Games for kids like musical chairs and freeze dance can be fun to play, but if we’re being completely honest, they don’t teach kids anything. If you’re ready to take your music games up a notch and actually help kids practice music skills – this post is for you!
What you’ll find in this blog post:
- Four ideas for games that teach music skills
- How to set up each game, with or without instruments
- Explanation of what kids are learning
Game #1 – Guess the Sound
This game is perfect for young learners as it can help them learn the names of basic instruments. If you don’t own any instruments – no worries – simply take a trip through the house and see what other sound sources you can find! Examples: a dog collar with a jingly tag, a jacket with a zipper, a jar of dry popcorn kernels.
How to set it up:
Keep each instrument or sound item hidden in a box where kids cannot see what is making the sound. For younger kids, only play one sound at a time for easier identification. For older kids, try playing two or three sounds at the same time and see if they can identify them all.
What they’re learning:
Instrument identification and ear training! Ear training is the ability to recognize sounds by hearing alone, without visual cues. This is a foundational music skill and can be practiced at any age.
Game #2 – Hot and Cold Orchestra
This is a fun twist on the classic “hot and cold” game. One child leaves the room (or closes their eyes) while the group hides an object somewhere in the room. When the child returns, the group plays their instruments to guide them: playing louder as they get closer to the object (hot!) and softer as they move farther away (cold!).
How to set it up:
Every musician needs a way to make sound – instruments, body percussion, or even humming. The key is that the whole group must watch the seeker and adjust their volume together. This means it requires whole group cooperation, a wonderful thing!
Game #3 – Conducting with Feet
Yes, this game is as silly as it sounds. And no, I did not hire a foot model to take this picture. 😉
How to set it up:
Each musician in the pretend ‘orchestra’ needs a way to make sound, preferably using rhythm instruments, but it can also be played using body percussion sounds. They will practice following the conductor (parent or child) who is standing facing them. The conductor is tasked with communicating how they want the group of musicians to play – loud, quiet, fast, slow, smooth, bumpy, steady beat, rest, etc. – but the catch is that they can only communicate through foot motions. It’s a good idea to first discuss with kids how a conductor would normally do these types of motions with their hands, and get them to brainstorm how they would show similar things with their feet.
What they’re learning:
While this game does have a tendency to bring on a lot of giggles (as it should), it actually teaches important conducting concepts like dynamics, tempo, and expression. Kids learn that music isn’t just about the notes — it’s about how you play them! And the conductor has a lot of responsibility in communicating these ideas to the musicians.
Game #4 – Forbidden Rhythm
This game is a great way to reinforce rhythm patterns that students have already learned.
How to set it up:
Start by establishing a few rhythm patterns that kids know well (perhaps using Word Chains as discussed in a previous post). Now designate one of those patterns as the “forbidden rhythm.” The teacher or parent claps various patterns and kids echo back each one. But when they hear the forbidden rhythm, they must NOT echo it back — they stay silent!
You can make this into a competition: the teacher earns a point any time someone accidentally plays the forbidden rhythm, but the kids earn a point if they listen correctly and they all stop playing when they hear the forbidden rhythm.
What they’re learning:
Like all the previously mentioned games here, kids are developing their listening skills! This is a game where you can’t just space out and not pay attention, because if you do you’ll play a rhythm pattern when you weren’t supposed to and (gasp!) the teacher will earn a point. ‘Forbidden Rhythm’ is also great for reinforcing notation skills.
Want to see these games in action??
I hope you’ll be inspired to try one of these games in your homeschool or music class. If you’re the type of person (like me) who needs a visual, then check out this YouTube video from Morning Basket Music where I model how to teach all four games.
Happy music making!