15 Fast, Effective, Fun Tips for Teaching Kids Music
Prodigies Team
We've all heard how important it is to teach kids music and all the benefits it brings! Teaching kids music can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with its challenges.
After 7 years of teaching music to children, I've learned that the key to make the learning process enjoyable and effective for your students or kids is to have fun!
Here are 15 tips that every music teacher and parent should consider:
1. Start with Rhythm Games
I like to begin my music lessons with a rhythmic activity. It is a fun way to loosen up and relax my students before diving into the day's lesson while teaching important concepts such as tempo, beat, and rhythm all at the same time!
Using clapping games, stomping feet, rhythm sticks, or more creative materials like pots and pans makes the students excited to learn!
Find ideas for great Rhythm Games here
Find a variety of songs perfect for Rhythm Games inside Prodigies
2. Incorporate Movement
Another way to get children engaged with learning is moving our bodies! Dance, sway, or march to the music. Movement helps kids internalize musical concepts and keeps them engaged. Remember to move along with them!
Check out the Tooty Ta, one of the greatest movement songs of all time! In this high energy, echo song and dance, Mr. Rob calls out simple movements for you to echo. It's perfect for warming up, getting crazy and moving your body to the music! So hop in and start moving and grooving with The Tooty Ta! Tooty Ta Ta!
3. Use Familiar Songs
Boost kids confidence by beginning with songs that they already know and love. This will definitely make the learning process more enjoyable.
Sing, play and dance all their favorites and use them as a tool to teach important musical concepts.
Check out this Free Resource that will have your kids playing their favorite songs in no time!
If you feel your kids need something a little more challenging, you can find more songbooks here.
4. Storytelling with Music
Kids just adore stories and letting their imagination run wild! Storytelling doesn't just spark their creativity; it makes learning music loads of fun. Hunt down storybooks that dive into the world of music, highlight catchy rhymes, or beautifully illustrate song lyrics.
It's all about mixing music with storytelling magic! You can sing along or play music that fits the story, let children invent their musical sounds or even choose instruments that match different parts of the tale. Or, if you prefer, you can simply encourage them to listen actively while you read together.
Find a list of wonderful reads here!
5. Visual Aids
As a teacher, I strive to have visual aids for every concept I teach. Experience has shown me that children retain more information when they not only listen but also see and manipulate materials.
I always make an effort to laminate every resource I create, print, or purchase for my students. This way, it lasts longer, and they can easily use and play with all the material.
Here is a list of websites that provide resources for music education:
- Music Educators National Conference (NAfME)
- MakingMusicFun.net
- Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)
- Prodigies!
Here is a free poster to get you started!
6. Interactive Apps
Take advantage of the amazing technology that exists today by using music teaching apps. There is a variety of free and payed apps that will make your music lessons incredibly fun!
Explore going beyond teaching singing and playing instruments and dive into composition and music production with some of these apps:
- Chrome Music Lab (Free)
- Groove Pizza (Free)
- Soundtrap (Free and payed version)
- Incredibox (Free demo version)
7. Listen Actively
I always tell my students that the most important skill a musician needs to develop is being a good listener, but getting them to actively listen to music can be complicated.
By playing different games, such as identifying instruments, rhythms, or moods, creating art based on what they are listening to, or assigning movements to different sounds, you can help your kids develop the skill while having fun.
You can also use this time to introduce different genres and music they wouldn't normally listen to!
8. Encourage Composition
Composition sounds like such a complex and advanced concept, and it usually scares teachers and parents, but it can be really simple!
Encourage kids to create their melodies or rhythms. It doesn't have to be complicated; start by letting them create patterns with 2 or 3 notes, introduce rests, and let them explore how it sounds!
Help them create the structure of their melody, including how many beats are in each measure, how many measures to create, and what notes to use. Then, let their imagination fly!
Even a simple tune can boost their creativity and give them the confidence to start creating! Make sure to also check out those apps mentioned above, those will help with the process as well.
9. Sing Daily
Singing makes us feel better, there is increasing evidence that suggests singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine; chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel happy!
Additionally to making your children happy and confident, singing reinforces pitch and melody recognition that will be useful to play any instrument.
But, sometimes getting children to sing on the spot is hard - an effective strategy is to incorporate singing into their daily routines, in the classroom or at home.
Whether it's a morning song, a bedtime lullaby, a tune for tidying up or a greeting song. There are many familiar songs used for different routines. You could even make them up! The key here is to get your kids singing!
10. Instrument Exploration
Introduce kids to as many instruments as you can. Let them touch, feel, and experiment with sounds. Discuss how each instrument produces sounds differently. Compare instruments and let children identify similarities and differences.
Always emphasize the importance of being gentle and taking care of each instrument. Trust the children to explore these musical tools. While it can be challenging for adults who are naturally concerned about instrument care, remember that children can understand and handle delicate objects when guided appropriately.
11. Positive Reinforcement
This one is very simple: Celebrate ALL, specially small, achievements!
It is perfectly ok to have high expectations for your kids, but it is important to remember that the process is part of success.
So, whether it's playing a note correctly, singing in tune or mastering a song, positive feedback motivates kids to keep learning.
12. Group Lessons
Making music is a fantastic way to socialize and develop essential skills, including making friends, teamwork, and sharing.
Consider creating opportunities for group lessons or ensemble practices.
Playing with peers is fun! Additionally, every child learns by imitation, and learning from their friends encourages them to improve every day!
13. Field Trips
Music is a wonderful way artistic expression, and it's vital to expose children to as much variety as possible!
Consider attending concerts, musicals, or exploring instrument shops. If live music events are not accessible or readily available in your area, you can always discover incredible videos on YouTube!
Experiencing music in various settings can be truly inspiring and broadens our minds and ears to a diverse range of musical genres, expanding our knowledge.
14. Musical Games
To include some games into your lesson, its time to go down memory lane, try to remember all those games you played when you were a little kid, and give them a musical twist! Here are some of the best games:
- Musical Chairs
- Simon Says
- Duck, Duck, Goose
- Statues
- Red Light, Green Light
- Hot Potato
- Hide and Seek
15. Make Practice Fun
Practice is very important, specially when learning to play an instrument, but it's often the the more challenging skill to instill!
Daily practice is ideal, but really it's the consistency that matters. And as mentioned in all of the tips above, making it fun is the best way to develop the habit of practicing regularly.
First of all, keep in mind that it's more important to practice on more days than to have lengthy practice sessions on just one day, so establish short and enjoyable practice sessions.
Creating a game out of practicing can make it an exciting part of the child's day. You could either have a calendar on the wall and put a sticker on every day you practice or create a fun chart, be creative and look for what your child likes to motivate them! Creating achievable goals with small rewards after completing each one is also a great way to encourage practice!
3 Bonus Tips:
Be Creative!
Children feel a strong connection to learning when they are having fun WITH YOU.
Unleash your inner child and find ways to play while teaching! Use the child's favorite toys, colors, legos, or anything you can find to make it accessible and interesting for them, if you are having fun with them, they will enjoy it so much more!
Follow their lead
Every child is unique and has different interests and needs. No matter how much you plan ahead, children will always surprise you.
Be flexible and follow their lead when teaching. If they become interested in a specific topic or want to share what they learned that day, try to adapt your lesson to their interests and let them guide you. They will never forget what they are learning if it is something that sparks their attention!
Change the scenery
Having a routine is very important; all kids feel safe when they know what to expect. But sometimes, it can get a little dull. So, follow the same routine but change locations! Go outside, change rooms, decorate your classroom. Surprise your kids—I assure you, they will love it!