Steady Beat Activities with Scarves

There’s always room for more steady beat activities in music class. Young children need a variety of experiences feeling the steady beat. In this post I’m sharing some ways you can use scarves to play the steady beat.

You can find the links in the post and all the videos are on the Sing Play Create Teaching Tips channel.

The podcast is the full version with all the steady beat ideas in one podcast.

In this blog post I’m sharing 3 different ways on how to help your students feel the steady beat. They are easy to do and your students will love them.

BOUNCE ON THE BEAT

I like to use scarves to show the beat because they are “quiet”! And they help students stay focused and on task.

The students are looking at the scarves and concentrating on bouncing on the beat.

You can use a drumbeat, a song, an instrumental soundtrack or play the piano for students to follow along.

I like to practice with a drum beat first so they get the idea and I can walk around the classroom.

SWAY ON THE BEAT

You can vary the movements of playing on the beat.

Try having the students sway side to side.

You may want to ask them to create some moves.

This is a fun game too.

Go around the circle and have everyone share a way to show the beat using their scarf.

HIGH AND LOW ON THE BEAT

Another way to use the scarf on the beat is to show high and low or move high and low too.

I have played this game using the piano.

Play high and low notes on the steady beat.

Have the students show what they hear.

This is a fun game you can play any time of year using any song.

SCARF MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES

I’ve had such great success with scarves that I made an entire series of videos you can use to help your students move on the beat- or just move!

You can find these videos on the Sing Play Create YouTube Channel (Kids Music Channel)

Here’s a favorite one! Be a Super Hero Scarf Activity!