Drumming with Kindergarten

Sara Silver teaches music at Antelope Elementary and she only teaches kindergarten.  How fun is that!  Kindergarten is maybe my all time favorite.  Some say teaching kindergarten is like herding cats,  but I just love those little slobbery kiddos!  Sara does such a great job with them and she is great at using the Making Music songs. 

When I visited Sara's classes she had been working on steady beat with the kids as well as loud/soft.  She taught them Grizzly Bear from Making Music and they practiced steady beat and their dynamics.  Grizzly Bear is a perfect song for dynamics! 

Sara had also been teaching the kids about drums from around the world and she had several displayed at the front of the class.  She used this as a reward for the kids.  If they participated and listened well then everyone got to play the drums.  When it came time for them to play they each took a turn playing the steady beat on the drum while the class sang Grizzly Bear. 

 

 

After everyone had a turn drumming they did some more practice with steady beat. But they also practices listening skills.  Sara used a fun song from Making Music and the kids danced away!  I was so impressed with how well they listened and stayed in control.  Sara has done a great job with management in her kindergarten classes and they will do anything for her. 

 

 

Steady beat is one of the most important music concepts and skills you can teach your students.  It should be practiced every time you see them.  Students should practice the beat on their body, then move their bodies to the beat and then practice that beat on instruments.  Sara did all of those things!  Great job, Sara!