We were filling particularly spontaneous today so we have decide to hold Piano Teaching Game Day on Tuesday instead of Wednesday… gasp! Today’s game turns rhythm instruction into a fun activity for your busy bees. It is also a great way to usher in Spring!
For “Rhythm Bee” you will need:
– the rhythm teacher master sheet
– sticky tape (or hold-it putty if you’re worried about the paint on your walls)
– a “honey pot” made from any jar or tub (see photo)
– a recording of “Flight of the Bumblebee” by Rimsky-Korsakov ready to play (free on youtube)
– Antenna headband (optional, but oh so fun!)
Objective:
To have your students be able to listen to a rhythm and then locate the flower that matches the rhythm they heard.
Rhythm Bee Set-up:
– print the rhythm flowers, cut them out and stick them all around the walls of your studio.
– put the Honey Pot in the centre of the room
– have “Flight of the Bumble Bee ready to play”… it does play on Kick It Classical Radio from time to time.
Game Play:
Student (wearing the antennae) is the Rhythm Bee
1. Clap a rhythm chosen from your teacher master sheet that corresponds with a flower still on the wall.
2. Start the music.
3. Student races to find the flower with the matching rhythm to the one clapped and places the correct flower in the honey pot. Pause the music.
Repeat until all of the flowers are off the wall or until there is no time left on the music recording.
Empty the Honey Pot and have the student clap the rhythms on each flower. Each correctly clapped rhythm equals a candy/sticker etc. that they get to take home. I found really cute little bumblebee stickers that were a hit.
You can “up the anty” by pausing the music at random to force the Rhythm Bee to stop searching and listen for the next rhythm (this makes it a timed activity). All that’s left is to enjoy the shrieking of laughter as your student races to find the flower. There is nothing like this recording to inspire speed! 🙂
Looking For More Theory Fun…
If, like us, you believe theory doesn’t have be dull and boring then you’ll definitely want to check out our book Pssst… Your Piano Teacher Thinks This Is Theory. It’s full of 88 theory activities that are absolutely, positively, most definitely… NOT BORING.
This is so cute I’m trying it! Pretty easy to put together too. I have a bee costume leftover from halloween too. Would be funny to answer the door with the wings and antennae. lol
Hi Holly,
The bee costume would be really cute! I played it today with a 5 year old who insisted on “buzzzzzing” as she searched for the right rhythm. She would have played it for the whole lesson if I’d have let her 🙂
Love this creative idea and definately will use it. Thanks for Sharing!
Hi Carol,
You’re welcome! It was fun to create. We’re already working on a St. Patrick’s Day one 🙂
I am enjoying your site so much…your books are on my wish list and will be my next purchase. I love how realistic your ideas are for busy piano teachers to incorporate into lesson planning. Thank you!
Love this!
Brilliant, as always. Thanks for sharing.
How exactly do you clap these? Do you count aloud with your claps? I am wondering with rhythms like the ones with quarter rests how exactly you would indicate those.
Hi Elizabeth – yes I count out loud. My rests are a “quietly spoken” count 🙂