The Musical Whiz
Summer time is here! For some, that means time for resting, relaxing, and spending time with family. For others, that may mean you are now responsible for keeping kiddos engaged and entertained throughout the day. Here are some of my favorite activities that I do in my classroom throughout the year that you can do at home with your young ones to keep them engaged in music throughout the summer.
1. Tracing Maps
Tracing maps are used to help students visualize what they hear in the music, and these are some of my favorite listening activities to do in music class. They are great for encouraging mindfulness and focus while also giving students a way to kinesthetically interact with the music they hear. I also love using these as an end of the year activity to reinforce musical vocabulary. You can find tons of these on YouTube. After following a tracing map, maybe ask them some questions like, “What did you hear?” “What happened when the shapes changed?” “What colors did you see?” “What happened when the colors changed?”
Want to take things to the next level? Encourage your child to listen to a piece of music and draw their own tracing map using simple shapes and lines that match the music.
2. Listening Walks
Need to get outside? Listening walks are a great way to get out of the house, away from screens, and into the noise around us. Take a notebook with you, and have your child write down what they hear. Try to see if they can describe the sound with words like loud, soft, fast, slow, rough, or smooth.
A different twist on this activity could be a listening scavenger hunt. You can use my free “Listening Walk Scavenger Hunt” on Teachers Pay Teachers and see how many different sounds you and your child can hear? Maybe try talking walks at different times throughout the day and see how the sounds change!
3. Musical Art
This is another great way to have students interact with music in a creative, artistic way. Find any piece of orchestral music and have students listen to it first. Shorter pieces or short sections from longer pieces work best for this activity. Have your child listen to a piece of orchestral, classical, or instrumental music. Just have them listen actively and intently; don’t let them start drawing just yet. Before they draw, ask them some questions. What instruments did you hear? How did this make you feel? What kind of story could go with this music? Having them talk about the piece first helps with the creativity piece. Then, have them listen to the piece again and let them start drawing whatever they think goes with the music. The beauty of this activity is that there is no right or wrong way to do it!
Need a twist for your more advanced creative thinkers? Have them come up with a comic strip or story board! Maybe listen to a second piece of music and see if they can continue their story!
4. Storytelling with Found Sound
Found Sound is one of my favorite lessons to use in my classroom, especially with my littles and introducing instruments and timbre (sound color or quality); don’t worry – this can be for the big kids, too! Take a story that your kids know. I love using classics like The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, or Going on a Bear Hunt. The key for this activity to be super fun is to try to pick a book with lots of sound effects or chances to create sound and that it’s a story your kiddo is already familiar with. Talk with your child about different sounds that could go with each character or maybe with different sound effects. Then, find different items in your home that could create these sounds! Get creative and look in the playroom, the kitchen, the bathroom – anywhere! Finally, reread the story with your original, musical accompaniment!
Need some inspiration for found sound? Foley sound artists are experts at taking everyday items and turning them into sounds. Check out some of what they do to get some ideas!
5. Live Performances
Nothing can replicate a musical experience like live performances! If you live in an area with a local orchestra or band, go to a concert! See what concerts there are locally. If you live in an area where street performers are active, take a walk and see what you can find! Engaging with live music is the most fulfilling way to experience music.
Depending on where you live, you may have limited opportunities, but never underestimate the joy of a digital field trip! Utilize the internet and YouTube and see what performances you can find!
It can be easy to get trapped in the dreaded question “What do you want to do?” or the harrowed “I’m bored!” My hope is that these five simple activities can bring some creative energy and musical magic into your home this summer!
Happy musicking!
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