3 Tips for Teaching Elementary Music Online

Here are some tips for teaching elementary music online. Get ideas for management, lesson planning and activities for a successful online teaching experience.

TIP #1

ONLINE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

Teaching music online will be a challenge. Consider your strengths as a teacher (except for singing) and then find ways to use those “happy places” in your teaching. Online is going to be tough!

Diversify your lessons so that students don’t get the same thing every week.

Create a schedule of when you’ll do movement activities and prep the students so they can get excited!

Here are my ideas about classroom management for teaching elementary music online.

• Create a standard lesson plan format.
• Establish your online rules- how will students ask for help? Can they use the chat function?
• Sing a hello song and sing all the names of everyone in your class so everyone can get to know each other.
• Mute everyone except yourself during the lesson.
• Use Hand Signals to communicate. Include praise, listen, watch, sing, play instruments, ask a question hand signals.
• End class with a goodbye song with hand actions.

You can get FREE RESOURCES to help you get started.

Here’s is a collection of hand signals and movement signs you can use in your online teaching.

SUBSCRIBE HERE TO GET THE FREE RESOURCE

TIP #2

TEACH INTERACTIVE LESSONS

Teaching elementary music online can be interactive.  It will take some getting used to- that’s for sure! 

I create my lesson plans following a simple format. This gives the students structure and helps me with streamlining my planning.

• HELLO SONG
• MOVEMENT SONG
• MINI LESSON TIME ON THE LEARNING GOALS
• SONG OR MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT THE LESSON
• MOVEMENT ACTIVITY
• REPEAT LESSON SONG
• PLAYING INSTRUMENTS TO SUPPORT LEARNING GOAL
• READ A STORY/LISTENING ACTIVITY
• GOODBYE SONG

I use google slides that have all of the lesson components for each grade. I insert my videos and audio files as well as pictures ahead of time for students to see the activities.

I also use puppets with the K-2nd grades. Students like talking to the puppets and will listen to them too.

• Incorporate movement and body percussion.
• Use posters, flash cards, puppets, manipulatives to communicate music concepts/learning goals.
• Consider using “no vocal” music tracks like these!
  • Movement and Brain Breaks Activities Music Mp3 Tracks
• Have digital content ready for sharing your screen with students.
• Video Resources

GET THESE FREE PUPPETS when you SUBSCRIBE

You may want to check out these RESOURCES for your online music teaching needs.

SING PLAY CREATE RHYTHM PLAY ALONGS with Google Slides drag and drop activities as well as flash cards.

OCEAN RHYTHM BUNDLE

SPACE RHYTHM BUNDLE

FARM ANIMAL RHYTHM BUNDLE

SCHOOL TIME RHYTHM BUNDLE

Music Theory Lessons, Games, Song, Worksheets, Flash Cards, Videos, 1-6 BUNDLE

More interactive resources you can use teaching music online.

BODY PERCUSSION   Drag and Drop Activities

SING PLAY CREATE BODY PERCUSSION ACTIVITIES

These resources include videos, flash cards and google slides activities.

PIRATE BODY PERCUSSION

HALLOWEEN BODY PERCUSSION

TURKEY BODY PERCUSSION

REINDEER BODY PERCUSSION

WINTER BODY PERCUSSION

VALENTINE’S DAY BODY PERCUSSION

SPRINGTIME BODY PERCUSSION

DINOSAUR BODY PERCUSSION

OCEAN FRIENDS BODY PERCUSSION

SPACE BODY PERCUSSION

FARM ANIMAL BODY PERCUSSION

TIP #3

PROVIDE ACTIVITIES STUDENTS CAN DO ALONE

Why?

If students miss a class-

You need a sick day-

Some students will love doing more activities-

• Consider uploading worksheets or google slides activities that support your online lesson.

Music Rhythm Activities Level 1: Digital Google Slides & Presentation Posters

Music Rhythm Activities Level 2: Digital Google Slides & Presentation Posters

• Upload a sing along video for students to learn on their own.
• Create a video lesson for subs and students.

Ultimately elementary music online can be fun for the students!

NEED MORE ONLINE TEACHING IDEAS?

READ THESE BLOG POSTS

INTERACTIVE ONLINE LEARNING MUSIC ACTIVITIES

Elementary Music Class Online Music Lessons

You’ll find great success as you implement these 3 Tips for Teaching Elementary Music Online into your lesson planning and preparation!

Let’s Move and Learn with Music!

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