Music is an integral part of our lives. It has the power to heal, soothe, and bring joy to people of all ages. As World Music Day is approaching on 21st June, we know that Music Leaders across the country are planning activities and lessons to raise the profile of music in their own settings – it’s the perfect time to celebrate music with children. And what better way to celebrate than by taking music activities outdoors? The outside environment can provide a wealth of materials to inspire music creation, listening activities and even making instruments themselves.
Here is Teach Outdoors’ run-down of our favourite outdoor music activities, to help you to celebrate.
Nature Symphony
Take your class on a nature walk, and encourage them to listen to the sounds of nature around them. You can then use these sounds to create a nature symphony. Children can use different materials such as sticks, rocks, leaves, and shells to create their instruments. Discuss the difference in timbre between rustling leaves and crunching pebbles underfoot.
Singing Games
Singing games are a fun and engaging way to teach children about rhythm, melody, and harmony. Teach children traditional singing games, such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “London Bridge,” or create your own. You can also use rhythm sticks or clapping games to accompany the singing.
Instrument Making
Encourage children to make their own instruments using recycled materials such as cardboard tubes, plastic bottles and tin cans, as well as materials collected from your outdoor environment, including leaves, pebbles and soil. Then, invite them to play their instruments and create their own music. This activity encourages creativity and teaches children about recycling and repurposing materials. Here are some of our favourite nature-made instruments:
- Craft your own percussion instruments by making Grass Shakers. Gather two big bunches of tall, thick reedy grass (like Pampas grass) and tie them at the base. Encourage your little ones to pat them on the ground in various rhythms and listen to the sound that they produce, which is similar to that of a shaker.
- Have a musical adventure outdoors with Water Xylophones. Choose a range of glasses and fill them with different amounts of water to produce varying musical notes. Encourage your kids to use their fingers to trace the rim of the glasses and hear the different high-pitched sounds they make, or use a stick to tap them and explore the different notes they create.
- Discover the rhythm of nature with Tree Trunk Drums. Search for a hollow fallen tree trunk and find two sturdy sticks to use as drumsticks. The more hollow the tree trunk, the better the sound. Let your children tap out some groovy rhythms and have fun experimenting with the different tones they can produce.
- Create your own Stone Castanets by using flat, medium-sized stones and cardboard. Collect four stones from outside and glue them to two hand-sized rectangular pieces of cardboard. Once the glue dries, fold the cardboard inwards to create a set of stone castanets for your kids to tap together and make music.
Campfire Singalong
An enjoyable outdoor activity that focuses on singing is a campfire sing-along, which can be a great idea for your children. Even if you don’t have a real campfire, you can easily create a faux campfire with flashlights and tissue paper. Arrange benches or logs around the “fire” area and encourage the group to sing any campfire song they desire. You may also choose to incorporate a guitar, ukulele, or another instrument to accompany the children’s singing.
Music and Movement
Combine music and movement in this activity. Choose a type of music, such as classical or jazz, and ask children to move their bodies to the rhythm and melody of the music. You can also ask them to use scarves or ribbons to enhance their movements. This activity not only teaches children about rhythm and coordination but also encourages them to express themselves through movement.
Jump Rope Rhymes
Jump rope rhymes can be a fun outdoor activity, especially for a whole class. If you have a long jump rope, assign two children to each handle and take turns having the other children jump. Encourage the kids to sing or chant rhymes in time with their jumping. As the speed of the rhymes or songs vary, challenge the kids to adjust their jumps accordingly.
Celebrating World Music Day with children can be a fun and engaging way to introduce them to the world of music. These outdoor music activities not only teach children about music but also enhance their creativity, coordination, and communication skills. So, go out and celebrate World Music Day with your children and make some beautiful music together!