" for eighth notes. Create your own rhythmic series using these two words (4-8 beats in length). Develop musical independence in your singers by dividing them into two or three groups and having them chant different rhythmic series at the same time. (source)

Give your singers an opportunity to compose by asking them to create a rhythmic series for the group to chant together. For older choirs, ask for a few volunteers to compose and chant their series (as solos, duets, trios, or quartets) for the rest of the choir.

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“Sing to the Lord a joyful song, lift up your hearts, your voices raise; to us his gracious gifts belong, to him our songs of love and praise.”

– John S. B. Monsell

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Pie Game

Created by pianist Hazel Cobb,

the basic concept behind the Pie

Game is to read rhythmic notation

with words (instead of numbers,

ta and ti-ti, or other counting

method).

Using a regular set of rhythm

cards (like these), the Pie Game

helps develop listening skills,

musical independence, and

rhythmic reading, and gives

children an opportunity to

improvise and compose. The

possibilities are endless!

Here are a few ideas:

2. Practice sight-reading the rhythm of a new anthem with pie syllables. Have everyone keep the steady beat together.

3. Arrange cards in two rows. Chant the patterns together, then divide into two groups, chanting different lines at the same time. This is a great way to prepare young singers for 2-part anthems!

4. Place cards in a box or bag. Pass around the circle and have children take turns drawing a card (discretely) and clapping the rhythm for the others (without chanting the words). Have others in the circle respond by clapping the rhythm back and chanting the words.

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1. Work together to create a rhythmic series (eight measures, or two phrases). Keep a steady beat and chant the rhythm together. After each successful repetition, flip one card over to the blank side (I call this a “wild card”). Have children take turns creating their own patterns in these spots or improvise a pattern all at the same time.

Make a joyful noise!

From Orff to Boomwhackers to rhythm sticks to percussion, instruments are a perfect way for children to explore and experience music right away.

These activities require a bit more planning than some of the others included in this eBook, but the rewards are great.

Once you’ve introduced rhythm and pitched instruments to your choir members, you can create accompanying ostinato patterns for anthems, and have a few volunteers help facilitate other games (especially movement and listening activities).

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” - Psalm 98:4

PLAYING

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Orff Instruments The Orff approach to music education was developed by Carl Orff during the early 20th century. Based on a child’s natural

approach to learning (through play), the Orff approach offers children a natural way to explore, create, and discover music (source).

Boomwhackers Boomwhackers are color-coded plastic percussion tubes tuned to musical pitches - longer tubes are lower pitches, shorter tubes are higher pitches (source). Boomwhackers create sound when struck - tap two together or "whack" on the floor or other surface. You can also purchase a special rack to hold them and play them with mallets, like a xylophone. See more related products here.

Set out the instruments (removing some of the bars, if you want to focus their music-making to particular sonorities or modes) and cards with simple melodies and/or rhythms for the children to play. Encourage them to create their own arrangements, make up new patterns, and play together.

Orff instruments such as miniature xylophones, marimbas, glockenspiels, and  metallophones (all with removable bars) let children explore and experience music right away.

Boomwhackers work well by themselves or with Orff instruments. Put on some music and have children keep a steady beat. Introduce concepts of harmony and chords by having children play along with a simple hymn or folk song (something that uses I and V chords like "How Firm a Foundation" or "A Ram Sam Sam"). See more song suggestions here. Create a chart or write the notes of each chord on a whiteboard (e.g. C-E-G, G-B-D-F) and have children practice the chord changes together.

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Rhythm Sticks Rhythm sticks are a quick, easy way to introduce musical instruments in your rehearsal with children as young as preschool-age. Here are a few rhythm stick activities to try:

- Tap the steady beat while listening to a piece of music. - Practice listening for subdivisions by having half of the group play half notes and the other

half play quarter notes (or half play quarter notes and half play eighth notes). This is also a great way to compare and contrast different meters (duple vs. triple).

- Read rhythm patterns or echo back by tapping the rhythm with sticks instead of clapping.

Rhythm Instruments There are lots of ways to incorporate rhythm instruments into your rehearsals and enhance the music you’re working on. Here are a few ideas:

- Create a rhythmic ostinato to accompany an anthem. - Add tambourine, hand drum, djembe, finger cymbals, triangle, or guiro

for a special effect in an anthem! - Create your own instrumental piece based on a few rhythm patterns

composed by the group. Or, try using the rhythm of a few short phrases from Scripture: “Sing praise to God,” “Walk in the way of love,” or “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”

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REFERENCESAnders, F. Teaching Resources. Anders, F. YouTube Channel. Anthony Meehl. YouTube Channel. Artis Education. Vimeo Channel. Betty’s Music. bettysmusic.com ChoralNet. choralnet.org Christopher Sepersky. YouTube Channel. Church Leaders. churchleaders.com Cobb, H. The Pie Game. Color in My Piano. colorinmypiano.com Cornerstone Confessions. YouTube Channel. Dalcroze Society of America. YouTube Channel. DLTK’s Growing Together. dltk-kids.com Donnelly, M. (2010). “Zum gali gali history and movement activity.” Music Express Magazine, 11(3). Hal Leonard Corporation. Emily’s Elementary Music Education Blog. thesweetestmelodymusic.blogspot.com/ Fun Clapping. funclapping.com Houlahan, M. & Tacka, P. (2015). Kodály in the fifth grade classroom: Developing the creative brain in the 21st century. Oxford University Press. Kristin Lukow. YouTube Channel. Krueger, B. J. (2009). 99 new musical games for music groups of all ages. Heritage Music Press. Let’s Play Music. letsplaykidsmusic.com

Madeline Lyons. YouTube Channel. Mama Lisa’s World: International Music & Culture. mamalisa.com Mary Zavaleta. YouTube Channel. Mbheartlove. YouTube Channel. Michelle Fritz. YouTube Channel. Minnesota Boychoir. YouTube Channel. Mr. A Music Place. mramusicplace.net Ms. Melville Music. YouTube Channel. Schaeffer, J. & Zerkle, P. (2014). “Dalcroze approach to Dona Nobis Pacem.” ACDA California ECCO Summer Conference. Handout available online: http://www.acdacal.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Zerkle-Dalcroze-Workshop-Handout.pdf Sesame Street. YouTube Channel. The Singing Classroom. thesingingclassroom.com Smith, J. (1990). Keyboard Companion (Spring 1990). Available online: http://claviercompanion.com/Rhy1990Article/Page1.html St. John School, Seattle. YouTube Channel. Susan Paradis. susanparadis.com Teach Piano Today. teachpianotoday.com Teaching Ideas, Ltd. teachingideas.co.uk Utah Schools, Fine Art Curriculum, “A Ram Sam Sam” Teaching Plan. Available online: http://www.schools.utah.gov/CURR/fineart/Elementary/Songbook/Music/ARamSamSam.aspx Vincent Bates. YouTube Channel. WikiHow. wikihow.com Wikipedia. wikipedia.com

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About AshleyAshley Danyew is a church musician, music educator, writer, and creative entrepreneur. She received a B.A. in Music from the University of Georgia and completed an M.M. and Ph.D. in Music Education at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She also received the Certificate in Arts Leadership from Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership.

Ashley teaches piano and writes a blog for church musicians and music educators (www.ashleydanyew.com) where she creates and shares practical, digital resources and online training courses to help people in their music ministry and teaching.

She lives with her husband, Steve and their rescue dog, Rory in Rochester, NY.

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