Minute to Win It: Rhythm Sticks

I've said it before but I'll say it again....I LOVE "Pinterest"! I'll look up activities for children unrelated to piano and I'll piano-fy them. I get so many great ideas on that site.  
This game came directly from "Pinterest" I simply added onto it and made it my own.   All you need are craft sticks (sold in craft stores), a sharpie, a mug to hold the sticks in, and a timer (sometimes the dollar store sells these). I made up rhythm patterns that fit the levels of my students.  I had beginner sticks with 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures and simple note values like quarter, half, and whole notes.  The more advanced students would clap rhythm sticks with different rest values, eighth notes, dotted quarter notes, etc.
The kiddos had one minute to correctly clap as many sticks as they could.  They could clap fast or slow.  I left that up to them.  I would keep track of their scores and at the end of each day I would write down the names of the students who earned the highest scores on one of the wipe off boards I have in my studio.
This picture was taken at the beginning of the week.  By the end of the week the top three scores with the children who earned them will be written for everyone to see.  A little healthy competition, in my opinion, is a good thing.  It motivates my kiddos to do their very best with these types of activities.
Until next time, piano blogger signing off.......




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