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By Jason Litt
The follow-up to "Rhythm Wind Up and PITCH! and MELODY Wind Up and PITCH!"
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This one will get the kids on their edge of their seats!
You will need 1 thing for this particular game:
The students will see an instrument at the bottom of their screen and memorize the timbre of the instrument (should know beforehand what it is and how it sounds!) They will then hear a musical example of an endless loop of orchestral and band instruments playing in all different ranges from low to high (Teacher will click the speaker icon to play)
Take a listen...
....
....
One of the instruments will be the instrument that is on the screen. AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT INSTRUMENT, they throw their suction cup ball at the target. The first kid who gets it correct is the winner (and make sure you advance the slide to make the target turn green) :)
Obviously, we cannot play this as a class because of
The amount of suction cup balls tossed at the screen would be insane
Team A v Team B would be a bit more competitive and only two balls would be launched at once
If you don't have a whiteboard/projection screen, you can alternatively have the students raise their hand when they hear it and choose the kid who has their hand up the fastest.
Have a great time with this fast paced game!
Body Percussion Dynamic Challenge! (4 beat patterns)
By Jason Litt
No need to have drums, recorders, or even auxiliary instruments for this one! If you don't have access, are traveling to rooms, or want to give a change to your curriculum try "Body Percussion Dynamic Challenge"!
There are nearly 30 Dynamic rhythm in each level with CLAPS, PATS , STOMPS, and SNAPS, and CHEST PATS, all indicated on the powerpoint slide with icons. Count your kids off with a few prep beats and watch them go!
If the kids master the rhythm with the appropriate dynamics, advance the slide and see how far they can get! (scoreboard included!)
Also terrific for reading in some of the younger grades who are not familiar with standard notation and need a warmup to reading using these icons.
Use the included background tracks (90bpm to 110bpm) or put on your favorite music so the kids can jam along (or choose your own)!
Here are the 4 levels:
Maple Leaf Rag, Scott Joplin - Rhythm Stick Read-a-Long! (BHM ready!)
By Jason Litt
All you got are rhythm sticks for classroom equipment? Or do you need something else to do with them other than keep a steady beat?
Put some creativity in your lesson with a rhythm stick read-a-long featuring Scott Joplin's famous ragtime tune "Maple Leaf Rag" - perfect for Black History Month!
In this resource, you will see the entire arrangement structured across 5 slides in coded colors with the corresponding repeats. There will be eight boxes that hold each beat along with one of three action icons.
Teach the entire thing line by line through a rote method and play through at the end!
_Play-a-long with the piece here!
_
Holiday Rhythm Discovery (NAME THAT TUNE!)
By Jason Litt
In "Holiday Rhythm Discovery" students will see a rhythm appear on the screen and will be given the opportunity to clap back (or perform back, say back, sing back, however you wish!) the rhythm being displayed. Then, they will see a multiple choice listing of songs -- which song matches the rhythm?
Advance the slide and the correct answer will turn GREEN
9 examples in this, just a little starter kit :)
Hoedown! (from Rodeo), Aaron Copland - Rhythm Stick Read-a-long!
By Jason Litt
All you got are rhythm sticks for classroom equipment? Or do you need something else to do with them other than keep a steady beat?
Put some creativity in your lesson with a rhythm stick read-a-long featuring Aaron Copland's famous piece "Hoedown" from his ballet "Rodeo"!
In this resource, you will see the entire arrangement structured across 6 slides in coded colors with the corresponding repeats. There will be eight boxes that hold each beat along with one of three action icons.
Teach the entire thing line by line through a rote method and play through at the end!
Boom-ong Us! (Boomwhacker Imposter)
By Jason Litt
A twist on the "Poison Pattern" game we all know and love, Boom-ong us, will have students all have 1 (or 2 to make it a little more engaging!) boomwhackers.
They will be shown a pattern of 3 or 4 boomwhackers that will be known as the
imposter. The boomwhackers, from left to right, will be played as quarter notes one by one. Then, students will play an assortment of boomwhacker notes one by one on the following slides.
If the IMPOSTER Boomwhacker melody is shown, do not play it! If the students play it (either 1 note, or the entire melody), they will receive a strike. Play the game until all the students receive 3 strikes (or 5 strikes if you wish) as a class or until they get to the end.
There is a countdown meter on the bottom to show the class how many rounds they have to complete before the end. If they finish it without using all 3 of their strikes, they win!
Play by itself, with you accompanying, or with the background drum beats provided (tempos in the 80s to 110s)
Have a great time with this!
Grim Grinning Ghosts (Haunted Mansion) - RHYTHM BASKETBALL! (mp3 included)
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in for Halloween with the smash hit "Grim Grinning Ghosts" in an Electro Swing Remix version from the Disney Theme Parks Haunted Mansion attraction!
There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2 or 4 times ).
For this, your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see a basketball icon. Each basketball icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each basketball for the students to hold the ball.
Two two smaller basketballs are treated as 2 eighth note pairs
This can be performed with lower intermediate grade levels (think 3rd and 2nd grade!) with easy because there's no standard notation to follow along
The mp3 is included so you can play right along with it!
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Harry Potter Theme (Remix) - PUMPKIN BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL has gotten a new twist right in time for Halloween as the basketballs are now *pumpkin* icons, inspired by John Williams' every so popular theme from "Harry Potter" ... played as PUMPKIN BASKETBALL!
There are three all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 2 times ).
For this, your students will each have a basketball (can be regulation size or smaller) and bounce their ball on the ground each time they see a basketball icon. Each pumpkin icon is denoted as a quarter note. The rests are in between each pumpkin for the students to hold the ball.
Two two smaller pumpkins are treated as 2 eighth note pairs
This can be performed with lower intermediate grade levels (think 3rd and 2nd grade!) with easy because there's no standard notation to follow along -- just pumpkins! ;)
The mp3 is included so you can play right along with it!
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Terms of Use:
All images/photos/clip art in this resource were created by me.
By Jason Litt
In this rhythm reading exercise for Boomwhackers, up to 5 boomwhacker colors will appear on the screen (an assortment of notes from the octave, red, orange, yellow, lime, green, purple, and pink)
Each color has a different rhythm and the color will be assigned to that rhythm and repeat as many times as necessary.
When you advance the slide, the rhythms and colors change around, giving everyone an opportunity to play a different rhythm and at a different time during the game.
You can play this a few ways
Included are instrumental accompaniment tracks but feel free to use your own! There are 16 different variations of rhythms and Boomwhackers colors in this resource
Have a great time with this!
RHYTHM FOUR CORNERS! (Class Rhythm Game)
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM FOUR CORNERS!
· To play Four Corners, ensure all students understand quarter notes, eighth note pairs, half notes, and quarter rests.
· Number each side of the room 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or alternatively, color code it green, blue, red, or purple with floor tape)
· They will hear a 9 second timer. Students will have a chance to walk to one of four corners and stay there for the duration of the round.
· On the next slide, the rhythms will appear in each corner and you will play back one of four the rhythms (provided on the Teacher Guide powerpoint). You can use that or you can play a rhythm of your choice (up to you!)
· The students will have to guess which rhythm the teacher played by showing it with their fingers (1, 2, 3, or 4)
· The teacher then reveals to the students which rhythm it was (#1, #2, #3 or #4) and the students who are in that corner are OUT!
· Keep repeating until no kids are left!
Included are 18 examples (you can switch it up each time and do different rhythms each time), the teacher guide, the 9 second timer embedded in the powerpoint file, and instructions
Twos Company - Part I (Duet Rhythmic Warmups with mp3s)
By Jason Litt
In "Twos Company" students will see two 4-beat rhythmic examples on the powerpoint and will split amongs their peers as a duet and read the rhythms down, with instruments, vocalizing, or however you please!
Students can be the "1" part or the "2" part or you can call individuals to sight read, or split it up any way you wish.
There are 25 different examples with inflections, style, and background grooves to keep you going (at different tempi if you'd like)
In this resource, it encompasses quarter notes, quarter rests, half notes, dynamics (forte and piano), and repeat signs into a canon exercise (to be repeated 4 times)
You can play these on boomwhackers, classroom percussion, Orff, recorders, or whatever you'd like.
Part II coming soon with extended rhythms and more!
Leaf it to the Rhythm - Autumn-Themed Rhythmic Identification!
By Jason Litt
Getting ready for fall and working with your younger kids to identify rhythms can be easy with "Leaf it to the Rhythm"!
In this lesson with 12 rhythmic examples, students will see an item that you would typically see in the fall (i.e. - Migrating Birds, Columbus Day, Rake, Jack o Lantern, etc) along with 3 rhythms below.
Which rhythm best fits the item? Have the students choose the rhythm that best matches (you can either do this as teams, have the students select it at the whiteboard/projection screen, or even race to hit it first!), advanced the slide, and then find out the correct answered illuminated in green!
Examples have series of quarter rests, quarter notes, eighth note pairs, and triplets. Terrific for reinforcing rhythms in the younger grades but can definitely work to pass some time in the older grades as well!
Stop, Drop, and BOX! (Identifying Rhythms)
By Jason Litt
In this rhythmic identifying game (fastest one wins!), students will see a rhythm displayed on the board with a box (one beat or two beats) inside the rhythm. These boxes will be blank and can hold different types of beats to complete the rhythmic phrase
The students will then listen to an example of music and figure out which of the available boxes (with corresponding rhythms) would complete the rhythm shown on the screen! Simply click on the sound icon, have the students listen, and then advance the slide when they choose the correct answer.
There are 10 musical examples in this lesson and works great with some of the younger elementary students. They can either vocalize "1st" "2nd" or "3rd" box, come up to the screen and pick, or have a race to see who can select the correct box first.
Have a great time with this!
Boom in a FLASH! (Boomwhackers against the clock!)
By Jason Litt
Want to engage your competitive 4th and 5th graders (and even some younger grades) towards the end of the year (or any time of year for that matter?) Try on this brand new game "Boom in a FLASH"
In "Boom in a FLASH", students will see one Boomwhacker color appear on the screen (PowerPoint presentation). The student who is holding that Boomwhacker must play the note (on the ground, hand, elbow, desk, whatever have you!), and then they automatically advance to the next slide...
... to another color!
Keep it going, keep reading because... they're being timed! They will have 30 seconds to amass as many notes as they can (timer included) before the time runs out and they look at their high score (which is kept below).
There are 4 "50" score levels in this presentation. All you do as a teacher is start the clock, start the presentation, and manually press the "next slide" button to advance each time they get it correct. Tally up the points at the end for the high score!
You can play this....
It sure gets these kids paying attention (because they're held accountable for playing their note when their color is up!).
BoomBox (25 sight reading patterns for BEGINNING Boomwhackers!)
By Jason Litt
In BoomBox, students will see a series of 8 to 12 boxes with corresponding boomwhacker colors filled in each box. When played, the teacher will count off the students to read down the Boomwhacker boxes from left to right, line by line.
Teachers can use a laser pointer, point with a cursor, or even have kids read by themselves from the beginning to the end.
In this resource, there are 3 levels
There are twenty five (25) exercises meant to get your kids booming right along! Included in this resource are the powerpoint, PDF, and percussive background tracks from MM 90 - MM 120.
Enjoy!
Dynamite, BTS - BODY PERCUSSION!
By Jason Litt
Need to connect with your kids with their pop music through general music? Involve them in a new BODY PERCUSSION version with BTS' smash hit "Dynamite"
There are five all-color coded slides along with the form identifiers listed next to each phrase. Discuss form with the students and teach them (by rote) the rhythms on the powerpoint with the corresponding repeats (most are repeated 3 times). Then, apply it to body percussion with the corresponding icons for STOMP, CLAP, SNAP, and PAT
Here's the track so you can play along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD62mQpTH8k
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Shamrock ROCK! (40 rhythm reading practice icons with Music!)
By Jason Litt
Getting ready for St. Patty's day, we bring to you Shamrock Rock!, a series of rhythm reading exercises for your elementary aged kids!
Each series of Shamrock Rock! has 10 rhythmic examples (in 4 different levels, 40 exercises in all) of quarter notes (1 four leaf clover), two eighth notes (2 smaller four leaf clovers in the place of one beat), and a quarter rest (pot of gold)
A link to music is provided for you below to listen to in the background while you perform these rhythms on boomwhackers, rhythm sticks, orff instruments, auxiliary percussion, body percussion, tubanos, handbells, or more!
2 Hours of Irish Jig Background Music!
Brass with Class! (Identifying order of Brass instruments)
By Jason Litt
Focusing on the timbres of the Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, and Tuba? Try "Brass with Class" on and let your kids zero in on differentiation between each... and more!
In "Brass with Class!" will hear the brass instruments in all sorts of orders (immediately following each other's segment) and their goal is to put them in order they hear them. Students will get a brief review in the beginning by playing the examples of a Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, or Tuba.
After reviewing the timbres, go onto the game where the options will be shown at the top and blank spots at the bottom for the instruments to go. Students can either have printed cards with the instruments, write it in on the whiteboard, call it out, or however you wish! I like to do the printed cards on the floor so the students can line them up and I can assess from the top.
Included are
Have some class -- Brass with Class!
Holly Jolly Rhythms! - Body Percussion Game
By Jason Litt
In Holly Jolly Rhythms, your kids will be challenged to body percussion like never before!
Students will see familiar Christmas characters and items along with body percussion that go along with the characters. They will use a series of claps, pats, stomps, and snaps indicated by clip art in beat boxes read from left to right
If everyone in class performs the body percussion PERFECTLY, you will move onto the next character… and then… A Present will drop into Santa’s sleigh if the students perform a certain number of the Holly Jolly Rhythms correctly!
You will control the amount of time the students can do this. You can put on a holiday song (2, 3, or 4 minutes long) or set a timer, and upon the conclusion, see how many presents they've amassed at in Santa's Sleigh!
It gives the kids an ending goal to get as many presents as they can along with aligning syllabic language to modified notation.
Have a great time with this a cheers!
By Jason Litt
With Halloween (or in general... anytime is good) around the corner, Candy Rhythms are a tried and true way to engage students to introduce them to aligning syllables. Mix it up a little with Candy Rhythm Matchup!
In this lesson, students will see a rhythm on the board that matches the name of some of their favorite candies. They will then have a choice between 2 or 3 different candy brands and will have to choose the best match for the rhythm shown
The answer is outlined in green on the following slide. You will get 10 rhythmic examples in this mini-lesson
Have a great time (and avoid those cavities)...