Already watched your kids’ favorite video 32 times….today?
Ready to throw a board game out a window?
Made so many cookie recipes even the dog won’t try them?
It’s time for some creative music making at home! Whether you know almost nothing or a lot about music, we have ideas to help you and your kids play together in a whole new way, and we’re guessing the day will feel a little big lighter, too!
Grab a basket of small percussion items and find your jam!
Your favorite music tracks make perfect play-alongs: sit in a circle, everyone take an instrument, and turn on a tune. Tap along, shake along, jingle along, click along, scrape along, and more… Partway through call out “switch!” and everyone pass their instrument to the right. Want an extra challenge? Call out “right” or “left” to know which direction for the switch.
Play follow the leader with rhythm sticks and single bell jingles: Can you play them on your knees? “Walk” them on the floor? “Run” them on the floor? Experiment with ways to tap them? In the middle? On their ends? Take turns demonstrating a new way to play, and everyone follow along!
Play a game of “my turn, your turn” with rhythms. The leader thinks of a word or phrase in their head, and plays the rhythm of that word on an instrument. Everyone else plays the same rhythm on theirs, and the next person becomes the leader.
Are you able to go outside? Make a marching band with your percussion instruments!
Once your percussion activities are done for the day, put everything back in the colorful basket so it’s ready for the next jam session.
Include these in your basket of percussion fun:
- Overseas Connection G-159A Market Basket
- Basic Beat BB201 Egg Shaker
- Basic Beat BBH04 Sandblocks
- Basic Beat BBS8 8″ Combination Rhythm Sticks
- Basic Beat BBH02 Single Bell Jingle
- Basic Beat BBC01 Plastic Finger Castanets
- Basic Beat BBTST Mini Star Tambourine
Have kids under 3 years? Be sure to include some extra instruments made just for them:
Enhance your dance break!
One of the best ways to burn off that “stuck inside” extra energy is with a mid-day dance break. And adding some scarves, ribbons, and streamers to the mix just makes it that much more fun! Grab a scarf or 2 or 3 or 4 and turn on your favorite music. Can you dance with your scarf up high? Way down low? Can you make patterns with the streamers? Twirl them in the air? Jazz hands with ribbons? Choose your favorite dance moves and make a video to share with grandparents and friends.
Make music and hit things, too!
Everyone loves Boomwhackers, and there are so many easy ways to play! The BWMP Move & Play set includes 25 Boomwhackers and accessories plus an included CD/DVD, the Move and Play activity book, and a tote bag to keep it all tidy. It’s everything you and your family need to make your favorite hits come to life (did you see what we did there?). Have a smaller family? The Power Pack and Boomophone Whack Pack will bring a smile to yours and your child’s faces and include all you need for your next whacky musical adventure.
Escape to the islands (at least musically)!
Our Jumbie Jam Steel Pans include a stand, mallets, and a color-coded downloadable song book with audio tracks! Whether you choose a tabletop version, or the Fun Feet stand, you and your kids won’t be able to resist these fun-to-play instruments. Take turns performing for one another — live music always needs an excited audience!
- Panyard Jumbie Jam W1058 Steel Drum Floor Stand Blue G Diatonic
- Panyard Jumbie Jam W1085 Steel Drum Table Top Stand Blue G Diatonic
Uke can get through this with a little music making!
The Kala Learn To Play Color Chord Soprano Ukulele is the perfect way to help kids learn to play, and everything you need is included! Download the FREE Kala app and you’ll have access to tutorials and lessons and over 100 free songs. The color chord system makes playing a snap. You just may want to get one for yourself while you’re shopping for your kiddos!
We know these are difficult times and days can become long…we hope to make today a little brighter with some instruments and a song!
Melissa Blum is our Senior Vice President. She has over 25 years of teaching experience at the pre-K, elementary, middle school, and adult levels. Melissa has been on the World Music Drumming Faculty since 2009, creating and teaching the Drumming Up the Fun! summer workshop for teachers of children ages 3-8.
Melissa regularly presents sessions at state and regional conferences as well as professional development days for elementary music teachers. She has facilitated World Music Drumming ensembles as a team-building exercise at a variety of corporate and community events for children and adults.
Melissa! You’ve done it again! What great ideas! I’m going to send them out to parents immediately. These things are so easy to do, and so much fun! I have done unbelievable things with my youngest students since your workshop in Memphis a few years back. You should have seen the look on my principal’s face when she walked into my kindergarten class and they were moving smoothly through “Tideo”! Thanks for your continued and wonderful help! Stay safe, my friend!