general music assignments

15+ Free Classroom Music Activities and Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Here are more than 15 amazing resources for teaching classroom music, suitable for use by specialist and non-specialist teachers. We keep adding to these all the time, so check back here often!

Poison Rhythm Game

This is a fun aural clapping game for just about any age group. The teacher claps a series of patterns, and the students echo. Then the teacher claps the “poison rhythm” which the students have learned in advance. If they clap, they’re out! Its loads of fun and educational at the same time.

Musical Pizza

A music composition lesson plan where students will create their own rhythms. They will use the concept of word association. Pizza ingredients put together terrific rhythm patterns!

Musical Tic-Tac-Toe

This is a flexible idea which is usable in many different grade levels. The concept is simple. The teacher writes a tic-tac-toe board on the screen. Then a students needs. to “earn” the right to place a O or X on the board. They do this by identifying whatever musical symbol or concept the class is working on!

A complete lesson plan for a bucket drumming class

A full step-by-step lesson plan for teaching a music class their first bucket drumming performance piece called “Funky Buckets”

The Importance of Aural Training

While most teachers know of echo clapping to be a standard “attention grabber”, music teachers can extend this simple habit into an amazingly effective way of getting students to listen better while teaching the aural/ listening component to any music curriculum.

Grade One Composing Lesson

A composition lesson with simple questions and answers suitable for early grades.

Homework and Hotdogs Rhythm Activity

A fantastic little rhythm piece which is great fun for percussion instruments.

Classroom music resources using tuned percussion

Moving from Singing into Playing

Learn how students can quickly move from singing a song through to learning some simple tuned percussion parts in grade two in a few easy steps.

Fun Action Song for Grade One

Learn this wonderful fun action song called “Kye Kye Kule” to inspire grade one students to sing and play their first classroom instruments.

Grade Three Tuned Percussion Lesson

A fun way to introduce xylophones, glockenspiels and how to play simple repetitive patterns called ostinati.

Classroom music worksheets

Treasure Island Music Theory Quizzes

These Treasure island quiz games will get your students to test their music theory knowledge while they find clues to answer the trivia treasure question at the end.

Emergency Pack Worksheets

This Fun Music ebook provides crosswords and find-a-word puzzles to leave in the classroom for a substitute lesson or a quick five minute filler.

Listening activities for the classroom

Musical Who Am I?

A fun beginning idea for grade three students to get into learning about some early rock and roll artists.

Stravinsky Listening activity

A fun music appreciation activity for junior high school students learning about some amazing music from Igor Stravinksy.

Grade Four Listening Lesson

A music listening and appreciation lesson based on “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. It’s a lesson designed to teach more than just the music.

Classroom music resources using boomwhackers

Mystery Boomwhacker Game

A fun listening game for Boomwhacker tubes, suitable for grades Kindergarten to Grade 4

A Video Lesson for Boomwhackers

If you’ve ever wanted to teach or play Boomwhackers, but don’t know where to start,  this video is an online play-along resource.

Boomwhacker Piece for Primary or Elementary

In a few minutes, your young students will be having fun playing this fun warm up tune called “Elephants Walk, Monkeys Run” on Boomwhackers.

Technology and software resource

Using the GarageBand Beat Sequencer

We show you how to get students started in Garageband on iPads then move onto using the beats Sequencer tool within a few easy steps in this blog video post . 

Lesson Plan for GarageBand Manual Drums

A complete lesson for GarageBand using iPads where students learn to create their own drum pattern using a function of the GarageBand software called the “manual drums”.  

Ukulele resources

Ukulele Playing Exercises

if you’ve ever wanted to get your students started with playing melody and chord patterns on their ukuleles, you can do it in minutes with these three fun beginning activities!

Equipment you will need

Many of these activities will need little or no equipment. Some may need a classroom whiteboard or display screen. You will also need a sound system, such as a high quality Bluetooth speaker so all of the instruments can be clearly heard.

Looking for more?

Checkout our four outstanding music teaching ideas for more inspiration!

More classroom music resources: 

If you’re serious about teaching the K-6 Music Curriculum to its full potential and learn more about how all these smaller teaching ideas build into a full music curriculum, you might want to join one of our signature  programs called the Fun Music Curriculum . It’s all laid out step by step and you don’t even have to do any extra preparation to get it started with your classes. You can learn more by watching this video:

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11 Comments

i, would you be kind to email me some musical lesson for gr 9 to 12. am new in teaching music.

Hi Ben, I suggest you begin by checking out our resource archive of lessons – https://funmusicco.com/resource-archive/ to see if any of these ideas might suit your students.

Any help you can provide will be appreciated! New Music Teacher here.

accidentally stumbled on this great thing..m a music teacher from india..i will start using this..thank u..any other great sites available please do suggest..

[…] http://funmusicco.com/music-lesson-plans/15-free-music-activities-and-lesson-plans-for-the-classroom … […]

Hey, I have considered purchasing the software program DubTurbo Beatmaker and was hoping anybody could give me an actual genuine review of the application. Almost all of the online resources that supply experiences are in fact affiliate marketers endorsing the software program so I doubt that the product reviews are trustworthy. Thank you in advance for just about any insight any individual can provide.

Hi Giselle,

DubTurbo Beatmaker is not a software program we are familiar with, so can’t really provide much of an insight. We will have a look and see if we can do an independent review. I agree that most of the ‘reviews’ one finds for most software programs are in fact affiliate links, so can’t be considered ‘independent’ at all

I’m a teacher and this has made things easier

Yeah I’m a teacher and this has been really helpful

Great resources here for utilizing music in an educational setting.

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/    News Posts    /   Creating a Middle School General Music Curriculum from Scratch

By Toni Garza, sponsored by QuaverE d Join NAfME today

How do we instill a lifelong respect for music in our middle school music students?

When asked to create a Middle School General Music (MSGM) course for their students, most teachers ask two questions: Why do I need to add another course to my already jam-packed schedule? And what am I supposed to do with middle schoolers in general music? These questions are valid and deserving of discussion, but let’s also look at ways MSGM can be of help rather than a hardship.

iStockphoto.com | monkeybusinessimages

What Is Middle School General Music?  

Perhaps the most exciting and daunting aspect of MSGM is that there is no standard curriculum . Obviously, there are the national standards to which we may adhere, but the content and activities are up to the teacher. This challenges us as educators to find fresh, innovative ways to teach music, and the possibilities are truly endless.

In my experience, MSGM gave me the time I didn’t have in my ensembles to dig deeper into musical concepts with which my students needed more time and practice. A common misconception is that MSGM needs to include a piano lab or iPad stations. While those resources can be valuable assets, I assure you they are not necessary to have a meaningful musical experience.

Why Is General Music Important in Middle School?  

Middle School General Music offers a unique opportunity for educators to stretch their own creativity in planning and instruction. Since MSGM is not a performance-based class, it gives teachers an entirely new group of students to influence. Think of it as educating the next generation of music consumers.

iStockphoto.com | MachineHeadz

Let’s take a closer look at how MSGM brings benefits to teachers and students alike:  

• In MSGM, we have the ability to empower students who may not want to perform but are interested in other aspects of music. This could lead to conversations about musical styles and allow students the opportunity to voice their opinions. In addition, students may share their musical preferences with one another and develop an appreciation for the differences and diversity amongst themselves. This is developmentally appropriate for middle school-aged students who are in the process of discovering their own interests and identity. So MSGM gives teachers the opportunity to reach new students, using a tool that everyone understands and appreciates: music!
• MSGM expands and exposes a larger group of students to music they may otherwise never hear and can also open up fresh, new opportunities that can lead to the discovery of other career paths within the music industry. This is an opportunity to inspire a generation of new music consumers who demand a higher caliber of music on the radio and more importantly, instill a lifelong respect for music in all of our students.

How Do I Set Up My Curriculum?  

In my experience, project-based learning has been the most effective curriculum strategy in MSGM. It requires a lot of hands-off teaching which can be difficult for those of us who are accustomed to conducting a rehearsal. However, presenting your students with tasks and giving them the freedom to define their learning style to achieve a goal can be very empowering. The creativity that emerges from these projects also far exceeds an ensemble rehearsal by giving students a safe space to try new things and be responsible for their own learning.

Does the thought of leaving middle school students alone to be responsible for their own learning sound scary? It is. I was very frightened the first time I implemented a project-based lesson into my classroom. However, I was shocked to find that when I set the parameters and gave my students clearly defined deliverables with specific due dates, they followed through.

How Do I Create an Engaging Project-Based Lesson?  

As the teacher, you know your students best and can decide what project topics will be of most interest. For example, I noticed many of my students resisted listening to various types of music, insisting that any styles other than pop, hip hop, and rock music were “boring.” I wanted to expose them to a variety of styles but knew that genuine interest was necessary to leave a lasting impression, so I asked them an essential question: Which style of music is the most influential? This not only required them to learn about various genres but also to define the term influential and defend their opinion. I gave them project goals such as:

• Learn about at least 5 different styles of music.
• Define the characteristics of influential music.
• From the styles researched, select one style of music that you feel is the most influential.
• Research at least 3 examples of artists and/or composers from your chosen style.
• Present your style and opinion of what makes it the most influential to an audience.

iStockphoto.com | damircudic

There were several other goals and due dates associated with this project. Each group had a checklist to ensure that they were meeting their project deadlines, and they were responsible for completing and submitting each task.

As a class, we also created a rubric defining how each group would be graded. I set the criteria on which they would be graded, but they were responsible for determining what each level entailed. For example, one category for grading was teamwork. The rubric listed several columns and proficiency levels that each group could achieve: Exemplary, Proficient, Emerging, and Needs Improvement. The students were responsible for defining each level, which gave them a voice in the evaluation process. The class was also able to discuss examples of each proficiency level to help them better plan their own project. When it came time to grade their project, I referred back to their own words and examples, giving them a sense of empowerment, ownership, and accountability.

Now that we have the background, let’s create the template. Remember that the beauty of MSGM lies in its flexibility, so please feel free to expand upon these ideas in your own classrooms. Always keep in mind this essential question: How do we instill a lifelong respect for music in our middle school music students?

Download the Creating Middle School Music Curriculum worksheet

About the author:

Did this blog spur new ideas for your music program? Share them on Amplify!  Interested in reprinting this article? Please  review the reprint guidelines .

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) provides a number of forums for the sharing of information and opinion, including blogs and postings on our website, articles and columns in our magazines and journals, and postings to our Amplify member portal. Unless specifically noted, the views expressed in these media do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Association, its officers, or its employees.

March 3, 2020. © National Association for Music Education ( NAfME.org )

Published Date

March 3, 2020

March 3, 2020. © National Association for Music Education (NAfME.org)

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18 Resources for Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Are you striving to make your middle school general music classroom more engaging and effective for the entire year? With the right bundle of resources, you can transform your general music classes and provide a rich, comprehensive musical education. This blog post will be a guide with enough resources that will help you to teach your middle school general music curriculum. Whether you’re looking to boost student participation, integrate music history, update your current classroom instruction, or develop creative composition and performance skills, these resources offer practical solutions and helpful information for every aspect of your middle school general music curriculum.

What Makes a Successful Lesson in General Music?

Here are ten key elements that contribute to a successful lesson in the middle school general music classroom:

• Clear Music Lesson Objectives : Start each lesson with clear, achievable objectives that outline what students will learn and be able to do by the end of the class.
• Engaging Content : Use a variety of engaging and age-appropriate materials, such as popular songs, multimedia resources, and interactive activities, to capture students’ interest.
• Active Participation : Incorporate activities that require active student participation, such as singing, playing instruments, composing, or movement exercises, to keep students involved and motivated.
• Differentiated Instruction: Tailor your teaching methods to address the diverse learning styles and abilities of your students. Offer various ways for students to engage with the material and demonstrate their understanding.
• Interactive Technology : Utilize technology like interactive whiteboards, music software, and online resources to make lessons more dynamic and interactive.
• Real-World Connections : Relate the lesson content to students’ lives and interests, showing them the relevance of music in the real world and in their personal experiences.
• Formative Assessment : Include regular formative assessments, such as quizzes, peer reviews, or exit tickets, to gauge student understanding and provide immediate feedback.
• Positive Classroom Environment : Create a supportive and inclusive classroom atmosphere where students feel safe to express themselves and take risks.
• Scaffolded Learning : Build on prior knowledge and skills, gradually increasing the complexity of tasks to ensure students can successfully meet the lesson objectives.
• Reflective Practice : Encourage students to reflect on their learning through discussions, reflective journals, or self-assessment, helping them to internalize what they have learned and set goals for improvement.

By incorporating these elements, you can create successful and impactful music lessons that engage middle school students and foster their musical growth.

• Creating Positive Music Classrooms with these 5 Simple Rules
• Middle School Music Curriculum Planning Made Easy
• 12 Fun Formative Assessment Ideas to Use in the Music Classroom
• 7 Creative Research of Music Assessment Ideas for Your Music Class

10 Reasons Why Teaching Middle School is Hard

Navigating the complexities of teaching middle school can be a daunting task for music educators. Below are ten reasons why teaching this age group presents unique challenges and offers insights into overcoming them in a way that is helpful and practical.

• Varied Developmental Level : Middle school students exhibit a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and physical development, making it challenging to cater to individual needs in a single classroom.
• Short Attention Spans : Middle schoolers often have shorter attention spans, requiring teachers to design engaging and dynamic lessons to maintain focus and interest.
• Social Dynamics : Middle school is a time of significant social development, with students navigating complex peer relationships and social hierarchies, which can sometimes disrupt classroom dynamics.
• Resistance to Authority : Some middle school students may push back against authority figures, including teachers, leading to classroom management challenges and disruptions.
• Limited Music Background : Many middle school students have limited exposure to music education before entering the classroom, requiring teachers to scaffold instruction and address diverse skill levels.
• Peer Influence : Middle schoolers are highly influenced by their peers, which can impact their attitudes and behaviors in the classroom, sometimes leading to distractions or disruptions.
• Hormonal Changes : Hormonal changes during adolescence can affect mood and behavior, contributing to emotional volatility and unpredictable classroom dynamics.
• Transition Period : Middle school marks a transitional period between childhood and adolescence, during which students may grapple with identity issues and academic pressures, affecting their engagement and motivation.
• Balancing Content and Creativity : Finding the balance between teaching musical fundamentals and fostering creativity can be challenging, especially when working within curriculum constraints and standardized testing requirements.
• Limited Suitable General Music Teaching Resources : Music programs in middle schools may face budget constraints and a lack of suitable general music resources, requiring teachers to be creative in sourcing materials and equipment for their classrooms.

Now that we’ve identified these challenges, we will explore ten practical ways to overcome them in the classroom.

10 Practical Ways to Overcome These Challenges

Here are ten practical ways that music teachers can better prepare to teach middle school music in a way that benefits everyone – 

• Understand Middle School Development : Educate yourself on the cognitive, emotional, and social development of middle school students to tailor your teaching approach to their unique needs and challenges.
• Build Positive Relationships : Foster a supportive and inclusive classroom environment by building positive relationships with your students, earning their trust, and showing genuine interest in their interests and concerns.
• Adapt Teaching Strategies : Employ a variety of teaching strategies that cater to different learning styles and abilities, including hands-on activities, visual aids, technology integration, and group collaboration.
• Flexibility and Patience : Practice flexibility and patience when working with middle school students, recognizing that they may require more time and guidance to grasp musical concepts and skills.
• Set Clear Expectations : Establish clear and consistent student expectations for behavior and participation in the classroom, and communicate them effectively to students to maintain a structured learning environment.
• Engage Student Interest : Incorporate music that resonates with middle school students’ interests and experiences, such as popular songs, contemporary genres, or cultural music, to enhance engagement and relevance.
• Encourage Creativity : Provide opportunities for students to express their creativity through music composition, improvisation, and performance, allowing them to explore their musical identity and develop confidence.
• Embrace Technology : Embrace technology as a tool for teaching and learning, leveraging interactive software, digital resources, and online platforms to enhance instruction, engage students, and facilitate communication.
• Professional Development : Continuously seek professional development opportunities to stay current with best practices in music education, attend workshops, conferences, and collaborate with colleagues to exchange ideas and resources.
• Reflect and Adapt : Reflect on your teaching practice regularly, soliciting feedback from students and colleagues, and be willing to adapt and refine your approach based on their input and evolving needs.

By implementing and using some of these strategies, you can create a positive and enriching learning environment that empowers middle school students to develop their musical abilities, creativity, and appreciation for music.

Designing Lesson Plans for Your Middle School Classes

Creating an effective and detailed lesson plan for your classes is essential for a successful middle school general music curriculum. Your music lesson plans should encompass key components such as rock music appreciation, music literacy, hands-on activities performing on a variety of instruments, and music composition, ensuring a wide and great collection of music lessons. 

Teaching music appreciation as part of your middle school general music curriculum will introduce your music students to various musical genres and cultures, helping to promote and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship of music to the world. 

Explicit teaching of musical terms, musical notation, score reading and music literacy equips your music students with the skills to read, write, and interpret musical notation, forming the foundation for all musical activities in your middle school general music curriculum.

Music composition activities will encourage creativity and independent work, allowing your middle school music students to express their musical ideas.

Tailoring your music lesson plans to meet the needs of middle school general music students is crucial. At this age level, students are developing more sophisticated cognitive and emotional skills, so your music lessons should be engaging and appropriately challenging. Incorporating a variety of classroom resource types, such as interactive whiteboards, reflective journals, and practical activities, helps to cater to the myriad of different learning styles and keeps your students motivated. Additionally, aligning lesson plans with your own music syllabus and national standards ensures that the middle school general music curriculum that you teach will meet the educational requirements and prepares your students for future musical endeavors beyond the classroom. By carefully designing detailed lesson plans that address these elements, you can create an enriching and effective general music classroom.

Engaging Students with Music Appreciation in Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Engaging students with music appreciation is a key element of a successful middle school general music curriculum. One effective approach is to incorporate musical performances, world music, rock music, pop music and musical theater into the curriculum. By exposing students to a variety of musical styles and cultures, teachers can broaden their students’ musical horizons and foster a deeper appreciation for the art form. For instance, including units on African drumming and African music history can provide a rich cultural context and hands-on experience that brings world music to life.

One way to help your students develop their musical listening skills is through elements of music listening maps that can transform passive listening into an active, engaging experience. Using interactive listening maps help students visually track musical elements as they listen, enhancing their understanding and retention. To find out more about the Elements of Music and using Mind Maps, read the blog post here –  What are the 8 Elements of Music?

Interactive whiteboards can be used to display these mind maps, alongside videos and sound clips, making the lesson more dynamic and interactive. This approach not only makes music appreciation more engaging but also helps students develop critical listening and analytical skills. By integrating these techniques, music educators can create a vibrant and immersive learning environment that captivates middle school students and enriches their overall music education.

To help you use video in the classroom, subscribe to my YouTube channel! There’s a lot of helpful videos for you to use in the classroom as part of your middle school general music curriculum.

Link to YouTube Channel

Exploring the Elements of Music

Teaching the 8 Elements of Music such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and form in an accessible and engaging way is essential for middle schoolers. Start by breaking down each element into manageable concepts. For instance, when teaching rhythm, use clapping exercises and percussion instruments to help students internalize different patterns. For melody, engage students in singing simple tunes and then gradually introduce more complex melodies. When exploring harmony, have students experiment with creating harmonies using classroom instruments or digital tools.

Incorporating hands-on activities makes these abstract concepts more tangible. Encourage students to participate in ensemble playing to experience harmony and form firsthand. Independent work is also vital; allow students to compose short pieces or rhythmic patterns on their own, fostering creativity and reinforcing their understanding of musical elements. Using reflective listening, composing or performing journals can help students process what they’ve learned about the elements of music and articulate their understanding. After each lesson, have them write about how they applied the musical element and what they found challenging or enjoyable. This self-evaluation practice not only solidifies their learning but also helps you as their music teacher to gauge student progress and tailor future lessons accordingly. By blending hands-on activities, independent work, and reflection, you can make the exploration of musical elements both effective and enjoyable for your middle school students.

Integrating Music History and Cultural Context in Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Incorporating music history and its cultural context into the middle school general music curriculum is crucial for providing students with a well-rounded musical education. Understanding the relationship of music to other subject areas, such as history, helps your music students to appreciate the broader cultural and historical significance of the music they study. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches their musical knowledge but also enhances their overall educational experience.

To bring this to life, consider developing thematic unit plans that focus on specific musical genres and their cultural backgrounds. For instance, a unit on African drumming can explore the historical and cultural roots of this tradition, linking it to the broader context of African history and society. Incorporating interactive activities, such as hands-on drumming sessions, listening exercises, and multimedia presentations, can make these lessons engaging and memorable.

Exploring different musical genres and cultures through listening, performing and group research projects allows students to actively participate and connect with the material in a more tangible way. By integrating music history with cultural context, you can create a dynamic learning environment that highlights the richness and diversity of global musical traditions. This approach not only meets national standards but also inspires your music students to develop a deeper appreciation for music and its place in the world.

18 Classroom Tested Resources for Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Equipping your middle school general music curriculum with high-quality resources is key to fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment for all of your students. By integrating these top 15 resources, you can meet diverse student needs, adhere to national standards, and inspire a lifelong love of music. The best part about these resources is that they are ready to use, the hard work has been done for you, you just need to decide what order to teach them!

Units of Work for Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Units of work provide a structured framework for organizing your curriculum and guiding students through a series of interconnected lessons. The resources listed offer units focused on various musical topics, from rhythm and rap to world music and small ensembles. These units typically include lesson plans, worksheets, listening activities, and assessments, providing everything you need to deliver engaging and cohesive instruction. By incorporating these units into your curriculum, you can ensure that students receive a well-rounded musical education that covers a diverse range of musical genres and concepts.

• Rhythm and Rap Unit of Work
• Film in Music Lessons and Worksheets
• Rock and Roll Music History Lessons and Worksheets
• Instruments of Rock and Pop Lessons and Worksheets
• African and Jazz Music Lessons and Worksheets
• Pop and Rock Music Lessons and Worksheets
• Instruments of the Orchestra Music Lessons and Worksheets
• World Music Lessons and Worksheets
• Small Ensembles Music Lessons and Worksheets

6 Assessment Resources for Your Middle School General Music Curriculum

Assessment is an integral part of the learning process, allowing you to gauge student understanding, track progress, and identify areas for improvement. The assessment resources listed below offer a variety of project-based assessments that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and musical expression. 

Whether your students are composing their own music, analyzing musical pieces, or designing multimedia presentations, these assessments provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in meaningful and authentic ways. Additionally, incorporating formative assessments throughout the curriculum ensures that you can monitor student progress and adjust instruction as needed to support your student learning.

• Make an Instrument Music Project
• Music Songwriting Project
• Rock Music Design Project
• Rhythm and Rap Composition Project
• African Music Composition Project
• Elements of Music Appreciation Listening Worksheets

Games for Middle School General Music Curriculum

Games are a fun and engaging way to reinforce musical concepts, develop listening skills, and promote teamwork and collaboration in your music classroom. The bingo games listed offer a playful approach to reviewing music symbols, elements, and instruments, making learning enjoyable and interactive for your students. These games can be used as warm-up activities, review exercises, or standalone lessons, providing a versatile tool for enhancing student engagement and understanding. By incorporating games into your middle school general music curriculum, you can create a lively and dynamic learning environment that motivates students to actively participate and excel in their musical studies.

• Music Symbols Bingo
• Elements of Music Bingo
• Music Instrument Bingo

Below are some blog posts and links to resources that you can use in the classroom 

11 Free Music Games for the Classroom

31 Fun Music Classroom Games for Building a Positive Learning Climate for Learning

Incorporating these Resources into Your Curriculum

Now that you’ve explored the various resources available, let’s discuss how you can effectively incorporate them into your middle school general music curriculum. Here are 5 strategies to consider:

• Curriculum Planning : Begin by reviewing your existing curriculum and identifying areas where these resources can enhance student learning. Consider how each resource aligns with your curriculum goals, standards, and objectives, and integrate them into your lesson plans accordingly.
• Differentiation : Recognize the diverse needs and abilities of your students and adapt your instruction to meet their individual learning styles and preferences. Use a variety of resources, activities, and assessment methods to accommodate different learning preferences and provide opportunities for student choice and autonomy.
• Technology Integration : Leverage technology to enhance instruction and engage students in meaningful learning experiences. Incorporate interactive whiteboards, music software, online resources, and multimedia presentations to create dynamic and interactive lessons that appeal to digital-native students.
• Collaboration and Professional Development : Collaborate with colleagues, attend workshops and conferences, and participate in professional development opportunities to exchange ideas, share resources, and stay current with best practices in music education. By networking with other educators and sharing experiences and insights, you can continuously improve your teaching practice and provide the best possible learning experiences for your students.
• Reflection and Evaluation : Reflect on your teaching practice regularly and evaluate the effectiveness of the resources and strategies you use in your classroom. Solicit feedback from students, colleagues, and administrators, and be open to making adjustments and refinements based on their input and observations. By engaging in ongoing reflection and evaluation, you can continuously improve your instruction and ensure that your students receive a high-quality music education.

Equipping your middle school general music classroom with high-quality resources is key to fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. By integrating these top 15 resources, you can meet diverse student needs, adhere to national standards, and inspire a lifelong love of music. From comprehensive curriculums and engaging lesson plans to innovative technology and hands-on activities, these tools will help you deliver impactful and memorable music lessons. Start exploring these resources today, and watch your students thrive in a vibrant and supportive musical setting.

Until next time

Happy Teaching

Julia from Jooya

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Free Elementary Music Lesson Plans and Resources

from the MMF Music Library

Lesson Zone™ - Music Lessons Plans for the Elementary Music Classroom

Music lesson plans that are jam-pack with fun for the elementary music classroom.

The Lesson Zone Index

Lesson Zone™ Worksheets

MMF Lesson Zone music lessons plan and worksheet packs make lesson planning as easy as click, print, teach. Save on premium music lessons plans with MMF Print .

Star Wars Rap | Music Lesson Plan and Worksheet Monster-Themed Music Lesson Plan Pack | Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and More High & Low Mix-and-Match | Lesson and Worksheets Mystery Message Game | Music Game Worksheet The Wee Little Scare | Steady Beat/Grade 2-3 Messiah/Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) | Listening Map In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) | Listening Map Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Map Surprise Symphony (Haydn) | Listening Map Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin | 10 Instrument Identification Game Posters Suck It Up Game! | Game Board and Answer Squares Boom Chicka Boom | Music Lesson Plan and Manipulatives

"Meet the Composer" Famous Composer Resources

Everything you need to start teaching or learning about your favorite music composer.

Hey Kids, Meet the Composer Biographies Beethoven at Bat™ | Music Composer Board Game (Digital Print) Famous Composer Coloring Pages Famous Composer Multiplication/Connect-the-Dot Worksheets Famous Composer Word Search Worksheets Meet the Composer Job Application Worksheet Monster-Themed Music Lesson Plan Pack | Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and More In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) | Music Listening Map Kangaroo from Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) | Music Listening Map Surprise Symphony (Haydn) | Music Listening Map Handel | Music Lesson Plan and Bulletin Board Pack Trepak (Nutcracker) | Music Listening Map Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Map Toccata in D Minor (Bach) | Listening Glyph Bach | Music Lesson Plan and Bulletin Board Bundle Bach | Bulletin Board Poster Pack Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) | Music Listening Map Hallelujah Chorus | Soprano Recorder Play-Along (Music/Mp3) Nutcracker FunLib™ (Tchaikovsky) | Story and Worksheet Nutcracker Venn Diagram (Tchaikovsky) | Worksheet The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets Peer Gynt FunLib™ (Edvard Grieg) | Story and Worksheet Peer Gynt Venn Diagram (Edvard Grieg) | Worksheet Peter and the Wolf FunLib™ (Prokofiev) | Story and Worksheet John Williams | Music Lesson Bundle Star Wars Rap | Music Composition Lesson and Worksheet John Williams | Film Score Music Listening Glyphs Harry Potter (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets Star Wars (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Jurassic Park (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Indiana Jones (John Williams) | Music Listening Glyph Easter Music Listening Glyph (Vivaldi "Spring") Thanksgiving (Vivaldi "Autumn") | Music Listening Glyph Worksheets Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Comic Strip Worksheet and Music Lesson Plan Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev) | Music Lesson Pack Star Wars Treble Clef Color-by-Note Worksheet Star Wars Bass Clef Color-by-Note Worksheet Harry Potter "Harry's Wondrous World" Color-by-Rhythm Worksheet Haydn | Lesson Plan and Bulletin Board Bundle

Famous Composer Soprano Recorder Play-Along

Want to give your music students a hands-on music experience playing a masterwork? This lesson resource includes beginner/easy level recorder sheet music and an Mp3 play-along recording.

Hallelujah Chorus | Soprano Recorder Play-Along (Music/Mp3)

Listening Maps and Listening Glyphs

Designed for the music classroom, our printable listening maps and listening glyphs turn listening to music into an engaging visual learning experience.

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Our bulletin board poster packs add pizzazz to your music classroom bulletin boards, while helping kids remember the essential facts about the composer or lesson unit.

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MMF Songbook - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes

Browse 700+ kids song lyrics and nursery rhymes for the music classroom or just for fun.

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Learn about the instruments of the orchestra with our Meet the Orchestra resources.

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Free Orff Instrument Sheet Music

Get free printable easy Orff Schulwerk arrangements for the elementary music classroom.

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Illustrated Music Dictionary for Kids (Music Terms)

Get concise answers to your questions about composers, performers, instruments, and musical terms, in our illustrated music dictionary for kids. 400+ entries.

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Soundtrack of My Life: Distance Learning Activity for Middle School General Music

By anna wentlent | april 9, 2020.

As we all dive headfirst into distance learning, I am finding it difficult to craft meaningful assignments for my general music students. Students in a performance-based course like band and chorus can simply practice at home—and often have the individual drive to do so—but how can participatory courses like general music be replicated at home without access to classroom percussion instruments, African drums, and ukuleles? And even though I’m looking forward to sharing online resources and interesting videos with my students, I don’t want that to be the totality of their general music experience for the rest of the year.

I’ve decided to assign long-term projects to my students, such as the following “Soundtrack of My Life” from my book Music Mosaic . The curriculum outlined in the book is student-centered, project-based, and focused on popular music in the United States. It begins with a self-analysis, asking, “Why do I listen to the music I do?” and stays firmly oriented to personal identity and individual artistic intent from September to June.

This particular project tasks students with creating a personal soundtrack by selecting music to represent the elements of their lives: family, friends, hobbies, etc. First they will organize their thoughts on paper and then they will make a digital playlist by summarizing their selections in a Google Slides file and inserting a high-quality video file for each song choice (music video, movie clip, live performance, etc.).

The self-reflective nature of this project lends itself well to at-home work, and will keep your students engaged even as they work alone without the oversight of a teacher. And even more importantly, they’ll be preparing a final product that can be presented to you and other students in the class via an online platform like Google Classroom, maintaining the personal connections that are currently missing in our lives. I know my students so much better after reading their projects.

“Engrave this upon your heart: there isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you heard their story.” – Mary Lou Kownacki

Click the image below to access the full PDF activity .

Anna Wentlent attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, York St. John College, and Boston University. She loves working with middle school students and spent most of her career working as a middle school choir and general music teacher. She teaches at the Singapore American School in Singapore. 

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20 Music Activities For Elementary Students: Performances, Exploration, DIYs, Games, And Experiments

March 14, 2024 //  by  Sharayah Lynn Grattan

There are so many wonderful skills and passions associated with learning music. From the composition process and creativity involved to meaningful movement and confidence building; music is one of those gifts that keeps on giving! Elementary students are at the perfect age to start feeling the effects of music on themselves and the world at large. As teachers, we can encourage a connection with music in our students through fun activities focusing on spatial intelligence, basic rhythms, expressive dance moves, and so much more! Check out our 20 elementary music lessons and activity ideas, and pick a few to try with your students.

1. Rock Band Rockstars!

There are so many fun and hands-on musical games you can bring to the classroom for your elementary students to play and get inspired. A great game that has been around for years is Rock Band. You may even own this game already, or know someone who does. Bring the game and instruments to class and let your students’ inner rock stars shine!

Learn More:  Medium

2. Unordinary Instruments

Look around you, what can you see that can be used as a musical instrument? I bet there are at least 5 things in your classroom that can make noise. Ask your students the same question and see what they pick up and how they choose to use it. Innovation and creativity are stapled skills when learning music.

Learn More:  Very Well Family

3. Tissue Dance Game

A big part of music appreciation is interacting with it in various ways, including dancing! Here is a super fun music game that you can play with one tissue box and some kid-friendly music. Give each student a tissue to put on their head and when the music starts they will dance trying not to let their tissue fall.

Learn More:  Mom Junction

4. Emotional Expression: Mood Dancing

Help your students have a healthy outlet to release complicated or messy emotions through music and dance. You can get involved by being an example or prompting kids to express different emotions such as anger, fear, surprise, and more!

Learn More:  MUVEmethod

5. Invent Your Own Music Symbol System

When beginning to explain music theory and composition to children, it helps to start with creativity and collaboration. Assign different sounds to a symbol (triangle, circle, square) and write a pattern on the board. When you point to a symbol or line of symbols students can associate the shape with the sound.

6. Rock and “Roll”

This musical composition game helps students practice simple rhythm and learn how to notate. Each group of students gets dice and as they take turns rolling can create their own rhythm patterns to share with the class.

Learn More:  TPT

7. Draw What You Hear

A wonderfully fun game to play with your students is drawn along with the music. Get a list of your student’s favorite songs and play them while they draw their emotions. You can hang up their musical masterpieces in the classroom when they finish!

Learn More:  Denver Philharmonic Orchestra

8. Rhythm Sticks

Noise and chaos are part of the musical experience, so giving your students sticks to play and practice their sense of rhythm doesn’t have to mean a headache. Pick some familiar tunes and demonstrate how to use sticks to go along with the beat of a song.

Learn More:  Famly

9. What’s That Instrument?

There are so many instruments, and each has its own part to play in music. Help your kiddos learn what sounds various instruments make by playing short recordings of each instrument, then giving them time to guess before showing a picture of the instrument.

10. DIY Plastic Egg Maracas

Kids love creative projects they can use in class and take home to show their friends and family. These maracas as so simple to make, using plastic eggs from Easter, fill them with beads or small pebbles, wrap them in colorful tape using a spoon or chopsticks for the handle and shake away!

Learn More:  Happiness is Homemade

11. Beatboxing Musical Skills

Counting bars, identifying musical notes, and other elements of music can be taught through this cool method of beatboxing! Have your students follow the letters corresponding to the different sounds your mouth makes and create a super cool beat your kids will get up and groove to!

Learn More: Mr_Minchin

12. Musical Chairs

This favorite music activity/party game not only gets kids up and moving to music, but it can also promote valuable social skills. By playing this competitive and exciting game, students learn to process their emotions such as tension, fear, surprise, and disappointment, as well as improve cognitive capabilities like conflict resolution.

Learn More:  Gamesver

13. Karaoke Music Teams

This link has inspiration for preparing a playlist with age-appropriate tunes your elementary music students will know and love! Karaoke may seem like a solo performance project, but turning it into a team game can transform your classroom environment into an expressive space for sharing and confidence building.

Learn More:  Lucky Voice Karaoke

14. DIY Guitar Craft

Snacks, crafts, and music, what a combo! We know music resources can be expensive and hard to come by in elementary music classes, not to mention instruments can be easily broken by young learners. So this fun and creative craft will give every student their own guitar with a few cheap materials, some tape, and a love for music!

Learn More:  Projects for Preschoolers

15. Musical Water Glasses

Now here is an active experience incorporating visual, aural, and motor skills you can keep in your music classes as long as you like. Some clear jars can be filled with different amounts of water, creating sounds with higher and lower tones. Food coloring can be added to give contrast to your DIY xylophone, bright colors with distinct sounds.

Learn More:  Green Kid Crafts

16. Reading Music Notes and Rhythms

This link provides a step-by-step guide on how to break down the seemingly intimidating process of reading music in a way elementary and middle school students can understand and be encouraged. Some basic skills to start with are beat rhythms to learn a sense of timing, distinguishing pitch, and following along with lyrics.

Learn More:  Music Notes

17. Sound Scavenger Hunt

Music can be found everywhere, including outside, in public, in nature, or at home. There are many additional resources and ideas you can use to extend this activity, such as having students create their own songs by collecting and combining sounds they record in their daily lives. Here is a sheet of paper to inspire students to write their own amazing songs!

Learn More:  Mom on the Side

18. Music From Around the World

Every country and culture has its own kinds of music, and exposing young learners to various styles and methods of music-making will show them that they don’t have to follow the rules, but can use music as a creative outlet of expression. This excellent resource has information and engaging songs based on tradition and folklore.

Learn More:  Twinkl

19. Music in Movies

There are lots of ways to use cinema and other forms of media to teach elements of music. Movies can be an excellent resource for advanced rhythms, contemporary music, and learning the impact music has on our emotions and actions. Choose movies you can pause to play simple games, or leave additional time to discuss after they finish.

Learn More:  Sally’s Sea of Songs

20. DIY Harmonica Crafts

We are mixing crafts and music again for this final elementary music classroom idea. These popsicle stick harmonicas are so easy to put together, with most of the materials in your craft box already. Your students will love choosing colors and playing silly music games to practice rhythm, pitch, and more!

Learn More:  My Baba

Hook them from the first day!  Fabulous First Day of Music Lesson Plans

by Pitch Publications | 1st Grade , 2nd Grade , 3rd Grade , 4th Grade , 5th Grade , Class Procedures , Cup Games , Elementary Music , Games , Ideas by Grade , Kindergarten , Pitch Hill , Tempo

Happy beginning of the year everyone! I know many are already back in school or are starting up very soon!  Nothing is more exciting than back to school!

I have seen many request on music ed forums for “What do I do the first day of music class? Help!” So here is and outline of what I do for the first lesson with my kiddos.

I have been at my current school 5 years and did not have to spend as much time going over “boring stuff” (but totally necessary!!!) at the beginning of the year.  For Grades 1-5, I start the first lesson with a quick introduction of myself and some important things about me.

We never really get a lot of time to chat so I want them to know me as a person, not just their music teacher. This takes less than 5 minutes and the kids really enjoy hearing about my sad gardening adventures and my crazy 3 children.  Remember that research says that kids often remember the teacher, not necessarily the lesson!

Sing Each Day

Next I put them into their seating chart, discuss rules, consequences (warning, time out, parent contact),  the Big Hand Award,  and the normal procedures for starting class.  I have been doing the same beginning procudure for my whole career and it just works.

My kids sit in a square shaped rug. When they come in, I let them chatter, talk to me, etc. They know to go straight to their assigned spot.  This gives me time to grab my materials for class, make notes from the pervious class, etc. (The first day, I let them sit in the middle, and then quickly give them an assigned spot).

When I am ready to begin, I simply say “Be my Echo!” Students repeat that and then I start right in with the first kid singing Johnny (Sol-mi) (students echo), Susie (Fa-Re) (students echo), Jennifer (mi mi-do) (students echo), Graham (Re-ti) Students echo.

Repeat that pattern till I get to all students. If I have leftover in the pattern I sing my name, teachers name, whatever. Then end “We’re Done) on Ti-Do.

I do this every class K-5. They are used to it and know it is my signal that class is starting and after “We’re Done” I’m going to start the lesson. We sing every single class, even if we are not concentrating on a singing standard for that class.  In addition, it is a GREAT way to learn and practice names!  If I can suggest nothing else, learn the students’ names!

Procedures are Important

At this point in subsequent lessons we will do Composer of the Month, but we do not start this till week 2.

(Kindergarten recieves this information as well, but I intersperse it throughout the lesson. The little ones just can’t sit and listen for a few minutes like my big kids can.  I will do a whole post another day on starting off with K!  It is a whole different ballgame!)

My procedure/introduction information takes about 15 minutes.  I know some people like to do one rule at a time or break it up over several weeks, but I think that if I spend 15 minutes establishing classroom management and getting to know my kids (or catching up after the summer off), it pays off for the rest of the year.  Plus, I make sure the remaining time is jam-packed with awesome activities.  Plus, the kids expect this at the beginning of the year.

Repeating Lessons Every Year

For Grades1-3 I do basically the same lesson at the beginning of the year every year.  We have less activity time because of the time spent on classroom management.  This problem is solved because some remember the activity from previous years.  It also reminds students how much fun they will have in the music room.

For those worried about it being too repetitve for you or the students, let me alieve your fears.  One, you have SO much going on the first week of school!  Keeping the amount of lesson material you must remember down helps with this.  For students, think about the last time your heard one of your favorite, well-known songs on the radio – it probably made you feel great inside! I think bringing back a familiar activity evokes the same feeling for students.  I have NEVER had a student complain “Oh, we did this last year!”  Instead it is “Oh my gosh! I remember this! I love it!”

So what are we actually doing?  Here are my lessons!

Hiccup Buttercup – 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade

(Note: the full version of the lesson complete with national standards is found in  Pitch Hill)  and in my  Back to School Bundled Lessons!

Musical Focus:

• Fun introduction to music class.
• Solfége singing (for first grade we don’t spend time on the solfége as they did not learn the notes in K).
• Playing instruments – we do a great cup game for this song with modified levels for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
• Teach pitches on solfége.  Most of my students remember the notes from our studies with  Pitch Hill) .
• Practice clapping rhythm.
• Tell them we are going to play an unusual instrument today – Cups (this used to be so much more of a surprise – then came the movie Pitch Perfect!)
• Have students sit in a circle and teach the Hiccup Buttercup game.
• 1st/2nd- Hiccup (Clap, Clap), Buttercup (Tap rhythm on cup), Flies all night (Clap, Clap, Clap), Take your cup and (pick up cup), Pass it right (Pass).
• 2nd/3rd – Hiccup (Clap, Clap), Buttercup (Tap rhythm on cup), Flies all night (Clap, Grab, Flip cup over), Take your cup and (Clap, Grab, Flip, Down), Pass it right (Clap, Grab, Pass).
• Note: 2nd grade does the harder version for classes with more time or more advanced students.
• After we learn the cup activity, we talk about what Tempo is and how we can modify tempo.  We then accelerate from adagio to andante to allegro to presto (or pick whatever terms are appropriate).
• We also discuss what happens when we go too fast – we all tend to start screaming instead of singing!

This lesson has been taught year after year and is such a good ice breaker!  I hope you enjoy it as much as my students have!

I add one additional activity for 3rd grade since they learn/remember “Hiccup Buttercup” so quickly.

Additional Activity for 3rd Grade – Happy Day!

This is a great lesson for listening and promotes cooperation in the music classroom!

• Beat vs. rhythm.
• Teach the mini-poem “Happy Day, Happy Day! It’s gonna be a happy day!”  (eighth notes, quarter.  eighth notes, eighth notes, eighth notes, eighth notes, eighth notes, quarter.)
• Have students do jazzy hands in the air while they say the poem.  Then count down backwards from 8.  Repeat poem; count down from 7.  Repeat poem, then count down from 6, 5, etc.
• Discuss how we changed it each time (took away one beat each time).
• Tell students to find a partner.
• During the “Happy Day” section, they will shake hands with their partner.
• During the counting section, they will find a new partner.  If they can’t find a partner in the allotted time, then they just do the jazzy hands in the air we already practiced.  They cannot have the same partner twice.
• After we do the activity once with lots of giggling and “Happy Days!,” I tell the students I have a challenge for them!
• This time we will do the same activity but there will be NO sound.  Instead, I will play the patterns on a drum.  (I play the “Happy Day” part on the edge of a tubano and the counting part in the middle of the tubano).
• We repeat with students working hard to listen and find new partners.
• When it is over, I ask students how they were able to successfully do the activity without talking.  Answers usually cover counting in their head and listening for the changes in the pattern.  We talk about form and repeated patterns and how one part was steady (even if the number of beats changed) while the other was more a of a rhythmic pattern.

Turn the Beat Around – 4th and 5th Grade

I keep the cup theme going with my 4th and 5th graders and we do an awesome routine to “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan.  I use the version found in the Making Music grade 4 textbook series but it could be modified for other versions.

You will need some pretty heavy duty cups for this activity as we use rhythm sticks as drum sticks on the cups.  I just bought new cups at Walmart! They are pretty heavy duty and are on clearance for $1 each.  I know one can buy red solo cups, but you will have to replace them after doing this activity.

• Playing unusual instruments.
• Drumming techniques.
• Form: Verse/Refrain
• Listening skills

Procedure (I do all this after rules, class procedures, etc.):

• Introduce the song as a song from the 80s from a singer who would have been heard on the radio like today’s artists are.  Sometimes kids have a hard time believing we had popular singers too!
• Play the recording for students and have students listen for the number of times the word “Turn” is repeated.  I find if they have a specific item to listen for they are more likely to pay attention to the song.  (The answer is 23 – you have to listen for the main singer and the background singers!).
• Discuss the repetition found in the song and have students echo the refrain.  Identify the repeated part as the refrain.
• Pass out cups and teach them the cup game.    You can find this lesson here.
• I modify the difficulty of the moves based on the time I have and the level of my class.

VIDEO OF BEGINNING “Trick” (Sorry for the video quality – didn’t have the best equipment at home!)

Ready for the full directions?   Grab those here in the Back to School Lesson Bundle!

Again, my kids love these activities and they all leave my class smiling and ready to learn more at the next class!  What do  you  do the first days with your kids?

If you want written lesson plans and presentation guides for this activity, you can now grab them in my store!

Wrapping Things Up

My final advice? When in doubt, bake cookies! (Pillsbury makes an excellent pull apart cookie dough, I must say). A dozen cookies on someone’s desk can make them feel warm and gooey inside (pun intended). This strategy has been around since the beginning of time and is a tried and true method.

If you are new at school and looking for lessons for the first day, you  might also enjoy this post on first day lesson plans! 

Who did I miss? Any other key people in school we should add?

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I'm busy mom of three and music educator in Atlanta, GA. My passion is helping busy music teachers deliver time saving, engaging lessons so you have more time to enjoy your life! Click my photo to learn more! Teach music. Love life.

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24 Comments

Did you have time to make a second video of the rest of the cup game? It looks cool!

Hey Theresa! It is super fun! The full lesson plan package and videos are available here: https://pitchpublications.com/product/back-to-school-music-lesson-plan-bundle-k-5-lessons-for-the-first-day/ . Hope that helps! 🙂

Did you ever do another post about how you start out with Kindergarten? I am struggling to come up with some good ideas for my kinders who come in two weeks!

Hey Tori! Agh! You know what, I never did! I will try to add that to my to-do list this week and will comment here and email you when it is done! 🙂

I am also interested in how you started off with Kindergarten. Would love to read that post!

Hi Jessica! I hope to have that post up very soon! 🙂

I am a high school student starting a new job teaching music at the elementary school (after school). Just wanted to say thanks for having this little lesson up! I was really nervous about what my first lesson should be, but I think this is a great idea! 🙂

Hi! So glad I could help out! Have a wonderful time with this experience!! 🙂

Your fantastic first day pack has been my favorite back to school resource. Thank you for creating!

Thank you SO much, Leah!! You made my day!! 🙂

Thank you thank you!! My first week as an elementary music teacher is coming up and I wasn’t sure what to start with. This has given me some great starter ideas! Now I’m excited!

Oh yay!! Thanks for your sweet comments, Heather! Good luck! You are going to LOVE this journey and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help!

Thank you so much for sharing this awesome lesson plan! I am a first year teacher in my first full year (I started halfway through the year last year, I made it through!), but this is a perfect way for me to start with my classes! Thank you again so much! This is great! Definitely bookmarking your site so I can frequently visit and get ideas!

Hey Jennell! Yay! So glad you were able to find the post useful! Good luck on your first back to school season!! It is such an exciting time!! 🙂

What is the music you used when it’s sticks game? Thank you

Hi there! It is “Turn the Beat Around” from the Making Music series 🙂

Do you have the second video yet?

Hi there! I am not sure what you mean by second video? I have a couple of videos as part of the purchased resource. Email me at [email protected] if you have more questions 🙂

At the end of the video the speaker said she would post another. (In reference to the second video) We were wanting to see the cup action. Becky

Hey Becky! I’m shooting you an email 🙂 . The speaker is me, Shelley 🙂 . The full lesson plan package is available here: https://pitchpublications.com/product/back-to-school-music-lesson-plan-bundle-k-5-lessons-for-the-first-day/

Love this idea. Really gets the students excited about the coming year in music. Great Ideas!

Thank you so much, Beth! I appreciate you stopping by!! 🙂

I love your ideas. Where can I find all the words to the Happy Day poem and the rest of the drum actions for Turn the Beat Around.

Hi there! Thank you!! That is it for the Happy Day Poem (composed by me – not meant to be a huge drawn out thing – feel free to add to it! This whole lesson is packaged up nicely here (includes all the instructions for everything I do the first day). Hope this helps! 🙂 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Music-Lesson-Plan-Bundle-K-5-Lessons-for-the-first-day-2052470?aref=fbhenxj4

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Worksheets by Ms. Garrett for Young Musicians

( adobe pdf plug-in needed to view and print the worksheets.) teachers and students may print and use these worksheets for their music classes. the pages may not be posted on other websites or servers., 001 - treble notes and ledger lines on the staff, 002 - bass notes and ledger lines on the staff, 003 - grand staff and ledger lines, 004 - identify the notes, 005 - music signs - flats and sharps, 006 - major scales - flats, 007 - major scales - flats with key signatures, 008 - major scales - sharps, 009 - major scales - sharps with key signatures, 010 - identify the notes of the major scales, 011 - piano keys and notes on the staff, 012 - notating scales and piano keys (treble), 013 - match the key signature, 014 - missing the major scales (flats), 015 - missing the major scales 2 (sharps), 016 - complete the chord (major), 017 - complete the chord (minor), 018 - arpeggio activity (treble), 019 - pentatonic practice - major scales, 020 - template for treble clef staff and keyboard, 021 - template for bass clef staff and keyboard, 022 - rhythm chart - musical math, 023 - rhythms and rests chart - musical math, 024 - see sawing rhythms, 025 - 4/4 time signature, 026 - signs of the times - time signature, 027 - count me in - correct rhythms, 028 - bar lines and beats, 029 - skips, steps and repeats, 030 - beginning melodic and harmonic intervals guide, 031 - treble clef melodic and harmonic intervals, 032 - treble clef intervals - 4ths and 5ths, 033 - half step highlights, 034 - transpose this, 035 - match the symbols, 036 - musical expressions - crescendo and decrescendo, 037 - ties and slurs worksheet, 038 - sibelius 3 basics - copy and transpose, 039 - beginning composition, 040 - compose a phrase using the g major scale, 041 - print maze - i love music pdf, 042 - print maze - play in the band pdf, 043 - print maze - i write the songs pdf, 044 - print maze - ludwig van beethoven pdf, 045 - print maze - wolfgang amadeus mozart pdf, 046 - print maze - louis armstrong pdf, 047 - print maze - famous jazz musician pdf, 048 - print puzzle - famous musician pdf, 049 - counting and writing rhythms, keyboard practice - ode to joy, surprise symphony, keyboard practice - frere jacques, twinkle, twinkle, little star, keyboard practice - jingle bells, carol of the bells, keyboard practice - jolly old st. nicholas, good king wenceslas, teachers and students may print and use these worksheets for their music classes. the pages may not be posted on other websites or servers..

Assignments

Fes virtual choir.

The Cup Game-5th Grade

Week of September 8, 2020

Week of may 18-22.

This weeks assignment is super simple! Go to the video tab on my webpage. Select two videos to watch from either the Classical Crossovers Group or Great Vocal Videos Group.

Tell me in the attached form...

Which two videos you watched

If you enjoyed them or not.

What did you like or not like about them?

Week of May 11-15

Listen to the video of the story Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin. Once you have listened, Please answer the following questions in the Google Form. K-2 , You may have to ask an older sibling or parent/guardian for help.

Week of May 4-8

I know we are all extremely bummed that we don't get to enjoy some of the fun "end of the year" activities that we typically get to do. For me, I think I am most bummed about not getting to enjoy the Father/Daughter & Mother/Sun Dances together. So to make sure that we all have a chance to get moving and brush up on our Dance skills... I am challenging you to do at least one of these Dances with your family. I have rated them by difficulty level.

Cupid Shuffle - Beginner Level

Most of you know this one, especially if you have been to one of the previous dances. I have attached a tutorial and the music.

Cotton Eye Joe - Basic & More Complex Options

We have done this dance at previous Dances. I have provided a video of the basic version (on the left) that we have done at the dances as well as a more complex option. The first two videos will help to teach you the dances.

More Complex

The Git Up - Medium Difficulty

This dance is a blast but there are many steps to it. I have included several tutorials as well as the actual song. Good Luck!

Week of April 27-May 1

These are some of my all time favorite pieces of classical music. I really could have added at least another 20 pieces but I tried to keep the list fairly short. lol These examples on this site are only 30 seconds. After completely this assignment, I strongly encourage you to look up one of the pieces on youtube and listen to the entire piece. I did not want to add a youtube link because I did not want to give you any visual clues on what the piece of music is about.

*Choose At least 2 of the pieces below. Please do the following for each piece you choose.

Listen to the piece and draw the picture that comes to mind when you hear the music. (Try not to look at the name of the piece before drawing your picture) Then write a description what you drew and why. (K-2, you may need assistance from an adult on writing the description).

You may either print off this worksheet and fill it out OR just do the activity on a blank sheet of paper. Please take a picture of your assignment and turn it into me in Google Classroom.

Week of April 20-25

Play a game of Music At Home Bingo with your family! You can print out the game boards to play but make sure you have this page pulled up. The window on the left, all of the spaces have been entered into the Random Name Picker. Click the window to make it spin. On the Right, each space that asks you to watch a video or play an online activity have hyper links

Interview a family member in your house or call someone you don't talk to often about music. You may either print off the sheet on the left or fill in the Google Form on the right

Musical Choice Boards April 6-9

Find your Musical Choice Board for your grade level. Pick an activity at least once or twice this week to keep musical moments in your day!

Create Your Own Instrument March 30-Apr 3

A summer parade, a drummer parade, a magical bucket-and-bowl serenade! What begins with one boy’s beat on a kettle soon spreads to pots and pans and cartons and cans all across the neighborhood. When everyone joins in, together they create the catchy, driving tempo of a bright, hot DRUM CITY!​

Creating Your Own Instruments!

In this book people pick up all sorts of things to make music. They play rhythms on pots and pans, cartons, barrels, bins, pails, buckets, and lots more! Have you ever thought of using an everyday item to make your own instrument?

With your parent's help....

Click on the pictures or watch these videos to get some ideas on how to make your own musical instrument out of everyday objects! Please Please Please... only cut cardboard or poke holes in objects under your parent or guardian's supervision.

Need more Ideas..... Click on these pictures

Would love to see a video of you playing your new instrument. If that's not possible take a picture and send the picture and a description to me. You can drop your video in Flipgrid, leave your pic or video in classroom or Send me an email describing what instrument you created and how! [email protected]

If you have any questions, make sure you jump on Zoom during my office hours and I can answer them.

9:30 – 11:00 and from 2:30 – 3:30.

- Go to Zoom.us

- Join meeting

- Enter code Music: 252 812 3760

DIY Instrument Flipgrid

Partner Songs March 23-27

Have you ever heard of a Partner Song?

Partner songs are melodies which fit together in such a way that they sound good when performed together. They are melodies performed as independent musical voices. Because two or more melodic voices are performed at the same time, harmony is created.

We are going to be singing a school wide partner song. Each Grade Level will be assigned one part of the partner song. You will record your singing section on Flipgrid and return it to me. Once I receive all recordings, I will put them together to create one unified Partner Song.

Don’t Let this Overwhelm you. You have only one important Job to do. Listen, Learn & Sing your part and then record it.

Let's have fun with this!

More Information on the Assignment

Here is the Google Slide for each Grade Level to Learn- Please watch the video above for an explanation of the assignment

Here are All of the Recordings for the Children to Use

You will turn in your video to me via Flipgrid. This app seems to be pretty user friendly to submit videos. You can either log into Flipgrid on your computer (on the left) or using the QR code for your mobile device (on the right) Please make sure you log in with your school google account.

FES General Music Flipgrid

Visit the newly launched GMC Store to order approved GMC merchandise

Global Episcopacy Committee Announces Bishop Assignments

Recognizing the unique and diverse contexts within the Global Methodist Church, the GEC consulted with bishops, the Transitional Leadership Council, and conference delegations to make assignments. The goal was to embody the church’s global superintendency, ensuring all bishops serve beyond their regions of origin and other existing roles. No bishop has been assigned to their conference of origin, and assignments were made to both existing conferences and emerging areas expected to develop into annual conferences.

We anticipate both the addition of new conferences and the multiplication of existing conferences due to growth. For example, Bishop Evariste, also conference superintendent of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is well prepared to exercise episcopal leadership in new conferences of the DRC as those are defined by expansion plans currently underway. When changes in conference alignment affect the assignment of bishops, the Global Episcopacy Committee will announce those changes.

The GEC thanks the entire church for its support in this prayerful process. Please join us in welcoming our bishops as they lead with conviction and humility into this new season.

Bishop John Pena Auta

• North Georgia Annual Conference
• Northeast Nigeria Annual Conference
• Southern Nigeria Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Malawi
• GMC Development in Zimbabwe

Bishop Kimba Evariste

• Central African Republic Annual Conference
• Florida Annual Conference
• South Africa Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Zambia

Bishop Jeff Greenway

• Heartland Annual Conference
• North Carolina Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Rwanda
• GMC Development in Thailand

Bishop Leah Gregory

• Bulgaria Annual Conference
• Northeast Annual Conference
• South Georgia Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Mexico

Bishop Scott Jones

• Alabama Emerald Coast Annual Conference
• Central Nigeria Annual Conference
• Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference
• Mega Manila Annual Conference
• Mississippi – West Tennessee Annual Conference
• Northern Nigeria Annual Conference
• Trinity Annual Conference
• West Plains Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Ethiopia
• GMC Development with Afrika Mashariki (Kenya)
• GMC Development in North Africa

Bishop Kenneth Levingston

• MidSouth Annual Conference
• Mid Texas Annual Conference
• Panama Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Peru

Bishop Carolyn Moore

• Covenant Philippines Annual Conference
• North Alabama Annual Conference
• South Carolina Annual Conference
• Western States Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Uganda

Bishop Mark Webb

• Allegheny West Annual Conference
• Democratic Republic of Congo Annual Conference
• Great Lakes Annual Conference
• Korean American Annual Conference
• Slovakia Annual Conference
• Spain Annual Conference
• Tanzania Annual Conference
• Upper Midwest Annual Conference
• Virginia Annual Conference
• GMC Development in Angola
• GMC Development in Mozambique

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Takeaways from The Associated Press investigation into sexual abuse of incarcerated women

As part of a sweeping two-year investigation into prison labor, The Associated Press found that correctional staff nationwide have been accused of using inmate work assignments to sexually abuse incarcerated women, luring them to isolated spots, out of...

As part of a sweeping two-year investigation into prison labor, The Associated Press found that correctional staff nationwide have been accused of using inmate work assignments to sexually abuse incarcerated women, luring them to isolated spots, out of view of security cameras. Many cases follow a similar pattern: Accusers are retaliated against, while the accused face little or no punishment.

Here are takeaways from the AP’s investigation :

Though they represent only 10% of the nation’s overall prison population, female incarceration rates have jumped from about 26,000 in 1980 to nearly 200,000 today. Most women have been locked up for nonviolent crimes that often are drug related.

In all 50 states, reporters found cases where women said they were attacked by staff while doing jobs like kitchen or laundry duty inside correctional facilities or in work-release programs that placed them at private businesses such as national fast-food restaurants and hotel chains.

Accused correctional staff often quit or retire before internal investigations are complete, sometimes retaining pensions and other benefits, experts say. With no paper trail and severe staff shortages nationwide, some are simply transferred or hired at other facilities or they land positions overseeing vulnerable populations like juveniles. Even when allegations do lead to criminal charges, convictions can be rare, which also makes it possible for perpetrators to avoid placement on sex offender registries.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act, passed more than two decades ago, created a channel for filing reports that resulted in a threefold increase in the number of allegations of staff sexual misconduct involving male, female and transgender inmates from 2010 to 2020 at jails and prisons nationwide.

Internationally, prison rape is recognized as a form of torture. In some states, correctional officers argue that — despite the clear power imbalance — inmates gave their consent. Laws vary from state to state. For example, sexual abuse of an inmate can be a misdemeanor in Kentucky, with a maximum sentence of 12 months, but prison rape is a felony in Pennsylvania, carrying up to seven years behind bars.

In cases that were confirmed through internal investigations nationwide, less than 6% of the nearly 1,000 staff who reportedly engaged in sexual misconduct with male and female inmates in 2019 and 2020 were prosecuted, according to the latest Department of Justice figures.

Brandy Moore White, head of the union representing 30,000 correctional staff in federal prisons, said chronic worker shortages are part of the problem, noting that staff are also vulnerable to abuse by inmates. “If you have 10 staff supervising 500 inmates,” she said, “there is time for people who have ill intentions to do things that they shouldn’t do.”

Women have been targeted from their days on slave plantations, when they were raped by their owners, to the decades-long period that followed emancipation and involved leasing convicts out to private companies. Widespread reports of sexual abuse eventually led to the creation of reformatories, where women no longer were overseen by men. That began to change in the 1970s as anti-discrimination laws opened the door for cross-gender supervision, just as the number of women being locked up started to rise.

Most female victims were abused before being incarcerated, research shows. They rarely report assaults, fearing they won’t be believed or will be punished, ranging from losing their jobs to being placed in solitary confinement or denied contact with their children. And many on work release have only a short time left to serve and are wary of doing anything that could send them back to prison or add time to their sentences.

Some guards believe women with substance abuse issues are accustomed to using sex as a commodity on the streets, seeing them as partly responsible for their own victimization, said Brenda Smith, a law professor at American University and one of the country’s top experts on prison rape. “They’re viewed as sort of the lowest of the low,” she said. “They’re not really women — they’re just other things.”

As part of the AP’s investigation — which has exposed everything from multinational companies benefiting from prison labor to incarcerated workers’ lack of rights and protections — reporters spoke to more than 100 current and former prisoners nationwide, including women who said they were sexually abused by correctional staff.

Reporters also scoured thousands of pages of court filings, police reports, audits and other documents that detailed graphic stories of systemic sexual violence and coverups from New York to Florida to California.

Those cases prompted a bipartisan Senate investigation two years ago that found prisoners were sexually abused by wardens, guards, chaplains or other staff in at least two-thirds of all women’s federal prisons over the past decade. And just last month, U.S. lawmakers held a hearing to discuss how to better safeguard inmates.

The Associated Press receives support from the Public Welfare Foundation for reporting focused on criminal justice. This story also was supported by Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or https://www.ap.org/tips/

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ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

Howard student journalists brace for their biggest assignment: Election night with Harris

For a century, student journalists at Howard University have chronicled life on the campus in Washington, D.C., including commencement addresses by seven presidents, celebrity visits and other monumental occasions. But this Tuesday’s assignment represents a historical opportunity.

Vice President Kamala Harris will spend election night at her alma mater, one of the pre-eminent historically Black colleges in America. That means the staff of the student newspaper, The Hilltop, and students of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film are fastidiously preparing to capture history as it unfolds on their own campus.

“It’s a special time,” said Juan Benn Jr., 22, a senior from Knoxville, Tenn., and the managing editor of The Hilltop, which recently celebrated its 100th year. “As student journalists, we’ve been taught that we’re not a part of history, that we record history. This moment is an incredible opportunity to do just that.” 

Benn said the gravity of the moment is not lost on him. “It’s something that in 10, 15, 20, 30 years down the line I’ll be able to look back at this moment in history and be like, ‘I was there. I reported on it.’”

Harris, who graduated from Howard in 1986 , has visited the campus multiple times, including as the commencement speaker in 2017. Two years later, she announced she was running for president at Howard, a place she has called “home.”

As the school, established in 1867, celebrated its 100th homecoming a few weeks ago, associate journalism professor Jennifer Thomas said the vice president’s presence was palpable, even if she wasn’t on campus.  

”There’s an excitement in the air all stemming from her,” she said. “Whether she wins or loses, she is still Howard’s own and made history in so many ways. And it’s great that our students get to experience this firsthand and report about it.”

The students will be “everywhere” on Election Day, Thomas said. More than 60 students will be involved in the expansive coverage, across the student newspaper, the college television station, WHUT, the campus website , Howard’s YouTube channel and the communications school’s website.

“It’s full throttle,” said The Hilltop’s editor in chief, JD Jean-Jacques II, 21, a senior from Greenwich, Conn., who was the recipient of the White House Correspondents’ Association Percy Newbie Award for outstanding journalism and dedication to the student newspaper.

“It’s a momentous opportunity for us to be able to cover this,” he said. “We understand we have a particular duty to present accurate, fact-based, unbiased reporting around the election and deliver news to our readers. We are interested in telling stories, and we’re intellectually curious about the goings on at Howard. So, we are extremely excited to be able to tell the story of this election, with a candidate who walked the same grounds we walk now.”

Howard students covered Harris’ interview in Philadelphia by the National Association of Black Journalists in September, the Democratic National Convention in August and events at the White House.

“They are really so fortunate, and they recognize that, and they’re very focused on doing it right,” Thomas said.

Skyler Winston, The Hilltop’s political editor, said the magnitude of the election heightens their job as reporters.

 “Given the fact that this is a lot of our first time voting in a presidential election, tensions are high,” said Winston, 21, a senior from northern California. “There’s also a concern about the potential for political violence. But mostly, Howard’s campus has been the center of energy that’s really high. There’s excitement, tension, anxiety. You feel it all on campus, in talking to students.”

That energy inspires Winston to be at her best and fills her with gratitude. “It’s my job to defend democracy,” she said. “And I’m very excited to have that opportunity in this historic moment. I’m grateful to be at Howard University at this time.”

Benn said covering the election adds value to his education.

“This is an invaluable experience,” Benn said. “It really exemplifies that we — HBCUs in general, Black students — can do this, too. This is what this moment shows us. No matter what career you are in, it just shows you that you can make it to the top.”

Added Jean-Jacques: “This is one of those experiences that almost transcends our degrees. It’s something that all of us are going to remember for the rest of our lives.”

Curtis Bunn is a reporter for NBC BLK.