Music Centers

OK...so today was an average day. Nothing too special, but nothing to devastating either. I have actually been working on a few centers for my music room. (I guess now they are called "stations"...same thing. Potato, Potatoe.)

I came up with about five ideas during the day, but after school I was on fire! I came up with almost twenty new ideas, thanks to the internet and all of those awesome teachers that share with us!

Here are the few I tried today that worked:

Fiddlesticks is a great game based on "Old Maid" that uses instruments of the orchestra and the four families, Musical Pairs is along the same lines - and both games come in a sweet little box that's great for grades 3 and up!

Today was also the first day that I've gotten to use my Listening Center as well! I think it was a hit! I had them follow the music map that was in this month's Music Express Magazine. (LOVE me some J-Jacobson!) I have many, many more music maps for songs, Music Express magazines, and books with cds. I can't wait to try more!

The SmartBoard is always an easy center, and I let the students pick which game they wanted to play from the Game Room at nyphilkids.org. They love that site!

Lastly, a couple of years ago, I had put together all of our lyrics for our state song, laminated and cut them into pieces, and had a packet for each student in the group. First one to complete the state song correctly got candy! Yay for sugar! (It was their last class of the day before dismissal...they'll be ok.)

A few more ideas that I researched after school and can't wait to try are:

Like the state song packet, I intend to make a packet for the National Anthem and other patriotic songs they should know. I'll have a Silent Reading Corner filled with books for them to choose from, as well as a Composer's Corner and a center for Interesting Instruments. (Not sure what I'll come up with to put with them, but at least they have some cute names already!) I will write a few Musical Stories that spells out words using the treble and bass clef notes, and have them write rhythms with popsicle sticks to our favorite poems and/or nursery rhymes. Lastly, I've bought a few games on sale at Wal-Mart and made them musical. For example, I've added rhythm-reading to each block of Jenga (yes, it took quite a while), drew music symbols on Twister, and used a game with dice I learned from my mentor teacher when I student taught. BINGO is always a crowd favorite, and there are TONS of different versions, not including the ones you create yourself - if you have the time.

Hope I've helped and given you out there some fabulous ideas for your music room! Be back soon!