Saturday, May 21, 2016

LET'S MAKE SOME MUSIC!

O.K., it’s almost the end of the school year and you’re just trying to hang in there. I’ve got two simple holidays you can celebrate this week to keep you going and engage your students.

May 22 is “Buy a Musical Instrument Day,” but I’ve changed it to “Make a Musical Instrument Day.”
                           

Tin Pan Band
Get out the junk box and invite children to create a musical instrument.

Family Project

For homework, ask parents to help their children make a musical instrument from something around the house. Can they find a box or cardboard roller and recycle it?

Classroom Objects
Challenge children to look around the classroom and find something they can use to make music. 

*Two paper plates, cups, craft sticks, pencils, or blocks can be used to tap out a beat or repeat a pattern.

Body Parts
Brainstorm body parts can they “play” to make music. Snap fingers, clap hands, thump fists, stomp feet, and so forth.

Loud and Soft
What child hasn't wanted to be a conductor?  Let them take turns leading their classmates as they play instruments.  Demonstrate when the conductor's arms are open they should play loud, but when the conductor puts her hands close together they should play softly.

Come back tomorrow to learn about "Lucky Penny Day."