n last week’s post I talked about how rhythm is one of the things that makes music so much fun! How it makes you want to dance, and how brings the music to life! If you missed it, you can check out that post here!
When you’re ready for those fun games I promised, here they are!
You can:
- Play a game where you try to clap or tap on a drum or a box at the same time as the click. If you never hear the click, that means you’ve properly anticipated the beat, and are staying exactly on it! Chances are, you’ll hear the click sometimes, and then adjust. Maybe you’ll hear the click a lot, which means you’re not quite landing on the beat. Don’t worry if this happens, just relax into it and see what happens over time.
- Turn on the metronome and dance around. Sing something, anything at all will do, while the metronome is ticking in the background.
- Try playing random things on the piano, to the beat of the metronome.
- Choose a single rhythm flashcard and try clapping it over and over to the beat.
- Set some flashcards on the floor in between some stuffies. Hop over the stuffies to get to the next card, and clap it to the beat of the metronome.
- Use a rhythm flashcard, or make up your own rhythm over the beat to either clap, sing, or play keys on the piano.
- Have a jam session – play anything you want on the piano, some drums, the sofa, or other instruments you might have hanging around. Pretend the metronome is your lead drummer
All of this “playing” comes before trying to play a specific song to the exact beat of the metronome. These games will help instill rhythm in a fun way, without the pressure of having to keep your songs and pieces in time. The sense of time will develop in a more natural and enjoyable way.
“Let” your child join if and when they feel like it – similar to the way you might let them have a taste of your ice cream. Hopefully no one forces their child to eat their dessert – it’s a treat! You want your baby to see playing music as a treat, not a chore. Please don’t worry if they just want to watch, or even just exist in the space. Kids learn by just being around something. Let your child participate in the fun in the way they want to. This way you can keep the “play” in playing the piano, and in enjoying a great sense of rhythm, while you pass it on to your baby, toddler or preschooler!
Please don’t worry that the music sound perfect or even good. You can accidentally pass on your own fears about music to your kids. Think of it as the messy fun that will give you and your kids laughs for the rest of your lives!
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