Top 10 Elementary Music Tips

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Don’t be intimidated by the thought of teaching elementary music.

Instead, check out these awesome tips, teach your kids music, and have fun!

1. Listen to music in the car

Let’s be honest. Listening to music in the car isn’t just a classic past-time; it’s also an excellent way to expose elementary children to various music styles while they’re trapped in the back.

Kids can’t run away when we turn on classics. They can’t disappear into their bedrooms. They can’t dart out the door. Kids are stuck listening to what we choose to play on the car stereo.

So take advantage of trapped children and expose kids to your favorite genres while driving around in the car.

2. Sing songs together

Introduce your children to various camp songs, nursery songs, hymns, and movie favorites by singing them together around the house.

Sing when you change a child’s diapers. Sing lullabies when you tuck your kids into bed. And sing as you cook, clean, or fold. Don’t let an opportunity to sing pass you by. Soon your children will know all the songs you do.

You’ll even have the pleasure of listening to your kids belt out your favorite songs at the top of their lungs.

3. Dance to music in the living room

Turn on music in the mornings and dance around the living room together. If you know a formal dance you can teach it to your children. If not, simply leap and twirl around the living room like a pro.

You get your exercise. The kids get exercise and work out some of their hyper energy before sitting down to schoolwork. Everyone has a great time.

Dancing is an awesome way to teach your kids elementary music!

4. Pick a composer a quarter

There’s no reason to attempt to study a new composer every week. Taking the slower approach of one a quarter works just as well.

Read biographies of the composer and listen to their music while you’re working on art projects. Color pictures of the composer and fill out notebook pages of his life.

Soon you and your children will know this composer and recognize his music like an old, trusted friend.

5. Pick a genre a quarter

If staying with one composer for an entire quarter sounds boring, try studying a genre a quarter instead. Pick Jazz, Romantic, Modern, or Baroque and dive into the time periods.

Study the composers of the genre. Compare them and their music. Chat about what makes this genre distinct. Discuss how the genre differs from others you’ve studied.

This is especially awesome if you’re studying the historical time period in history as well You can truly see how the historical events affect the musical development of the time.

6. Pick a country

Another elementary music tip is to pick a country instead of focusing on a genre of music. Learn folk songs. Spend time researching the history of the songs. Study the geography and people of the country.

You can also trace the development of the songs over the centuries. Simply compare the older songs to the newer songs as note the differences.

Have fun creating lapbooks to record your discoveries and memorize your favorite songs.

7. Take children to concerts

Take your kids to concerts every chance you get. Listening to music on the radio is fun. Hearing the musicians play in real life is a true treat.

Don’t stick only to classical concerts. Take your children to hear your favorite bands. Head to local recitals and concerts being given in the various churches and schools.

Grab any opportunity you have to take your kids to hear music played live.

8. Start a band

Even better than hearing music live is the chance to play music yourself. Get yourself a small group of children, hand out instruments, and let the children play.

Teach them to read basic music. Find people and places to perform. Keep it fun and simple. Even if none of the kids takes off with hidden musical talents to become the next Mozart, you and your kids will have a great time.

Your kids will love music.

9. Music Lessons

Give your child the gift of music lessons. If possible, let your child pick the instrument they’re most interested in, find a teacher, and begin playing.

Do give the lessons two years before you give up. It takes a while to become proficient on an instrument. Also, find opportunities to play as a group.

Recitals, bands, orchestras, and symphonies are a blast to play in.

10. Use a Music Program

There are several excellent music appreciation programs out there. Find one that works for you. One that gets your kids excited about learning music and doesn’t just drill the kids on composers until they’re bored silly.

If you can’t find a program you like, try simply reading about the composers and writing up a short narration page about their lives. It’s quick and easy!

Use these 10 elementary music tips to introduce music and the various genres to your kids. Don’t get caught up in trying to do it right. If nothing else, turn on the radio and enjoy listening to music together.

Recommended reading:

teaching elementary music

6 Comments

  1. We actually really like the old (1960s) Exploring Music series text from Holt, Rinehart and Winston by Eunice Boardman – so many great activities. You can find used copies on amazon or ebay. We’ve noticed that a lot of resources for homeschool music appreciation focus on classical music composers and facts about reading music. Do you think there is interest for additional music from around the world, more current composers, or different types of activities that involve children actively engaging in music such as composing or other activities? We’re in the process of creating resources and want to focus on what would be most helpful to people.

    1. I would love to see resources for additional music from around the world, such as folk songs, and more current composers. That would be very helpful! 🙂

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