How To Rock Your Music Class With Orff & Kodaly

Welcome back teachers!

It’s that time when we all start thinking about the end of the school year and what we’re going do over our summer break. Here is a great way to enjoy our summer.  Let’s sharpen our saws by participating in summer workshops and classes. We can experience a new sense of enthusiasm within our music classrooms through Kodaly and Orff training. The instructors are highly skilled professionals and they will teach you "How To Rock Your Music Class".  These classes are so much fun and rank as high points in my musical training.

Orff-Schulwerk summer courses teach us to engage children with an element of "play", helping them learn through movement and experience music at their own level of understanding. Here is an example of an Orff performance I did with my 4th grade class called Sea Shells. Click on my Freebie tab to grab a fun worksheet that goes along with this song being played by my 4th graders in the video below. This song can also be found in my "Composing Music With Children" Grades: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

 

"Since the beginning of time, children have not liked to study. They would much rather play, and if you have their interests at heart, you will let them learn while they play; they will find that what they have mastered is child's play.”……… Quote by Carl Orff

Kodaly Summer courses

Kodaly teaches a step by step sequence for helping children to sing, read and write music. Singing, dancing, playing games, creating music, collaborating with others and having fun with friends are all part of these programs.

During the summer, there are many Orff and Kodaly music classes offered around the county. It’s not too late register for one of these exciting classes while getting graduate credits towards our teaching certificate.

Want more fun activities and ideas for your music class?
be sure to Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim a monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks. I would love to hear thoughts you might have in the comments below. Sherry :)

Check out some of my favorite games and activities!Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com

          

   

3 Exciting Music Games!

Welcome Back,

It's hard to believe that the end of the school year is here. So for an easy end of the year activity you can check out this exciting music game called Spin 2 Learn. This is one of my classes favorite music game and they frequently request to play it over again. Have one child spin the spinner. After the spinner stops, the class will sing a short song using the tempo selected from the cards. Repeat the game using different children.  (Here is an example : Bubble Gum in a Dish, is a short song that is fun to sing with this game).

 

4th Grade Playing Spin 2 Learn!

 

This game will keep your class engaged in learning and help your students to learn tempo terms quickly.  After playing this game with your class; students will be able to identify the tempos from a variety of musical selections.

Below is a mini tempo quiz that I used for a quick assessment to go along with the lesson.  If you would like the tempo assessment you can find it at my TpT store. Thanks for stopping by, Sherry:)

Want more fun activities and ideas for your music class? be sure to Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim your teacher tips & tricks along with a monthly freebie. I would love to hear thoughts you might have in the comments below. Sherry :)

Check out some of my favorite games and activities!Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com

 

Why Your Class Should Play This Fun Music Game

Welcome back!

This week I'm sharing a super easy music lesson that I do with my 1st and 2nd graders.Your children will beg to play this fun music game,“There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed Some Instruments .” My class loves playing this singing game and I love it because it allows students to quickly learn the names of various rhythm instruments while teaching them how to play and hold them correctly.

I started out by singing  the musical story “There Was an Old Lady Who A Swallowed Fly” to my class. The children love musical stories and quickly caught on to the melody and sang along with the story.

Next,  I had the class sit in a circle.  I passed out some rhythm  instruments and told the class  the name of each instrument. 


Fun Music Game with 2nd Grade

Then I demonstrated how to correctly hold and play each rhythm instrument.  I changed the words of the song in order to use the names of the rhythm instruments for this game. Learn more about this game here.

Below is a mini instrument quiz that I used for a quick assessment to go along with the lesson.  If you would like the rhythm instrument assessment you can find it at my TpT store.

 

Want more fun activities and ideas for your music class? be sure to Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim your teacher tips & tricks along with a monthly freebie. I would love to hear thoughts you might have in the comments below. Sherry :)

Check out some of my favorite games and activities!Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com

     

    

 

 

Making May Musical

Welcome back teachers,
I'm excited to tell you about 3 great resources for music teachers this week. I am linking up with Totally Tuned-in Teacher and some other music teachers to celebrate the TpT Teachers Appreciation Sale May 5-6! Most TpT stores will be discounted and you'll save more with the TpT Code THANK YOU, so check out these exciting resources below!

1- Stucki Education-Station TpT Store
Your class will beg to play my new music game called Spin-2-Learn on my TpT store. This game has been a big hit with my students and includes a fun tempo game and fun dynamics game. It also has a free bonus game.

My classes love playing these exciting spinning games and I like it because it helps them to instantly learn tempo, dynamics, singing skills and music vocabulary.

This game can save you time with the print and go quizzes and game cards for easy lesson plans. If you would like this game, you can check it out Here!

2-Sweet Sounds TpT Store
I also wanted to share a resource found on the Sweet Sounds TpT store. Try this fun song called Bobby Shaftoe. This singing game helps your class to practice reading so, la and mi. It also has a fun pirate theme and has a Vanishing Treasure game to fill in the missing solfege. You can check out this game here.

3-Dancing Crayon Designs TpT Store
You can also find the best clipart at this TpT website. I'm going to buy this clipart with musical instruments. I've had this on my wish list and can't wait to use it for my music class. You can check it out here.

3 Easy Dances Your Music Class Will Love!

 Hello Teachers,

Folk  dancing is fun for any grade level. This week my classes are learning so much through folk dancing. They are having fun moving to the beat, learning about musical form and patterns in music, learning about music around the world, working together as a team and so much more. Here are 3 fun dances I use with my classes.

Dance #1: D'Hammerschmiedsg'selln
(what a mouth full). My  3rd and 4th graders love doing this hand clapping German Dance.


4th Grade Doing A German Dance

Go here to see how to do this simple dance on youtube. Notice how one set of partners start their hand claps above their heads while the other partners start their had clap patterns by patting their legs 1st. Here are the dance moves: (these 6 claps will be repeated throughout the "A" section of the music). Partners will clap the following beats=count 1-R hands above head, ct. 2-L hands above head, ct. 3-clap both hands with your partner above your heads, ct. 4-pat both hands on legs, ct. 5-pat both hands on chest, ct. 6-clap your own hands in front of your body. Repeat this clapping pattern until the end of the "A" section. It is easier to have the class skip in a circle on the "B" section as they hold hands or they can follow the foot work that is on the video.  

 

 

Dance #2: Sasha: (I created this easier dance version below)

My first and second graders love doing this Russian Dance. 

2nd Graders Doing A Russian Dance

Sasha Dance Moves for the "A" Section=Have the class spread out around the room in their own self spot. Shake index finger while saying, "Sasha! Sasha! Rahss, dvah, tree!" (do this clapping sequence)  Clap 3 times to the right side of your body, 3 times to the left side of your body. Pat knees 3 times then clap 3 times above your head.

Dance Moves for the "B" Section= have the class skip around the room. Then repeat the dace alternating between the (A & B) sections in the music.

Dance # 3: Cha-Cha Slide

My 5th and 6th graders love doing this line dance and it is supper easy to teach. Just turn on the music for this one and your class will follow the dance moves given by the speaker on the CD. Have fun with some of these dances in your music room.  Sherry :)

Want more fun activities and ideas for your music class?
be sure to Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim a monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks. I would love to hear thoughts you might have in the comments below. Sherry :)

Check out some of my favorite games and activities!
Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com

          

 

Guaranteed to Fall In Love With These Music Centers!

Welcome Back Teachers,

When music centers began to be more popular, I wanted to give them a try in my music room. As I began to use music centers, I noticed that my students loved working in smaller groups and participating in a variety of musical games and activities. Needless to say, I am now hooked on using music centers because they brought excitement to my classroom and gave my class a fresh way to practice their music skills.

1st Graders Playing Music Games.

I noticed that my classes really loved two types of music activities. One of the activities was playing music smartboard games. My first graders are playing an instrument matching game. If you would like this game you can find it here.



 Practicing Note Writing in Music Centers.



My kindergarten through third graders really enjoy coloring. I use music coloring sheets for one of my centers since they love to color and I like to use them for individual assessment grades. If you would like this coloring worksheet, you can find it here.
Don't forget to get your freebie. Just click the freebie tab at the top of my blog page. Enjoy!


Want more fun activities and ideas for your class? Be sure to Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim a monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks. I would love to hear what tricks you use or other thoughts you might have in the comments below. Enjoy!  sure to 

Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim a monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks. I would love to hear thoughts you might have in the comments below.

Check out some of my favorite games and activities!

Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com

          

Seriously Fun Music Activity to Try Right Now

Hello Teachers,

 

Now that the weather is warming up, I like to take my class outside for music time. Try this seriously fun music activity that gets your students working on their music rhythms. This music activity is always a big hit with my students and it's one of their favorite rhythm composing lessons. Take students outside and let them select colored chalk to write 16th notes on the sidewalk.

Outside Learning

Have each child compose one measure of rhythms. They must use  16th notes in their Rhythm Composition and end with a quarter note. Have them write their name next to the music they composed.
Students are allowed to move around the playground and practice clapping each others Rhythm Compositions. The teacher can easily keep track of grades by using a  class list.  Have students make corrections if needed and document which students required extra help. Your class will love getting a music recess time without realizing they are really working on rhythm reading. Give it a try..........your class will think you are the best teacher ever! Leave a comment below to share what cool things you do at the end of the school year. Enjoy!
Want more fun activities and ideas for your class? Be sure to 

Sign-up by email on my side bar to claim a monthly freebie, teacher tips & tricks. I would love to hear what tricks you use or other thoughts you might have in the comments below. Enjoy!

  Check out some of my favorite games and activities!

You Can Contact me via email:  sherrystucki@aim.com