Music Instrument Activity and Game

Here’s a fun instrument activity for music class. In this blog post I’m using the song “Snowflake, Snowflake”, but you can use the activity and game with any song.

This activity is best for Preschool & Kindergarten -through 2nd grades.

LEARNING GOALS

• Steady Beat
• Explore and Experience instrument sounds.
• Play instruments.
• Sing on pitch.
• Move to music.

LESSON OUTLINE

Here’s a general outline of the lesson (30-40 mins.)

Begin class by singing and teaching the song.

Use the instrument activity to play instruments.

Read a story like “SNEEZEY THE SNOWMAN”

Move with Scarves to “Snowflake, Snowflake”. Watch the tutorial

 Or Winter Penguin Scarf Movement activity. 

LESSON STEPS

I use 4 percussion instruments.

• TRIANGLE
• SAND BLOCK
• WOODBLOCK
• SHAKER

You can switch the instruments if you want to the ones you have in your classroom.

First, I teach the lyrics by singing the song and having the students pat the beat.

Then Il have them clap the rhythms.

Next, we sing the song together.

Then I listen as they sing the song.

Next, I show them how we’ll be using the instruments.

Demonstrate the Song with Instruments.

FIRST LINE:

TRIANGLE

Snowflake, snowflake, floating free.

SECOND LINE:

SHAKER

Twirl around and dance with me.

THIRD LINE:

WOOD BLOCK

Touch my head and touch my toes.

FOURTH LINE:

SAND BLOCK

Brush my face and kiss my nose.

LINE 1 REPEATS

TRIANGLE

Snowflake, snowflake floating free.

ON THE LAST LINE HAVE ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY.

SHAKER

Twirl around and dance with me.

PLAYING THE SONG

Pass our four instruments to each student or divide the class into four groups by instrument.

If you find that the students can’t sing and play at the same time, you can create a singer’s group.

Just be sure to rotate the students through the singing group so that everyone has a chance to sing and play instruments during the class time.

Play through the song and have the students play their instruments.

After each turn, rotate groups through the instruments.

INSTRUMENT GAME

You will need to have the four instruments in front of you or an instrument picture.

You can get these kinds of posters from the SING PLAY CREATE INSTRUMENT FAMILY RESOURCE

Come up with a signal to mean that ALL INSTRUMENTS PLAY like waving your hands.

First don’t switch too quickly so that students can get the idea of watching and only playing when it’s their turn.

Try starting with a different instrument.

Be sure to use all four instruments.

After you’ve played the game, the next time-

It’s a good idea to have students switch groups too.

Then you can have students choose the instruments to play.

This game can be played with any nursery rhyme or folk song.

Assign a different instrument to each line of the verse.

On the REFRAIN or the CHORUS all instruments play.

MORE MUSIC ACTIVITIES

I hope your students enjoy playing this game.

Be sure to read this blog post for more music activities.

Winter Scarf Movement Song “Snowflake, Snowflake”

Rhythm Stick Activity Tutorial for Snowflake Winter Song

Winter Music and Movement Activities

RESOURCES THAT WORK WELL WITH THIS ACTIVITY

BUILD A SNOWMAN MOVEMENT SONG

“Let’s Build a Snowman” Snowman Song, Brain Break, Movement Activity/TPT LINK

“Let’s Build a Snowman” Snowman Song, Brain Break, Movement Activity/WEBSHOP

“Let’s Build a Snowman” Snowman Song, Brain Break, Movement Activity/ETSY SHOP

VOCAL EXPLORATIONS: WINTER PENGUINS

Vocal Explorations and Music Lesson/ TPT

Vocal Explorations and Music Lesson/ WEBSHOP

Vocal Explorations and Music Lesson/ ETSY

STEADY BEAT BODY PERCUSSION ACTIVITY

Winter Body Percussion with Snowmen/TPT

Winter Body Percussion with Snowmen/WEBSHOP

Winter Body Percussion with Snowmen/ETSY

RHYTHM PLAY ALONG WINTER THEME

Winter Rhythm Activities LEVEL 1 : Compose and Rhythm Play Along Activities/TPT

Winter Rhythm Activities LEVEL 1 : Compose, Rhythm Play Along Activities/WEBSHOP

Winter Rhythm Activities LEVEL 1 : Compose and Rhythm Play Along Activities/ETSY

I hope these activity ideas help you in your music class.

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