Hello all!
Feeling lots more optimistic now about my Recorder classes and hope it lasts. Was hoping you all could give me more ideas on what opening games or warm ups to do with KS1 and some Reception kids?
Thanks!
Full Version: Games, Games, Games!
Oh that's good news after your trials of the other week. Singing Sherlock (books 1 and 2) are both good, bk 1 especially for KS1.
The Voices Foundation 'Growing With Music' KS1 is excellent. Try their web site.
The Voices Foundation 'Growing With Music' KS1 is excellent. Try their web site.
I used to play lots of Follow the leader games with the class sitting in a semicircle. You begin by playing something very simple and let them copy it in turn. When they reach the end of the line change it a little and go round again. They used to enjoy that a lot, and it is a good way to keep them all interested and listening as they await their turn.
Another favourite was Find the Cuckoo. I used my keyboard for this and made up a short tune with a couple of C to A cuckoo calls in. I used to play the tune through and when I looked very pointedly at a player they had to play the cuckoo notes in time with the tune.
The smaller ones would enjoy listening to short pieces of music that they could then march, dance or gallop about to as it is played for a second time. My music club kids have enjoyed The Entertainer, Offenbach's Gallop, Vivaldi's mandolin concerto, some of the quick movements of the Mozart horn concertos and parts of Swan Lake. Don't forget to play some live recorder pieces to them too of course.
Another favourite was Find the Cuckoo. I used my keyboard for this and made up a short tune with a couple of C to A cuckoo calls in. I used to play the tune through and when I looked very pointedly at a player they had to play the cuckoo notes in time with the tune.
The smaller ones would enjoy listening to short pieces of music that they could then march, dance or gallop about to as it is played for a second time. My music club kids have enjoyed The Entertainer, Offenbach's Gallop, Vivaldi's mandolin concerto, some of the quick movements of the Mozart horn concertos and parts of Swan Lake. Don't forget to play some live recorder pieces to them too of course.
Games and Rhymes for Early years is great, published by NYCOS.
Short chant or song (e.g. nursery rhymes) with different dynamics. When your hands are together they must be silent, when a little way apart they whisper, when really far apart they shout. Gets them all looking at you and (hopefully!) concentrating. Alternatively hold up cards with dynamics written on (e.g. pp, p, f, ff) and they do the right one.
Good old clapping back a rhythm. I find this useful for getting everyone's attention when things are starting to slip. I clap a short rhythm and generally some clap it back without me saying anything; by the second or third one everyone is joining in, then when I stop they are all waiting for me to do the next one, so i can give a new instruction instead.
Grand Old Duke of York with actions - thumbs up for "up" and down for "down". You can also so this missing out bits - ie not singing the "ups" one time, and the "downs" the next - but with this age group it's a bit risky as you may get children singing them on purpose which spoils it for everyone else. Also, doing reverse actions. If you just start with your thumbs firmly out in front of you, they will probably join in.
Just getting them following your actions and keeping a beat - e.g. start by tapping both hands on your head with a regular beat and they all join in, then swap to knees / shoulders whatever and they have to follow. If they get used to that, ask them to keep on with the first action while you change, then when you shout "change" they switch to your second while you do a third, and so on (so they are always one action behind you). Children find it easier than adults once they realise what they've got to do!
The one that always worked with my children's choir was timing a minute. I told them we would start in one minute's time, and they were to could count slowly to 60 in their heads with their eyes shut. When they had finished they were to open their eyes and look at me, and then wait for everyone else to finish without saying anything. I would be timing a minute exactly with my watch, and would then tell them who had got closest. Being able to count seconds is a vaguely useful musical skill, but the main benefit was that it calmed them all down!
Glad things are going better. Keep us posted.
Good old clapping back a rhythm. I find this useful for getting everyone's attention when things are starting to slip. I clap a short rhythm and generally some clap it back without me saying anything; by the second or third one everyone is joining in, then when I stop they are all waiting for me to do the next one, so i can give a new instruction instead.
Grand Old Duke of York with actions - thumbs up for "up" and down for "down". You can also so this missing out bits - ie not singing the "ups" one time, and the "downs" the next - but with this age group it's a bit risky as you may get children singing them on purpose which spoils it for everyone else. Also, doing reverse actions. If you just start with your thumbs firmly out in front of you, they will probably join in.
Just getting them following your actions and keeping a beat - e.g. start by tapping both hands on your head with a regular beat and they all join in, then swap to knees / shoulders whatever and they have to follow. If they get used to that, ask them to keep on with the first action while you change, then when you shout "change" they switch to your second while you do a third, and so on (so they are always one action behind you). Children find it easier than adults once they realise what they've got to do!
The one that always worked with my children's choir was timing a minute. I told them we would start in one minute's time, and they were to could count slowly to 60 in their heads with their eyes shut. When they had finished they were to open their eyes and look at me, and then wait for everyone else to finish without saying anything. I would be timing a minute exactly with my watch, and would then tell them who had got closest. Being able to count seconds is a vaguely useful musical skill, but the main benefit was that it calmed them all down!
Glad things are going better. Keep us posted.
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