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By Jason Litt
The NFL season is BACK! Your older grade level kids will love RED ZONE
RHYTHMS!
Students will see an NFL team and their corresponding mascot and the students will have to spell out the team and mascot combo with that's right... RHYTHM!
The students will have to decipher the rhythmic syllables using triplets, eighth note pairs, and quarter notes. The rhythm will be shown on the animation on the next slide.
There are 14 teams with 14 unique rhythms that the students will have to decipher. Here comes the kickoff!
By Jason Litt
In this new game where your students will have the fastest eye, Rhythm Waldo teachers your kids their aural theory in this fast paced activity!
Directions
Print out the included powerpoint on 8.5"x11" cardstock, as many copies as you'd like, and assign to a group of students, individual students, or however you'd like to play. Each cardstock pair have 12 different rhythms on them and they'll lay all the rhythms out on the floor in front of them. The rhythms will be simple, all comprised of quarter notes, eighth note pairs, and quarter rests _(would be ideal for 2nd-5th graders)
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You will then play an audio example of a rhythm and the students will have to find which rhythm you played (by of course, searching through all 12 of their rhythms, while maintaining the rhythm in their head). The first one to hold it up is deemed the winner!
You can play this individually, team vs team, boys vs girls, however you wish!
There are 12 examples (and some of them may end up repeating!)
Have a great time with this!
Birds of a Feather - ORFF Composition
By Jason Litt
Wanna get your Orff Ensemble moving and grooving but don't know where to start? Get percussive with an original composition named "Birds of a Feather" for Soprano, Alto, and Bass Xylophone/Metallophones!
This Orff Ensemble orchestration provides parts for Soprano, Alto, and Bass Xylophone/Metallophone All parts work together and you can perform the arrangement with all or just some of the parts.
You are free to dissect melodies and harmonies to what you wish, or play right from the beginning to the end. There are 3 four-measure sections to teach your kids (by rote), and you can arrange and label these sections ("A" at measure 1, "B" at measure 5, and "C" and measure 9) in any form you want. ABACA. ABABCAB. AABBCC, etc!
Included are:
Part for Soprano
Part for Alto
Part for Bass
What's it sound like? Check out the preview and see if it's a good fit!
By Jason Litt
With “Rhythms Around the Horn”, students will see four rhythm squares on the powerpoint (or PDF), all of them containing different rhythms.
For starters, have the entire class perform rhythm 1 (with instruments, vocalizing, clapping, patting, etc), then rhythm 2, then 3, and then finally 4.
After students understand the rhythms, then you can have the rhythms all be performed several different ways...
There are 4 levels of rhythms all with increasing difficulty
Have a great time with this!
Anti-Hero (CLEAN), Taylor Swift - RHYTHM BASKETBALL!
By Jason Litt
RHYTHM BASKETBALL is in with a tune that's sure to get your kids singing and bouncing right along -- the smash hit from Taylor Swift "Anti-Hero"!
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 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 ball for the students to hold the ball.
There's also a "pat" icon with a hand below the basketball icon itself, so you will have the student hold the basketball in one hand and pat the ball on the beat
The track can be found here to play right along:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ1nIXS91S4
Have fun with this and let us know how it goes!
Meter Reader - Fill-in-the-Blank Time Signature Practice!
By Jason Litt
With "Meter Reader", students will see a 4/4, 3/4, or 2/4 meter with typical rhythms inside the measure.
There will be an empty box within the measure and students will have to figure out which corresponding rhythm completes the measure.
There are 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 examples with quarter, whole, eighth and half note rhythms and rest patterns and also dotted quarter and half note rhythms.
There are multiple ways of assessment -- play as a class, individually, or team against team!
Have a great time with this!
**75% OFF!** Rhythm Latitudes (A RHYTHM CHALLENGE Game!)
By Jason Litt
***75% OFF FOR ONE WEEK ONLY!***
9.9.22 to 9.18.22!
Inspired from the MyRhythm App, here's a fun game you can play with some of your older kids to help reinforce rhythms, independence, steady beat, and more!
In Rhythm Latitudes, students will see two rectangles stacked on top of each other. In each rectangle (now known as a beat), there are two circles inside (denoted as eighth notes).
Top Rectangle
· If the first circle is illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the top rectangle, the students will play using their LEFT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes
Bottom Rectangle
· If the first circle is illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap
· If two circles are illuminated green on the bottom rectangle, the students will play using their RIGHT HAND either an instrument (maybe a tambourine, drum, rhythm stick, whatever you wish) or their hand to pat their lap like two eighth notes
You will receive 4 levels of mastery with this (4 beats, 6 beats, offbeats, and rests) and accompanying mp3 groove background tracks (or you can play it with some of your favorite pop music).
Procedure:
· Teach the first pages of Left Hand rhythms on top, Right Hand rhythms on bottom
· Review included practice rhythms
· Then count off the kids and go!
· If they master it, move onto the next slide until completed (or until time runs out)
Bar Line Blitz! (Identifying measures in simple rhythm patterns)
By Jason Litt
Down, Set, HUT!
In Bar Line Blitz, student will see a meter with several beats of music – except the bar lines are missing to separate the measures from each other!
They will will see 2 or more line placeholders (small grey lines) in between notes. One of the placeholders is where the bar line should go… but which one is it?
Identify where the bar line should be placed and the correct area will illuminate
green if it is accurate!
Play team vs team, A vs B, or individually... and enhance it by playing some fun football music in the background (search NFL themes or college football fight songs on YouTube) ;)
There are 4 levels (4 quarters if you wish) of varying difficulties. The last quarter, they students will need to identify where it should be placed without any small grey lined hashmarks
Have a great time with this one!
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:
By Jason Litt
Ready to talk about Forte and Piano in any of your grades? Drum it up, Dynamically II will get your kids reading dynamics like a pro!
First, we start off with an introduction to Forte and Piano with a clip from Music K8's animated series (included), and then get into the game:
Students are issued hand drums (or djembes, tubanos, orff instruments, rhythm sticks, whatever you wish!) and dynamics are shown on the screen. The teacher points to the dynamic (optional) as the kids play along on their instruments while the background music (included) helps them keep on beat! After the students master the dynamics, the teacher advances the slide and dynamic shifts get a little harder each time.
Have a ball with this and let me know if you have any questions!
Three tracks at various tempi are included (slow for the little kids, and medium and fast for the bigger kids)
By Jason Litt
Trying to wean the kids off of the letter names but want to do it easily? Start with a warmup! In "Super Simple Recorder Warmups", you'll receive 25 4-beat exercises designed to warmup your kids while working on quarter and half note patterns.
Use the background accompaniment tracks if you wish (ranging from 80bpm to 117bpm) and reinforce the notes of the staff and rhythms throughout before heading into your recorder activity!
Included in this version are the recorder notes, G, A, B, and C
Poison Percussion (Body Percussion Poison Pattern)
By Jason Litt
Not ready for instruments but want to involve your students in some body percussion (while still assessing their reading and performing skills?). Try out "Poison Percussion" the ever-popular Poison Pattern game for body percussion!
This takes students through 63 slides and 3 levels of body percussion (clap, snap, stomp, and pat) sight reading.
Students will play a variety of rhythms as the teacher scrolls through the slides. Each slide contains one rhythm they will play and after advancing to the next slide, you can elect to give them a 4 beat or 2 beat prep to read the next rhythm, whichever works for you. The less prep they have, the better because...
There will be one rhythm (the poison rhythm, poison pattern, or OOPS! rhythm as we'll call it) that students DO NOT play! If they do, they're out of the game.
Students learn the rhythm before the round is played. Be careful or you will be ELIMINATED!
You can play this in teams, As vs Bs, however you wish!
There are 5 background grooves that go from 80 bpm to 120 bpm to challenge your kids as they go through the levels. There are 4 beat rhythms with quarter, eighth note pairs, and quarter note rests
Have a great time with this!
Automotive Rhythms (Printable Worksheet)
By Jason Litt
Think your kids know rhythms? Challenge them with matching familiar car/truck and auto verbiage in the form of Automotive Rhythms, a printable worksheet for your students!
There are four rhythms that line the sheet (variations of quarter and eighth note pairs) along with terminology on the side. Which automotive phrase (part, brand, accessory, etc) matches the rhythm? Simply identify and ask the students to write it down, easy as ordering flooring it down the autobon!
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!
One "Minor" Imposter ("Among Us" theme chord quality identification)
By Jason Litt
A game that will keep your students entertained, engaged, and competitively charged with identifying chord quality, here's One "Minor" Imposter inspired by "Among Us"!
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IN ONE MINOR IMPOSTER, YOU WILL LISTEN TO 2, 3, 4 EVEN 5 CREWMATES PLAY MAJOR CHORDS ONE BY ONE. ONE OF THE MAJOR CHORDS IS ACTUALLY NOT THE MAJOR CHORD PERFORMED!
YOUR TASK IS TO DECIDE WHICH CREWMATE IS THE IMPOSTER BY SELECTING THE CREWMATE WHO PLAYED THE MINOR CHORD INSTEAD OF THE MAJOR CHORD
HERE WILL BE ONLY ONE CREWMATE WHO IS THE IMPOSTER
____________________________
In each example is a piano/guitar/harpsichord mix with different background percussion tempos to keep the kids engaged. Each crewmate, lined up on the powerpoint (1, 2, 3, etc) will be representative of the musical example played.
Included in this resource are
Have a terrific time with this while your kids study chord quality!
By Jason Litt
The follow-up to "Rhythm 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 a melody at the bottom of their screen and memorize the melodic direction or say it back in their head (just make sure the melodic is not sung out loud). They will then hear a musical example of an endless loop of melodic figures separated by 4 beats each in between rhythms. (Teacher will click the speaker icon to play)
Take a listen...
....
....
One of the melodic figures will be the melody that is on the screen. AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT MELODY, 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!
Solfege Imposter ("Among Us" themed solfege lesson!)
By Jason Litt
A game that will keep your kids entertained, engaged, and competitively charged, here's SOLFEGE IMPOSTER inspired by "Among Us"**!
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_IN SOLFEGE IMPOSTER, YOU WILL SEE MULTIPLE CREWMATES ASSIGNED WITH DIFFERENT SOLFEGE HAND SIGNS.
_
_YOUR TASK IS TO DECIDE WHICH CREWMATE IS THE IMPOSTER BY SELECTING THE CREWMATE WHO IS HOLDING UP THE WRONG HAND SIGN
THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE CREWMATE WHO IS THE IMPOSTER?
_________________________________________
_
Included in this resource are
Have a terrific time with this while your kids study and reinforce solfege!
Call it the Response! (Orff/Auxiliary Percussion improvisation)
By Jason Litt
Mastering the “Call and Response” technique just got a bit more automonous! Sit back and let the music be freely created with “Call it the Response” for Orff Instruments!
In this lesson, student swill hear a “Call” which is the first part of a musical phrase. They will then play a “response” which completes the short musical phrase. Their response may be a certain number of beats or maybe a certain rhythm (could be same or different than the call)
There are 8 different exercises for your kids to give their response on Orff Instruments (or even auxiliary percussion instruments or boomwhackers, the possibilities are endless!).
Each exercise has a percussive backing track with the "Call" built in (played by marimba and xylophone, so you as the teacher aren't responsible for making it up yourself!) and varies in tempo from 100bpm to 110bpm and covers V7, Pentatonic, IV chords, and bourdon notes.
Get creative with “Call it the Response!”
Fully Staffed! - (Lines and Spaces of the Treble Clef Staff)
By Jason Litt
Need a resource that is a creative and intuitive way to work on the notes of the treble clef staff?
In “Fully Staffed” students will see several notes on the Treble Clef staff. They will then be asked to identify one specific note out of all of the notes shown. By process of deduction, or even using previous knowledge, they’ll have to find the note as fast as they can, either individually, as a class, or team vs team, boys v girls, however you wish! As soon as they’ve locked in their answer, advance the slide, and the correct note will be revealed by illuminating green
I like to have the students challenge either other and see who can be the first student to name the note
Included in this 55 slide resources are 5 levels:
Level One: Find one note out of 3 listed (ex, find the “E”)
Level Two: Find one note out of 4 listed (ex, find the “F”)
Level Three: Find two notes listed out of a melodic figure (ex, find “A” and “D”)
Level Four: Backwards! Find the note that is NOT “F” or NOT “D”, etc
Level Five: Find one note out of 8 notes listed (ex, find the “G”)
Get ready to get FULLY STAFFED!
Major Problem, Minor Adjustment (Identifying Major & Minor chord quality)
By Jason Litt
Chord quality galore! Help your kids understand to identify Major and Minor chords in "Major Problem, Minor Adjustment"!
Students will hear 3 to 4 chords back-to-back and have to select the chord (represented by a box from left to right) they think is "minor" or "major" as indicated by the slide
Advance the slide to discover the answer!
There are 8 questions and answers in this series