• Color patterns
• Animal patterns
• Shapes – Square-Triangle-Circle

MUSIC CLASS ACTIVITY TO TEACH FORM #2

We all know that Classical music is perfect for teaching form. Use shapes and images in a class activity where students can hold them up or point to them as they listen.

“Eine Kleine Nacht Musik”

I like to ask the students to listen and show when the music changes. Then I will show the images or shapes during the sections of the music.

Then we describe the music. I may play short selections and ask students to create arm movements for each section.

Next I will show pictures of animals, colors, shapes or letters during the sections of the music.

Depending on time, I will ask students to come up and show the pictures during the song, or I may combine this activity with the instrument game or scarves.

Extension:

MUSIC CLASS ACTIVITY TO TEACH FORM #4

Teach Form Using Scarf Activities

Concepts:

Listen and respond through movement to Form.

Materials: Scarf for each student

A Song that students can easily identify FORM (ABA or Verse/Chorus works well).

I like to use “Shoo Fly” for the younger students. It’s easy to learn and many of them have heard it before.

“Shoo Fly”

A-Shoo fly, don’t bother me (repeat twice)

For I belong to somebody.

B- I feel, I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star. (repeat)

A- Shoo fly, don’t bother me (repeat twice)

MUSICAL FORM SCARF ACTIVITY

Ask students to sit in a circle. Place a scarf on the floor in front of each student.

During the “A” section wave scarves up and down to the music.

Then during the “B” section gather scarf into hands and hold close the heart. Pull scarf close on the words “I feel…”

Here’s an Mp3 File of a piano accompaniment of “Shoo Fly” you can use in your music classroom.

As an extension idea, I’ll ask students to brainstorm and create different ways to show the musical form.

Here’s another way to use “Shoo Fly” to teach form to younger students. The teacher joins students in a circle holding hands. During the “A” section, the students move into the center of the circle. During the “B” section, the students weave in and out “windows” of the other students.

Looking for more scarf activities?

MUSIC CLASS ACTIVITY TO TEACH FORM #5

Teach Form Using Body Percussion Activities

One of my favorite songs to use with my Kindergartners is “There’s a Beat” by Teresa Jennings. Before we begin the activity, I tell the students that I want them to listen to the song and when the music changes I want them to stop and listen. Then I turn on the music and they begin to march around the circle.  “There’s a beat, there’s a beat, there’s a B-e-a-t, Beat!”

LISTEN

The music changes and amazingly, many of them will stop to listen ” 1-2-3-4 hear that marching band”. It’s a moment of wonder and excitement when I clap and say and “yes! you got it!” Let’s keep marching! And we begin again. The students gain confidence in their “musical ears” and now when I say “listen” they have a real experience to relate to and they “know” what it means to listen and how important it is too. You can find the link HERE.

“Turn the Beat Around” is a fantastic song to use with upper elementary students to learn musical form. I have the Making Music Series and have used this song for years in my 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade classes.

MOVE

I play the music and let the students “free-move”. Then I ask them to sit down and show the different sections with more define actions.

CREATE

Finally, I’ll ask them to get in groups and create different moves to show the musical form.

Lyrics:

A

Turn the beat around,

Love to hear the percussion.

Turn it upside down,

Love to hear the percussion.

Love to hear it.

Click here to get some Dance Moves for 4-5-6 graders on schooltube.

Ask students to create movement, play instruments and dance are great ways to help them understand the concept of musical patterns. As they respond to the patterns through movement they will be able to distinguish the sections of the music.

You may want to check out my Body Percussion resource that I’ve used for several years at the beginning of school and also right after breaks to help students be actively engaged in the music classroom.

Music Class Body Percussion Lessons and Activities

Teach Form Using Parachutes

Why not try parachute activities too?  Students can make up patterns and then show the musical form of the song. One great thing about parachutes is that the students are holding onto the parachute and not bugging each other!

This lesson makes me want a parachute! These kids are having so much fun showing musical form to some Star Wars Music!

It’s easy to visualize students creating patterns with scarves. You could use the video for the students and help them by holding up letter cards for the sections. Let them experiment with different creative movements for each section.

Try these activities using parachutes in the music classroom.

Amazingly, Stretchy bands really get the kids involved in music class. Ask students to walk on the A sections, stop and move their arms up and down on the B sections, C sections- move in and out.  I use many different types of music to help students experience musical form. Check out my blog post on Stretchy Bands.

Want to Get Stretchy Band Songs and Activities for your classroom?  Here’s a collection of 5 songs and tons of activities for your students with visuals.

Stretchy Band Activities

By the way, I also use Pool Noodles with my upper elementary students. I’ve had students pretend that the pool noodles are their Nutcracker soldier swords. I then have them use the noodles in a form activity to the Nutcracker March.

Using movement to introduce and/or reinforce musical form will keep students focused and engaged. I feel that when students experience through movement, they make connections quicker. It makes it easy to follow up with other activities to help all learners understand the concept of musical form. I’m hoping you found some ideas to help you teach form in your music classes.

And a special thank you to these great clip artists for their clip art.

Like these ideas?  I hope you’ll share these ideas with your teacher friends.

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Stretching Learning with Stretchy Bands in the Music Room