If you’re looking to spice up your quarter rest lessons, then add some listening lessons! We tend to focus on singing when it comes to teaching new concepts, but there are also classical pieces that include elements that we teach in elementary music. This lesson, quarter rest with Beethoven, includes movement, instruments, and introducing quarter… Continue reading Teaching Quarter Rest with Beethoven’s 7th Symphony
Category: K-2
Using The Wolf Singing Game (We Are Dancing) in Elementary Music
Wolf (AKA We are Dancing) is one of my third graders’ all time favorite singing games. The Wolf singing game is simple, it is fun, and it can be used to practice quarter and eighth notes or la. This song has an official game, and also a way-that-we-play the game that is much less chaotic. We'll… Continue reading Using The Wolf Singing Game (We Are Dancing) in Elementary Music
Best Sol Mi Songs for the Elementary Music Classroom
When it comes to teaching solfa, sol and mi is where we start. The best way to get these notes engrained in students’ heads is with sol mi songs– especially sol mi songs. Using sol mi songs allows students to have authentic musical experiences while learning their first two melodic notes. Now, by the time… Continue reading Best Sol Mi Songs for the Elementary Music Classroom
Best Games And Lessons To Teach Kids Solfege
Coming up with games and lessons for solfege can seem daunting. You may feel like the only thing to do is to have students read flashcards on the screen. And while I do think there is value in that-- especially before an independent activity-- it’s not all there is to teaching solfege or melody. After… Continue reading Best Games And Lessons To Teach Kids Solfege
The 6 Best Folk Songs for La in Elementary Music
I don’t know about you, but when my first or second graders learn la, we spend a really long time on it. It’s like they understand sol and mi quickly because there’s only two options, but when we add a third option, it takes a long time for them to have a solid understanding of… Continue reading The 6 Best Folk Songs for La in Elementary Music
The Best Drum Dream Girl Elementary Music Lessons
I am always looking for books to incorporate into my elementary music classes. I found Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle by accident one day-- I think that it was on display in our library. As soon as I picked it up, I knew it was a gem. Since then, I’ve used it many different… Continue reading The Best Drum Dream Girl Elementary Music Lessons
Favorite Folk Songs for Hispanic Heritage Month
One of my favorite things about music is that it can transport you all around the world and help you to learn about different cultures. We are always striving to do this in my elementary music classroom. Although I use songs from different cultures all year round, I love any excuse to highlight a culture!… Continue reading Favorite Folk Songs for Hispanic Heritage Month
Ocean Themed Folk Songs and Ocean Animal Composition Activities
Maybe it's because I live in Savannah, Georgia (on the coast), but I love including ocean themed folk songs, listening activities, and lessons in my elementary music classroom. Every culture around the world has water-themed songs, and most also have ocean songs, which make it a great place to start including pieces from around the… Continue reading Ocean Themed Folk Songs and Ocean Animal Composition Activities
Easy + Fun Ways To Teach Sol + Mi With Star Light, Star Bright
Star Light, Star Bright is a fun folk song to teach kindergarten, first grade, and second grade elementary music students about sol and mi or quarter and eighth notes. Although the song is quite common, these lessons are not. Make sure you read down to the extensions so that you get all of the ideas… Continue reading Easy + Fun Ways To Teach Sol + Mi With Star Light, Star Bright
Little Silver Moon : a Chinese Folk Song Lesson for Quarter Rest
Do you ever find a folk song that you didn’t know existed, but once you did, you couldn’t believe you hadn’t ALWAYS had it? That is how Little Silver Moon is for me. I discovered it at the beginning of this year, and I am now obsessed-- and so are my second graders! Little Silver… Continue reading Little Silver Moon : a Chinese Folk Song Lesson for Quarter Rest