Sometimes music theory can be a bit scary, and it can have a reputation for being a bit boring and difficult. But this can be easily overcome this by making it fun through games and rhythm & movement activities.
Children always find it much easier to accept basic theory concepts by playing games. Then the lesson becomes a fun activity, and kids will always learn more effectively when they are having fun!
When teaching note values, I introduce the notes as a family. Kids love the characters and giving the notes identities like this makes the lesson much easier to grasp.
It goes down so well with the kids that it becomes a regular activity and this makes it even more effective as a teaching tool.
A Fun Way To Teach Note Values : Magic Feet Follow The Beat
- This game is ideal for music classes or played with a group of friends.
- You need a tambourine or drum, and a bit of space.
- ‘Blowing some magic’ into the hands is a very good way to get everyone joining in and engaged. Then tell them to rub the ‘magic’ on their feet, and then they’re ready to stamp around with gusto!
Take One Step at A time
- Introduce each note in turn by demonstrating the beat on the tambourine .
- Slow beats like Daddy Semibreve(Whole Notes) to the count of 4 with giant steps.
- Middle sizes steps for Mummy Minim (Half Notes) which last 2 beats.
- Marching like a soldier for Big Brother Crotchet (Quarter Notes) which last 1 beat.
- Trotting along with small steps for the Little Quaver Twins (Eighth Notes) which share 1/2 a beat together.
- When they’ve got the hang of each different note and the sound and action it makes, you can ask them to guess which one you are playing and trying to catch them out!
- Use the printable below to hold up and show how each note corresponds to an action. There’s an American version (with whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes) and a European version (Semibreves, Minims, Crotchets and Quavers). The concept of the note family applies quite easily to both.
The children can take it in turns to have a go on the tambourine and then you can call out the notes by name (Mummy Minim etc) to see if they can make the correct beat to match the notes. They are so busy having fun, they don’t realise that you are testing them!
I’ve always used this method because I find that children understand it easily and it works. But if you feel that using the traditional family roles isn’t appropriate for you then you could easily substitute the characters with animals of varying size. For instance: an elephant for the whole note, a giraffe for the half note, a pony for the quarter notes and little rabbits for the eighth notes.
If you are new to music theory, read my Introducing the Note Family post, which explains basic note values in a child friendly way, and check out my How To Read Music Made Easy ebook which is accompanied by lots of handy printables and worksheets.
Follow Sara @ Let’s Play Music’s board Teaching Kids to Read Music on Pinterest.
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This was a very helpful idea, and I’ll definitely be trying this out with my student tonight. He’s always so restless during practice, I’m sure he’d love to get up and get moving!
Yes, some kids find it so hard to sit still! So I find it really helps to channel the energy into part of the lesson!
Is amazing helped a lot , would like more updates on it
This is so good keep on giving us such useful information.
Thank you so much.
Thanks Mbadzo and thank you for stopping by!
I found your site so interesting and I love to join your fb page.Also,I want to ask if I can get some interesting materials,music teachers guide DVD’s and CD’s to teaching the kids music from you?I’ll love to hear back from you. Thanks.
Thanks for your support Max! We will soon be publishing our very first ebook, which will include lots more music teaching ideas. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we will be announcing it soon (you can do this from the subscribe button on the home page of the website.)
I have just started year 7 this year and have started music lessons. I understand the general stuff to do with music ,however i find it all quite tricky and remember the note names and how many beats is possibly the trickiest. we have a music evan coming up and i need to revise this is order to do well and at this stage i have passed by exam thanks to this website it is amazing. Thnak you ever so much x
That is so great Chloe! I am so pleased you are finding our site so helpful, and I’m sure that you will do really well with your music lessons with such a positive attitude! Well done!
this is very good for us music educators specially to some of us that train teachers to go and teach music to young ones at primary school level. thank you so much for this infor.
Thanks Clive! So glad you’re finding our resources useful:)
I’m so happy I found your site!! I will be looking around for some time — just now starting to teach music to my son 🙂
Hi Amy!
So pleased you’ve found us! Very exciting that you’re just starting to teach some music! Let me know if you’re looking for anything in particular! I’m a big fan of your blog – so many lovely ideas!