8 Lessons for the First Day of Music Class

 8 Lessons for the First Day of Music Class

1. Your Name is a Song

I love this book for Back to school!  It is inclusive, beautiful, wonderful for a variety of grade levels, and the rhythmic opportunities.  

Not to mention, respecting children starts with honoring their names' pronunciation.   It goes a long way towards creating an inclusive classroom.  With tiered lessons for K-2 & 3-5, this lesson has you covered!  You can order your copy from Amazon or use the included read aloud in the TPT Lesson.

2. Steady Beat Name Game

The ability to keep a steady beat is key in Elementary Music classrooms!  Building that skill while practicing names is great for positive classroom communities.  And if your schedule is like mine, I see hundreds of kids!  Mastering names takes repetition and loads of time.  Give yourself this gift.  

3. Write the Room - Back to School

I fell in love with "Write the Room" activities 
this last year.  They allow students to move those bodies, learn their environment, & practice rhythms.  This lesson requires minimal prep: Print flash cards, laminate optional, post rhythms around the room, set kids free with their worksheet & a pencil, then watch the magic!

4. Write the Room - First Day of Music

Similar to the other one, this lesson is intended for older students.  While the rhythms are simple enough to invite emerging musicians, the questions help you learn more about students. 

Who they are matters.

I'll say it again for those glancing through this on the hunt for those first lessons of the year:

Who they are matters.  So get to know them.  

5. Back to School Music Interest Survey

If moving around the room doesn't pique your interest but you still want to learn about your students, consider a music interest survey. Students can share names, pronouns, prior music experience, & so much more.  Plus, it is edible for Google Slides!   Check it out in the top left corner below. 

6. Find the Musician That...

When you have a bunch of new students to a class or perhaps you're teaching middle school to kids from multiple feeder elementary schools, getting to know new classmates can be awkward.  

Magnify that when kids are used to being behind screens of anonymity.  

Make it less awkward and help students with their social emotional growth by selecting one of these Find the Musician pages.

7. Jump In, Jump Out

The first few days of school can be filled with wiggly wee ones who need to move.  This is great. 

Or how about upper elementary or middle school musicians who have had to sit through tons of rules?  This is great.  

It practices names which as we've already covered is a necessity, but so is movement!

8. Music Expectation Rhythm Posters

While this can be used exclusively as a lesson for the first day of school, it is a great collections of posters for your autumn bulletin board.

To read more about why I use expectations in lieu of rules, read more here.

Simple rhythms, ever-present reminders, & beautiful aesthetics?  Yes, please!

What are your go-to lessons?  Let me know in the comments!