Piano games are not only an effective learning tool, but they provide you with a tool you can use to assess your piano student’s understanding in a variety of different ways. When your student is fully engaged in a game and motivated by the outcome you get a helpful glimpse into what he or she does not fully understand.
Piano games that capture the imagination of your young piano students are extra special – they create “piano lesson memories” that are not soon forgotten. Have some fun with this game… “buzz” around with your student, put on an antennae headband, and bring life to rhythm practice.
How To Play “Buzz Little Rhythm Bee”
This game is easy to set up and easy to play. Adding the antennae and honey pot are optional… but they really take this game from “great” to “WOW!”! Your students will be happily buzzing around your studio while reinforcing their rhythm skills.
You’ll Need:
- the rhythm flowers
- 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!)
Game Objective:
To have your students be able to listen to a rhythm and then locate the flower that matches the rhythm they heard.
Setting It Up:
- print the rhythm flowers, cut them out, and stick them all around the walls of your studio.
- put the Honey Pot in the center of the room
- have a recording of Flight of the Bumble Bee ready to play.
How To Play:
Your student (wearing the antennae) is the “Rhythm Bee”
1. Clap a rhythm chosen from your teacher’s 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.
4. Repeat until all of the flowers are off the wall or until there is no time left on the music recording.
5. 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.
6. 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 particular recording to inspire speed! 🙂
Looking For More Theory Fun?
Our WunderKeys Method Books include ear training games and theory games that directly contribute to the learning goals of each unit. The best part? They’re included right in the books themselves! Find out more about WunderKeys on our website www.wunderkeys.com
Holly Valencia says
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
Andrea says
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 🙂
Carol Hicks says
Love this creative idea and definately will use it. Thanks for Sharing!
Andrea says
Hi Carol,
You’re welcome! It was fun to create. We’re already working on a St. Patrick’s Day one 🙂
Christine says
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!
Marian says
Love this!
Sandy Fortier says
Brilliant, as always. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth says
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.
Andrea says
Hi Elizabeth – yes I count out loud. My rests are a “quietly spoken” count 🙂
Jacqueline says
Looking forward to doing this with my students on Honeybee Awareness Day! Thank you for your generosity and for all that you do!!!
Andrea says
Didn’t know that was a day! So cool – enjoy 🙂
Donita Frymier says
I got the email of 7 Resources so Summer Piano Teachers can turn lemons into Lemonade”.
I’ve been trying to click the link to print Buzz Little Rhythm Bee out and keep getting an error message. Is it available at a different link?
Andrea says
This was a very old post from 2011 and the printable is no longer available. We do have hundreds of other free games, however, on https://wunderkeys.com/growing-with-wunderkeys-toolkit/ 🙂