Fall Music Class Lesson Ideas

Fall is my favorite time of year, and this colorful season always inspires new fall music class lesson ideas.  I try to find a way to get to the “trees” and see their colors changing. And, in music class, we’ve reached a sweet spot in the elementary music curriculum because we’ve got the “back to school” procedures and organization in place and now students are ready to learn. I hope you’ll keep reading to get the FREE RESOURCES to help you experiment with some new fall music class lesson ideas.

You’ll want to keep on reading to find out about the new FREE resource in the library — “Toss the Leaves” Orff Song and Game with Rhythm Flashcards and Activities.

FREE FALL MUSIC LESSON IDEAS

  #1 IMPROVISATION AND MOVEMENT

You can find a PDF of these fall music class lesson ideas in the Free Resource Library!

RHYTHM TREE

Try this fun improvisation and movement fall music class lesson idea.

• Draw a big tree on the board or make one out of school butcher paper.
• Make some leaves or purchase at the dollar store. 
• Get the Free Rhythm Leaves from the Resource Library.

EXPERIMENT

• Toss the leaves around the floor before students come into the room.
• Ask students to pick up a leaf and then pretend/ imitate the sound of leaves falling on the ground.
• Use body percussion sounds like palms rubbing together, snapping, quick and light clapping, brushing of legs

IMPROVISE

• Write the sounds down on the leaves.
• Have the students say all of the words and sounds.
• Ask them to pretend to be leaves and make the sounds at the same time.
• Be sure to give them a signal when it’s time to stop.

With younger students, you may want to have them experiment with instruments at this time and skip the rhythm activity.

CREATE

Now put rhythms to the words and sounds.

• Use a beat chart of part of the board to show 2 or 4 beat patterns of “leafy” sounds and words. Fill it in with the sounds and words.
• Tap the sounds and words.
• Have students echo as you play some rhythm patterns.

You may choose to end the lesson here and do the instrument activity during the next music class or continue on.

• Have students create their own rhythm patterns by choosing words and rhythms on the board.

• Give students percussion instruments such as sand blocks, shakers and rhythm sticks (soft sounding).
• Have students practice their rhythms using sounds, words, and instruments.
• Encourage movement if possible to go with the sounds.

PERFORM

• Have student groups perform their rhythm patterns for each other.

MORE WAYS TO USE THIS FALL MUSIC LESSON IDEAS!

• After each group shares, try having the class put all of the rhythms together in a Rondo or a complete an arrangement. 
• One group can play as the others move.
• One part can be the ostinato as the other parts play.
• Experiment with different instruments.
• Teach each other their parts.
• Incorporate pitched instruments.

I know they will love this type of activity!

#2 CREATE RHYTHMS AND MELODY

This activity is similar but focuses more on putting sounds on the beat and composing a melody.

So-Mi-La Leaves

TAP THE BEAT

• Draw four leaves on your board and point to the leaves as students pat the beat on their knees.

CREATE RHYTHMS

• Brainstorm fall word ideas and write them on the board.
• Draw rhythms (or ask students to do this) for each of the words.
• Point as you tap the rhythms.
• Have students create 4 beat rhythm patterns using the “key.”
• Students play the beat as you tap the rhythms.
• Echo play the rhythms.
• Play the whole phrase rhythmically.

COMPOSE A MELODY

• Draw one or two lines on the board and use the leaf rhythms to show a melody using so-mi-la.
• Compose the melody by having students write it on paper- or have them practice with solfege.
• Ask students to show you the notes as you sing the song.
• Divide the class in half.
• Ask group #1 to play the beat and Group #2 to sing.
• Then switch!

I made a little Freebie for you to help with your fall teaching. You’ll want to subscribe and get the FREE FALL LESSON, “Toss the Leaves.”

Here are the basics of what you’ll find in the “Toss the Leaves” resource;

You may choose to use the resources you’ve already got in your classroom for these activities.

#3 PLAY INSTRUMENTS

“Toss the Leaves” Orff Song and Game with Rhythm Flashcards and Activities is the latest Free Resource in the Sing Play Create Resource Library. 

I wrote a simple (so mi do) song with easy Orff parts, a game, and a movement activity.

I’ve also included some leaf rhythm flashcards to use with the game.

And, there’s also a bulletin board idea: FALLING INTO MUSIC.

“Toss the Leaves” Song, Game and Activities Concepts

• Eighth Notes
• Quarter Note
• Half Note
• Quarter Rest

SHEET MUSIC

• Soprano and Bass Xylophone
• Color Notes for Color Coded Instruments
• Note Names

LYRIC POSTER

Toss the leaves all around.

Swirling, whirling, twirling to the ground.

Toss them high, toss them low.

Toss them up and down you go.

ACTIONS and a GAME come with this FREE RESOURCE that’s in the FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY. 

SUBSCRIBE HERE!

FALL MUSIC LESSON ACTIVITIES

If you like these fall music class lesson ideas, then you’ll definitely want to check out the FALL MUSIC LESSON BUNDLE at the SING PLAY CREAT TPT STORE

SING PLAY CREATE WEB SHOP RESOURCES

“Toss the Leaves” Orff Song and Game with Rhythm Flashcards and Activities is the latest Free Resource in the Sing Play Create Resource Library.  

Subscribe to get the flashcards, game and Orff song for FREE! SUBSCRIBE HERE 

#4 SOLFEGE AND MOVEMENT

Ultimately,  my goal in the Fall is to help students begin to connect the “dots” between Beat, Rhythm, Melody and movement.

In addition, I like to give them opportunities for improvisation at the beginning of the school year just for the experience of trying!

Finally, I like to use traditional songs too that expand their experience with beat, rhythm and melody and movement.

A perfect companion to “Toss the Leaves” is “Fall is Here” a traditional Kodaly Song.

MORE FALL MUSIC ACTIVITY IDEAS

FALL MUSIC LESSON FOR CREATIVE MOVEMENT AND IMPROVISATION

MY FAVORITE FALL MUSIC LESSONS INCLUDING SONGS, GAMES AND MUSIC LESSON MATERIALS.

I’m hoping your students “fall” for these free fall music class lesson ideas.

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