'Music Lesson Ideas' contributed by Clare Mcgeary

Clare writes: 'I have a number of ideas for music lessons.

1) Musical treasure hunt - you hide a toy or a sweetie and the rest of the children have to clap really loudly if the chosen child is near the 'treasure' softly if they are far away etc.. I have used this to great effect, usually after introducing soft and louds in clapping.

2) One child is blindfolded / scarf etc. and a group of children stand around them in a circle holding the instruments that you want them to learn about. (Once they have shaken and felt them and become familiar with them.) The children in a circle then play their instruments and the child must listen carefully for the instrument 'you' choose for them to pick out and they must move towards the sound of that instrument!

3) Get them familiar with pitch by choosing a group to make a high movement and then a low movement. When another groups play the high pitched notes on the chime bars, "they" must jump high or make a high movement. When another group plays a low chime bar "they" must move down low. (Groups take turns) This can be developed with the children making up their own 'score' by alternating with high and low movements. '