Musical Snow Days!

Music Box kids live in Canada close to one of the great lakes….chances are we will have a few snow days to deal with this winter. Already we have had to endure three in a row due to the largest snow event to hit us in a long time.  This year is forecasted to be a doozie in terms of snowfall,  so having a list of responses to the inevitable “I’m bored!” is a must if you plan to survive this Canadian winter.

If your child/ren are taking music lessons a snow day is an awesome opportunity to get some extra practice and review in. The trick is to make it fun so it becomes an activity the kids can’t wait for!

Sure there are assignments that need to be completed for the week and you can spend regular practice time doing that, but check out the following list of fun activities that will have kids working on their music without realizing they are working. Sneaky huh?

1. Build a staff on the floor out of yarn or ribbon. All you need are 5 strings about 6 feet long. Lay them on the floor with about 6 inches between them. Add a treble or bass clef made of paper OR just declare whether it will b e treble or bass. Then you can toss rolled up socks or sponges at the staff and name the notes. Divide your family into teams and keep track of the points for correct answers. You could even give more points for notes that are higher than G in the treble or lower than F in the bass.

2. Create a Snow Day Band! Have everyone in the family create a 4 beat rhythm on a piece of paper. If there are non-musicians in the family that is ok…the musicians can help them.Line up all your rhythms and play them on some kitchen instruments OR put a CD on and play along. Each person playing their own rhythm over and over. That is called an “ostinato”. 

3. Come up with new words for an old song. Take a well known song like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and change the words using whatever theme you choose. You never know what the kids will come up with. This activity can lead to hilarity and a good laugh is always a welcome distraction from being cooped up all day.

4. Plan a talent show. Create hand drawn or computer generated programs. Invite all the teddy bears in the house to come and listen. Family members can take turns performing after a short rehearsal. Perhaps the music students can teach non-musicians how to play a simple song for the show.

5. Make some playdough  (click for a recipe) and play guess that symbol. One player builds a music symbol out of the dough and everyone has to try and guess what it is before their opponents.

6. Find that key. Blindfold one person and sit them at the piano. The “caller” calls out notes and the blindfolded player must play that key. The player earns a point for each correct key they press.  OR try to play bridges or chords while blindfolded. Playing a progression of 3 or 4 chords is even more challenging.

7. Headed outdoors? Make a rhythm out of footprints or use a stick. Then clap your snow music.

Make your music fun and chase the boredom blues away! Happy music making…and happy snow days!

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