Name Games for the First Days of Music Class | Back to School

  Here's my secret:  I play loads of games in music class.

We've all been there.  Day #1 of class where rules & routines are the norm, but kids have already hit their limit from previous classes.  My solution?  

Be the fun class!

The honor of teaching hundreds of kids - nearly everyone at school- is wonderful, but sometimes the idea of learning all those names in a very short period of time can be daunting. 

The kids feel it, too. So break the ice with musical NAME games!

Why Games?

Games serve multiple purposes and allow students to practice many positive social elements & content-specific skills.

Games can:

1. build classroom community
2. are fun
3. encourage review of concepts
4. build independence, yet require teamwork & cooperation
5. Frees you up to observe student skills & social dynamics
6. be student-led 

Steady Beat Name Game

One of the fundamental skills in music class is being able to maintain a steady beat.  The game "Steady Beat Name Game" is great for littles because it not only reinforces this musical concept, but offers students a chance to solo with low stakes by saying their name on the beat.  It also practices taking turns.    

With varying levels of difficulty, this game works for multiple grade & skill levels in your elementary music classroom.

Bounce the Ball

Another way to practice maintain a steady beat is with bouncing balls!  This also practices Sol-Mi & connects music with P.E. (hello, standard #10).  This game requires a little extra physical coordination, so I suggest Grades 3+.

Jump in, Jump Out

As kids grow, so do their skills!  "Jump In, Jump Out" offers students a chance to solo chant, share a bit about themselves, and do so in a playful way.  Like the other games, it offers turn taking, listening skills, and rhythm practice.  When we have new students arrive in the middle of the school year, this game comes back out at the request of the kids who love to show off their rapping skills!

Get to Know Your Teacher & Friends: This or That

If space is an issue or you have students with a vibe that shouts 'too cool for school' perhaps this game will be a better fit. 

The teacher version (blue) invites students to guess which of 2 options is your favorite.  "This or That" is low-stakes so your timid students can engage without too much personal risk.  

The orange version is for students.  Once kids understand how to play, they are more ready to reveal parts of themselves.  Without pressure to side with an existing friend, students can select their "this or that" favorite on each slide.  Ideally, they'll start to identify peers that share preferences & interests.  With all options having visual elements, any child can play!

Find a Musician That...

By middle school, sometimes a worksheet is more grounding.  This mixer-style game "Find a Musician that..."  encourages students to seek out peers, practice positive classroom skills, build their community, and more.  The 4 Getting to Know You activities in this collection include:

1. 2 levels of music
2. 2 Generic versions (sunshine & rainbows)
3. 6 Find a Student Activities: 
1. Instruments (2 versions) , 
2. music symbols, 
3. listening
4. summer (2 versions)

So, get ready to play!

Pick your games, practice the names, learn, laugh, and enjoy this upcoming school year!