Why Off-Bench Piano Games Help Beginners Learn Rhythm Faster
Are you spending enough time "playing" with your students?
I'm not talking about board games or boom cards. I love those, too. I'm talking about games that use LARGE body movements. I'm talking about visuals that PREPARE our students instead of overwhelm them.
In August, I spent 2 weeks teaching long and short sounds to beginners.
page from "The Little Red Piano" book
We moved, we drew, we improvised. THEN - I used this large body movement game (you will only see a snippet here, cause it's hard to video excited little boys!)
These boys have spent weeks playing - but I PROMISE that when we get around to counting out loud - it will not be torture for them. They will feel the beat and rhythm in their bodies, and hear it in their ears.
Do you enjoy off-bench activities like these?
It can be tricky pulling all of the games and activities like this. Especially when you are used to finding most everything you need for a lesson in the METHOD book. Method books have their place - but, they don't have everything I need.
If you would like free sample pages on how to teach long vs. short - I’d love to share!
Just sign up here at the link - and those pages will pop right to your inbox!
How do you plan your lessons?
Did you buy a curriculum? Do you ask ChatGPT? Do you follow the method book? Do you pull from your own resources? Comment below- cause over here I am dying of curiosity to find out how other teachers are managing lesson planning!
