As we continue to make our way through unprecedented times, we are forced to think about music learning/teaching in a new way. The impact of Covid is felt by the teachers, students and families trying to learn from home.
While subjects such as math or reading can be implemented at home or in the classroom, parents and teachers are looking for new ways to keep music education for kids on pace with other important subjects.
Thinking of new ways to teach music during a pandemic
Teachers are now learning how to conduct lessons online in record numbers. And for those who are fortunate enough to teach in a classroom, there are now strict rules on what would otherwise be normal musical activities such as singing and playing instruments.
Further adding to the issue, now families are much more hesitant to have music instructors come into their homes. Parents are challenged to find alternatives for keeping music learning as part of a balanced education. Overall, we are being challenged in ways that we never thought possible a few months back.
So what can parents and teachers do about music education?
As it turns out, innovation is often born from adversity. The impact of covid is forcing us to think about delivering education in new ways. This means teachers and parents have to find creative methods to implement music learning for at-home students. Music education is such an important factor for healthy growing children but can easily fall behind other important subjects such as math or reading – if implemented at all.
Below are five music learning activities you can do at home or in the classroom that will bring the joy of learning music back into focus.
These 5 fun games can help kids learn anytime [with video]
- Game 1 of 5: Beat Match – this game will get kids to move, dance and clap to their favorite songs
- Game 2 of 5: Add-On – a memory rhythm game that will leave your kids laughing
- Game 3 of 5: Sing Along – a tried and true form of musical education
- Game 4 of 5: This Or That – Children learn creative expression using musical descriptors
- (NEW) Game 5 of 5: Keys & Kingdoms – Games in any format are a great way to keep kids engaged. This epic music learning adventure game is designed to make learning the piano so exciting and engaging kids won’t even realize they’re learning real music skills as they play.
Game 1 of 5: Beat Match
Everything we do has a beat or a rhythm to it: walking, talking, breathing. Game 1 of 5: Beat Match is a music learning game to help kids develop rhythm at home or in the classroom.
It helps children train their ear to listen to beats in their favorite songs and clap along. Kids are challenged to clap to a basic rhythm while increasing the level of difficulty by clapping to songs that have include quicker/complex beats.
Game 2 of 5: Add-On
So how does memory come into play with music learning? Game 2 of 5: Add On is a memory game for music that happens to be processed in two parts of the mind such as speaking and singing.
We can help kids engage the memory centers just like the game Simon Says through three motions – a lap, clap or snap. One person will choose to do a lap, clap or slap and the next person has to repeat the motion and add on a motion of their own. And the next person does the same – so on and so forth hence the name of the game Add On.
Challenge your child or student to get up to 10 motions for music memory fun!
Game 3 of 5: Sing Along
Some basic methods of learning music remain highly effective for kids today. Game 3 of 5: Sing Along is a music learning game that is a tried and trusted method of building up pitch and intervals in singing music.
Kids can pick a favorite nursery rhyme that helps kids practice singing and adjusting to notes. This helps children develop two areas of music learning: pitch and melody and is fun style of music you can do with any child.
Game 4 of 5: This Or That
Expressing music through tones is an effective method for kids to learn music. Game 4 of 5: This Or That is a creative game meant to help kids express the language of music no matter what level experience they have. This helps to activate the creative portion of their young minds.
You can choose two opposing types of animals such as an elephant or a mouse. By playing notes on a piano or keyboard to represent what type of notes represent that animal, children can guess which notes represent the animal in the best way.
This game can help kids imagine – what would a mouse sound like? Or – what would an elephant sound like? This is also a great way for kids to start to build skills in creativity or technique and help them describe things in different ways.
(NEW) Game 5 of 5: Keys & Kingdoms
Keeping kids engaged with music learning at home or in the classroom has always been a challenge. Since popular title games are so intriguing to kids, its no wonder they spend hours and hours each day playing them!
That’s why this all new game cannot go unnoticed because it makes piano learning epic and adventurous. Game 5 of 5: Keys & Kingdoms transforms how kids are learning music in the home or classroom through engaging musical gameplay that will help kids learn real musical skills as they play – and on a real instrument!
That’s where this game comes in. Keys & Kingdoms is an all new epic adventure game that makes learning music seamless and fun. This game uses adaptive technology, proven learning methods and epic adventure gameplay to teach kids piano in an all new way.
Unlike traditional games, kids master the piano as they explore immersive lands, craft weapons, learn new songs and unlock the musical power hidden within themselves!
Children ages 6 to 15 gain effective piano skills as they progress through an epic adventure game designed to keep them engaged, inspired and craving music education like never before!
So how can you get Keys & Kingdoms? Right now you can grab a discounted bundle at Best Buy or you can skip the lines and order it online.
Whatever you do, keep music education fun and engaging for kids!
By implementing on, a few, or all of these music learning games at home or in the classroom you can keep music education fun, fresh and engaging for kids!
If you’ve received some good value from this article, don’t forget to share with other teachers or parents who can benefit as well!
