Are you looking for exciting ways to introduce your child to the world of music? Music Games For Kids are not just fun; they’re a fantastic educational tool. At polarservicecenter.net, we believe in the power of engaging activities that foster creativity and learning. Explore our site for more insights on integrating technology with educational games, and discover solutions that enhance your child’s development.
1. Explore New Elementary Music Games
Want to spice up your music class? Here are some fresh ideas added to our ever-growing list of elementary music activities that are sure to be a hit with your students.
1.1. Around the World (K-5)
This game tests students’ knowledge of musical concepts in a competitive and engaging format.
How To Play Around the World
- Starting Student: Begin by selecting a student to stand behind another who is seated.
- Prompt Presentation: Display or play a musical prompt, such as an image of an instrument, a rhythm pattern, or a note name.
- Competitive Answering: The two students then compete to be the first to correctly answer the prompt.
- The student who answers correctly first wins the round.
- Progression: The winner moves on to the next seated student and faces a new musical challenge.
- Continuation: Play continues as the winner attempts to make their way “around the world,” progressing around the classroom.
- Seated Student Wins: If a seated student wins, they take the place of the standing student and continue the game from there.
Students participating in the Around the World music game.
1.1.1. Small Percussion
This variation focuses on identifying instruments by sight or sound, enhancing auditory and visual recognition skills. According to a study by the University of California, San Francisco in June 2024, visual and auditory training enhances musical skills.
- 👀 VISUAL: Hold up each instrument for visual identification. A shopping bag can be used to add an element of surprise as you reveal each instrument (e.g., maracas, finger cymbals, drum, rhythm sticks).
- 👂🏼 AURAL: Conceal the instrument behind a screen or inside the shopping bag and play it. Using a bass xylophone or similar instrument can help mask the visual element while allowing you to play the instrument.
1.2. Sally Go Round the Sun (Prek-Grade 3)
Perfect for a wide age range, this game can be adapted into two different formats to suit various skill levels.
Here’s how to play two different games for Sally Go Round the Moon.
1.2.1. Game 1
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Type: Chase Game
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Setup: Have students sit in a circle. Choose one student to be the leader, who will walk around the outside of the circle.
- As the group sings, the leader walks around the outside of the circle.
- On the word “BOOM!” the leader gently taps someone on the head.
- The tapped student jumps up and chases the leader around the circle, trying to tag them before they get to their open spot.
- The tagged person becomes the next leader.
1.2.2. Game 2
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Type: Add-On Game
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Setup: Students are scattered around the room. One student starts as the leader, moving freely.
- The leader walks around as the group sings.
- On “BOOM!”, the leader chooses the closest student to them.
- That student joins behind the leader, holding hands or following in a “train.”
- With each new repetition of the song, another student is added on at “BOOM.”
- The game continues until everyone is in the train, moving together around the space.
1.3. How Far Can You Go? (Grades 3-5)
Challenge students with progressively difficult musical tasks to test their skills and knowledge.
1.3.1. Barred Instruments
This game is incredibly engaging, requiring students to replicate pitch patterns on barred instruments.
🎯 Students are quiet and focused as they watch this game!
How To Play:
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Set up a barred instrument so the player can’t see the teacher and their instrument.
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The teacher plays a series of pitches using sol-mi that the student must correctly play back.
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Begin with just the G and E bars. If the student plays all of those correctly, add the A bar for the sol-mi-la round.
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The student gets credit for the number of correct patterns.
- Level 1 (10 patterns): GGE, GEE, GEG, GE, GGG, EEE, EGG, EGE, EEG, EG
- Level 2: Add “A” – AGE, AAG, AAE, AEG, AAA, GAE, GGA, GEA, GAG, GAA
Other considerations:
- 🔹You can give hints about the starting notes when the groupings change.
- 🔹Instead of beginning with sol-mi, use other patterns such as mi-re-do, octave/fifths do, sol do’, etc.
- 🔹Students who play later in the game have the advantage of learning from watching this first few players but that’s the beauty too in this learning process. Always give the first 3 players a second chance if they wanted it after everyone had a first turn.
2. Explore Music Games for a Wide Grade Range
Here are some music games suitable for various grade levels, ensuring that all students can participate and enjoy the musical activities.
2.1. Rhythm Basketball (Grades K-5)
Combine rhythm reading with the fun of basketball to create an engaging and active learning experience.
How It Works:
- Students clap the rhythm (quarter notes, rests, eighth note pairs)
- If correct, they *shoot a basketball to score points for their team
- At halftime, the whole class joins in for a body percussion halftime show to a funky beat!
*Use an indoor mini basketball hoop, or a simple trashcan and ball will work, or just award a point for the correct rhythm without any shooting.
2.2. Big Fat Biscuit (Grades 2-6)
Based on a traditional song from the Carolinas and Georgia, this game involves physical activity and coordination.
How To Play: Broad Jump
- Have 2 or 3 students stand on a line.
- Whoever jumps the furthest (flat footed jump that they stick) stays in for round 2.
- Continue the first elimination and go to round 2, etc. until you have a winner.
When to jump:
- Jump at the end of the song as you say, “Ready, jump.”
- Jump on the word “jump.”
- Using 3 at a time, person 1 jumps on the first “chooleeloo” person 2 jumps on the 2nd, and person 3 jumps on the 3rd.
2.3. I Let Her Go Go (Grades 2-6)
This popular song is perfect for mixed-grade levels and encourages student engagement through a simple, enjoyable activity.
Music notation for the "I Let Her Go Go" folk song game.
2.4. Drum Tag (Grades 2-6)
A dynamic game that combines movement with rhythm, helping students develop anticipation and coordination.
Object of the Music Game
To be the last person to get tagged.
Equipment
One drum.
How To Play:
- The drummer plays patterns or a beat, and everyone else is allowed to take one step for every drum beat, trying to tag others and avoid being tagged themselves.
- If you get tagged, you sit out.
- Both students sit out if they tag each other at the same time.
- If you take extra steps, you are out.
- If you are the last one standing, you get to be the new drummer.
Variations: The teacher may want to be the first drummer to set a standard for playing, using a slow steady beat with pauses to create opportunities for strategic movement. An ostinato with pauses (quarter, two eighths, quarter, rest) would also be interesting.
2.5. We Are Dancing In the Forest (Grades 2-?)
A captivating game where students must freeze when the “wolf” turns around, promoting listening skills and self-control.
Object of the Music Game
To not let the wolf see you move!
Equipment
None
Preparation
Learn the song
How To Play:
- The “wolf” turns to the corner so they can’t see the rest of the students. Students sing and dance around the room, freezing when the wolf turns around.
- The wolf calls out anyone they see moving. “The wolf is always right!” so if they said they saw you, get out. Those who get out come sit on the floor.
- Those who are out remain out as long as you decide. Everyone wants to be the wolf so making them stay out a round or two prevents students from moving carelessly.
- When the wolf’s time is up, they pick a new wolf to begin the game again.
Variations: Additional rules may be needed based on student actions, such as preventing students from moving too close to the wolf’s corner or going under items in the room.
2.6. Roll Call (Grades 2-5)
A quick and engaging way to get older students to sing, using a roll call format with a timing competition.
2.7. Music Meter Beat Tag (Grades 2-5)
This musical version of tag requires players to move only on the downbeat, enhancing their understanding of rhythm and timing.
How To Play
Music Meter Beat Tag is just like regular tag with the tagger who is “it” trying to tag out the players! In this musical version, the tagger and players may only move on the downbeat.
You are out if you get tagged or move on any beat other than the downbeat. Last player left is the winner!
Other options: Start with 2 taggers instead of one.
Music & Beat Options & Ideas
- Use a frame drum and mallet and hit the drum on beat one and the wooden frame on the other beats. You can choose between 3/4 and 4/4.
- Prepare students by sitting and clapping the downbeats, then stepping the downbeats with no taggers, then finally trying the game.
- Choose a moderate tempo so that the downbeats aren’t too far apart or too close together.
- Try recorded music with strong downbeats. You could still tap the drum or a claves on the downbeat to help students stay on track.
2.8. Beat-Passing Games (Grades 1-5)
Focus on passing a single object around the circle to the beat, enhancing coordination and rhythmic accuracy.
2.9. Games for Outdoors (Grades K-6)
Take the music and movement activities outside to enjoy the weather and provide a change of scenery for a brain break.
2.10. Beep (Grades K-5)
A versatile game that can be adapted to practice rhythm patterns, beat, and meter, suitable for various skill levels.
Musical Objectives: Practice rhythm patterns, beat, meter (a great way to introduce 3/4 or 5/4 meter)
Object of the Game: To be the last one standing.
How To Play
- Give the class a rhythm pattern.
- Starting at one point in the circle, use an object to pass around as each student is in charge of speaking a single note. (ta ta ti ti ta)
- This pattern would involve 5 students. The next student, #6, says BEEP and is out.
- Continue until you have one person left who is the winner.
Other options
- K-1: Continue with the same pattern round and round.
- 2-3: Each student is in charge of a BEAT not a note so (ta ta ti ti ta) would involve 4 students and the 5th one would be out.
- 4-5: Change patterns continuously. Have a stack of patterns and change it after each pattern.
2.11. CONNECTIONS (Grades K-5)
Create your own Connections game similar to the popular one from the New York Times to engage students in musical associations.
Connections Game for Children based on song lyrics.
Connections Game for Instrument Families.
2.12. Tic-Tac-Toe (Grades K-5)
A classic game with a musical twist, perfect for reinforcing musical vocabulary and concepts.
Learning Objectives
- Identify musical vocabulary, icons, images
- Using musical vocabulary
- Students will discuss which of the two game pieces they want to be
- At the end of the game, students could be challenged to clap, sing, speak the patterns their grid has created.
Game Examples
- Rhythm (quarters/eighths, half/dotted half, etc.)
- Pitch (treble clef B/A, middle C/high C, etc.)
- Solfege (sol-mi/sol-la, mi-re-do/do-re-mi)
- Instruments (maracas/egg shakers, triangle/finger cymbals)
Music-themed Tic-Tac-Toe game layout.
Resources for the Game
Use painters tape directly on your floor or carpet to make the grid. A 2′ x 2′ grid would need about 8′ of tape.
Round up to 9’/3 yards for every grid so this roll would make 20 grids.
On an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, 4 game cards would each be 4.25″ x 5.5″. Make them in Canva or use index cards and hand write rhythms/pitches. Laminate for lots of use.
Applications
If you want this to be a whole-class activity, you could put 4 to a grid and let them alternate playing 2 and 2. Game play could be the best out of three games. The winner of Pair #1 could play the winner of Pair #2 for a grand champion winner.
If you play 4 to a grid, a class of 28 would need 7 grids. Grid game pieces could be the same or represent wider learning. For example, K-2 could play Percussion Instruments and rotate around the 7 grids. The grids could represent
- shakers (eggs shakers/maracas and tambourine/shekere)
- scrapers (guiro/sand blocks)
- skins (drum/tambourine)
- metals (triangles/finger cymbals)
- woods (wood blocks, claves)
Use whatever the overarching learning/terminology is that represents what you want your students to know.
3. Discover Music Games for Younger Students
Engage younger students with these simple and fun music games, designed to introduce basic musical concepts.
3.1. Circle ‘Round the Zero (Grades K-2)
An African-American playground chant that involves movement and interaction within a circle.
In circle formation, one person (leader) walks around the outside of the circle. (the zero)
- “Back, back” the leader stands behind someone. (back to back)
- “Side, side” stands beside them. (both turn sideways)
- “Front, front” stands in front of them. (face to face)
- “Tap” taps them on the shoulders.
Option 1: Tapped person becomes the new leader. Former leader sits in the new leader’s spot. Play until everyone is sitting.
Option 2: Both are leaders so there will be exponential growth in the leaders and the game will go very quickly. Play until all are chosen.
Add Ukulele & Orff
Ukulele and Orff integration for enrichment and engagement.
Ukulele Orff Pack image showing 4 songs in pack.
3.2. Bee Bee Bumblebee (K-2)
A traditional chant that can be used to practice rhythm, steady beat, and coordination in a fun out game.
Here are some passing game tips and tricks!
Bee Bee Bumblebee chant rhyme game notation image.
Game 1: As students in circle pat beat and speak the chant, a leader on the outside (teacher or student), taps or points to each student around the circle. Whoever is pointed to on “out” becomes the new leader OR is out and scoots out of the circle. Play until there is one winner.
Game 2: Pass one bean bag/ball/object to the beat around the circle. Whoever has it on “out” is out.
3.3. Dusty Bluebells (Grades K-3)
This folk song involves movement and rhythm, with students stepping in and out of a circle while tapping to the rhythm.
Music sheet for the Dusty Bluebells game song.
Formation: Students stand in a circle, holding hands in air to make windows or without holding hands giving space between each for the leader to travel in and out.
With each repetition, a new person is added behind the leader. To make the game quicker and the lines shorter, you can begin with several leaders.
How to Play: The leader(s) go in and out the windows during the song, stopping after verse 1 and standing behind the nearest person.
On verse two (tippy tippy), the leader taps shoulders (or back area) to the rhythm pattern of the verse as all other players pat the rhythm on their legs.
At this point, some versions have the tapped person go behind the leader (or to the end of the line) and the leader begins again OR the newly tapped person becomes the new leader with all others following behind.
Continue to repeat the song until there is one student left in the circle. That person joins the front of the line and leads the rest of the students around the room.
3.4. Charlie Over the Ocean (K-2)
A versatile game that can be adapted for various situations, promoting individual singing and creativity.
Charlie Over the Ocean singing game notation image.
How to Play
It’s like Duck Duck Goose but the leader only taps someone on the head at the end of the song. That person chases the leader as the leader tries to get around the circle to the tagged person’s spot. If the leader gets tagged, I never had kids get in the middle. Teach the game with everyone patting a steady beat. The leader sings and the class echoes each phrase.
4. Find Engaging Music Games for Older Students
Challenge older students with these more complex music games, designed to enhance their musical knowledge and skills.
4.1. Musical Thumball (Grades 3-5)
A fun way to get to know students better and encourage active listening through a culturally responsive teaching approach.
Thumball music game soccer ball image with music answer prompts.
Sitting in a circle, toss or roll the ball. Whoever receives the ball, answers the prompt in the hexagon that their thumb is on. Then they roll/toss it and the game continues.
A super OUTDOOR activity!
4.2. Memory Racing Game (Grades 3-5)
Adapt this game to incorporate musical rhythms, testing students’ memory and pattern recognition skills.
How to Play
- Get all 12 icons from the main board, transferred to the white board (with a dry erase marker) before your opponent
- Players get to look at the main board and then run to the whiteboard and draw as many as they remember. Players can come back to the main board as many times as they need to.
You could put the main board on a chair or easel or even propped up against a drum.
Easel in an elementary music classroom.
4.3. Pass the Beat (Grades 3-8)
This game involves speaking and replacing words with actions, enhancing rhythmic understanding and coordination.
Formation: Standing circle.
Each student speaks one beat of the verse: “Pass the beat a-round the room” with the rest on the end designated by touching both of your shoulders.
Students who are out sit down, but still count for a beat, so the remaining students must think the missing words (audiate) in their head.
Once students become comfortable, the word beat is replaced with a stamp.
4.4. Talking Drums (Grades 4-6)
Challenge students to communicate through drums, enhancing their musical expression and teamwork.
Object of the Music Game
See how long your class can play without stopping.
Equipment
Create a drum circle-drums, seats, optional percussion such as claves, gonkogui, shekere beside seats or in the middle.
Preparation
- Show students complementary rhythms. While they keep a steady beat, the teacher plays an easy ostinato. Switch. The teacher plays the beat and students find an ostinato that they like.
- Learn a stopping rhythm. Here’s one but you can create your own. The teacher speaks and plays, “This is the end on 1, 2, 3.” The students speak and play, “1, 2, 3.” At some point you want to get to the place where the students recognize this pattern without the words because our goal is to be speech-free.
How To Play:
- Use a timer and see how long you can play.
- The teacher begins with a steady beat and students come in with their complementary rhythms.
- If you go a minute or two, the teacher stops playing and lets students continue without them.
- The teacher can pick up another instrument and add some new sounds, putting the instrument down shortly and going back to the drum.
4.5. Sevens (Grades 3-6)
A hand clap/tap pattern game that challenges students to remember and increase the speed of patterns.
Object of the Music Game
To remember the patterns as you increase your speed.
Equipment
None. Can be done on your lap although using a desk is nice.
Preparation
Learn the patterns, each is done twice. They build on one another so let’s start at the end. The last pattern is
- Pattern 4: pat both legs-cross arms & pat legs-back to both legs-clap own hands-snap-clap-pat legs
- Pattern 3: Pat, clap, snap, pat, clap, snap, pat
- Pattern 2: Pat, clap, pat, clap, pat, clap, pat
- Pattern 1: 7 pats
How To Play:
- Put it all together starting with a slow tempo. The entire form is Patterns 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1.
- Then try faster tempi to add additional challenges.
4.6. Black Snake (Grades 2-4)
An African-American singing game that involves a chase, promoting physical activity and musicality.
Black Snake singing game sheet music.
Preparation:
How To Play:
- Original: one child (the snake) hides as the other children sing and taunt the snake. Eventually, the snake reaches out/chases and catches someone who then becomes the snake.
4.7. Jump the Beat (Grades 2-5)
A great game to learn beat vs rhythm!
Object of the Music Game
The object of the game is to only jump across the line on the beat NOT the rhythm.
Equipment
A rope or chalk line or physical way to divide a space in half.
Preparation
- Divide the class into 4 groups
- Each group will play until there is 1 winner.
- The 4 winners will play to be the grand champion.
How To Play:
- Teacher claps and speaks a 4-beat pattern using quarters, paired eighths.
- Students speak the rhythm as they jump to the rhythm crossing over the line on each BEAT.
- At the end of the pattern, any student on the wrong side of the line is out. Play until there is one winner in each group.
- Then play the championship round until you have one winner.
Examples
- If students begin on the right side of the line-
- T claps four quarter notes-students jump left, right, left, right. (All who end up on the right side of the line stay in the game. Others are out.)
- T claps quarter, quarter, 2 eighths, quarter-students jump left, jump right, jump left 2x, jump right. (All who end up on the right stay in, rest are out.)
- T claps 2 eighths, quarter, 2 eighths, quarter-students jump left 2x, jump right, jump left 2 times, jump right. (All who end up on the right stay in, rest are out.)
4.8. Undercover Tunes
Play a song that’s been radically changed and see if students can guess the original.
Ways to play:
- First person to raise hand gets to guess.
- Play in teams and each team gets a turn. If the playing team doesn’t get it, the next team can try.
4.9. Bump Up Tomato (Grades 2-5)
This fun game song uses syncopation and could be accompanied using a bordun on C or on ukulele use C or C6 chord.
Bump Up Tomato Elementary Music Games List sheet music.
Object of the Music Game
The object of the game is for “It” to make someone laugh without touching them.
The Song/Motions
- Bump up tomato-students tap top/bottoms of fists with persons on both sides of them.
- Criss Cross (one hand to opposite shoulder then the other hand to opposite shoulder)
- Tomato sauce-right hand extends out, left hand extends out
- My heart is lost-both hands tap heart 2x then both hands extend out on “lost.”
Preparation
Class is in stand up circle with “it” in the middle.
How To Play:
“It” is inside of circle during the song. After “FREEZE,” they try to make someone laugh. If that person laughs, they become the new “it” but if they do not, the original “it” goes again.
4.10. Jeopardy (Grades 2-6)
An innovative, interactive, and budget-friendly game that will make learning music (or ANY subject) an absolute blast!
4.11. The Silent Shape Game (Grades 3-5)
Community-building, peer cooperation, and movement work together in this great activity.
5. Essential Game Resources for Music Education
Equip yourself with these essential resources to enhance your music games and activities, making them even more engaging and effective.
Great games often require ZERO resources, just a song and the game! Occasionally a prop will come in really handy! Here are some favorites!
Sensory lightweight balls for ball-passing games!
The colorful stringy ball has a rubbery feel and the plush ball feels soft and cushy.
4.5Inch Large Rainbow Stringy Ball Silicone Bouncing Fluffy Jugging Ball for sensory play.
2 Pieces Plush Ball Throw Pillow Round Pillow for soft play.
6. What Are The Benefits of Music Games for Kids?
Music games for kids offer numerous benefits that contribute to their overall development. They enhance cognitive skills, improve memory, and foster creativity. These games also provide a fun and engaging way to learn about rhythm, melody, and musical instruments. By incorporating music games into your child’s learning, you can create a positive and stimulating environment that promotes a lifelong love for music.
7. How Do Music Games Enhance Cognitive Skills in Children?
Music games are not just entertaining; they are powerful tools for cognitive development. Activities like rhythm repetition and melody recognition enhance memory, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills. These cognitive benefits extend beyond the music room, improving academic performance in areas such as math and language arts.
8. What Types of Music Games Are Suitable for Different Age Groups?
The suitability of music games varies depending on the age group. For younger children (ages 3-5), simple rhythm and movement games are ideal. Older children (ages 6-12) can benefit from more complex games that involve music theory, instrument identification, and composition. Games should be tailored to match the developmental stage and musical knowledge of the child to ensure engagement and effective learning.
9. How Can Music Games Be Incorporated into Homeschooling or Remote Learning?
Music games can be seamlessly integrated into homeschooling or remote learning environments. Online resources, apps, and virtual music classes offer a wide range of interactive games that can be accessed from home. Parents can also create DIY music games using household items and simple songs. The key is to make learning fun and interactive, encouraging children to explore music at their own pace.
10. What Role Do Music Games Play in Social and Emotional Development?
Music games play a crucial role in social and emotional development. Group music activities encourage teamwork, communication, and empathy. Children learn to cooperate with others, share ideas, and express themselves through music. These experiences foster a sense of community and belonging, contributing to their overall emotional well-being.
11. How Can Parents and Educators Create Their Own Music Games?
Creating your own music games can be a fun and rewarding experience. Start with simple concepts like rhythm matching or melody recognition. Use everyday objects as instruments and create challenges that encourage creativity and problem-solving. The key is to be flexible and adapt the games to the interests and abilities of the children.
12. What Are Some Examples of DIY Music Games Using Household Items?
Household items can be transformed into musical instruments and game props. Pots and pans can become drums, while plastic bottles filled with beans can serve as shakers. Create a rhythm matching game by clapping different patterns and having children imitate them. These DIY activities not only make learning fun but also promote resourcefulness and creativity.
13. How Do Music Games Help Children Learn About Different Musical Instruments?
Music games can be designed to introduce children to various musical instruments. Use visual aids, audio recordings, and interactive activities to teach about the different types of instruments and their sounds. Create a game where children match the sound of an instrument to its image or name. This helps them develop auditory discrimination skills and expand their musical vocabulary.
14. What Are Some Online Resources and Apps That Offer Music Games for Kids?
Numerous online resources and apps offer music games for kids. Websites like Classics for Kids and apps like GarageBand provide interactive games and activities that teach music theory, instrument playing, and composition. These resources offer a convenient and engaging way for children to explore music from home or in the classroom.
15. How Can Music Games Be Used to Teach Music Theory Concepts?
Music games can be used to teach fundamental music theory concepts such as rhythm, pitch, and harmony. Create a game where children identify different note values or match melodies to their corresponding chords. These activities make learning music theory fun and accessible, helping children develop a solid foundation for further musical exploration.
16. What Are Some Creative Ways to Use Music Games in Music Therapy?
Music games are a valuable tool in music therapy, providing a non-threatening and engaging way to address emotional, social, and cognitive needs. Adapt music games to target specific therapeutic goals, such as improving communication skills, reducing anxiety, or enhancing memory. The key
