Let's talk about music classroom games!
Are you looking for fun and engaging music classroom games to help break the ice with your students? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, I’ll show you seven fun music classroom games that are perfect for getting your students working together, learning, laughing, and even making music!
These games are great for building teamwork and community within your music class and will help to get your students to form connections, no matter if they’re returning or brand new
#1: Name That Tune
The first in this list of music classroom games is a musical version of the classic icebreaker “name that tune.” To start, have all of your students gather in a circle. Then, choose one student to start by humming or singing a few bars of a popular song. The next person then has to try to name that tune, and if they get it right, they get to keep going and sing another song for the group. But, if they can’t name the tune or get it wrong, then they’re out!
The game continues until there is only one person left.
This is a great game for music lovers and can really get your students energized and excited about making music together!
Music Classroom Games #2: Music Charades
This next music classroom game is a musical twist on the classic game of charades! To start, you’ll need to think of some popular songs that your students might know. Once you have a few songs in mind, write them down on slips of paper and put them into a hat or bowl. I always like to include a mixture of super popular pop songs, famous classics, or well-known kids songs.
Then, have your students form two teams and have each team choose one student to be their “charades player.” The charades player will then choose a slip of paper from the hat/bowl and act out the song without singing or speaking. Their team will then have to try to guess the song.
If they get it right, they earn a point for their team. If they can’t guess the song, then the other team gets a turn. The game continues until all of the songs have been guessed or until one team has earned a certain number of points (whichever you prefer).
This is a great game for getting your students to work together and think creatively.
Cross the River is a fun activity to get your students dusting off their summer brains and really digging into some problem-solving. It’s not a music-specific activity, but it’s great because it can be used by large (or small) groups of students.
The object of the game is to get all of the people on your team across the river by stepping on each tile one time in a sequence as dictated by your team’s map.
Except, nobody can see the map except the map guide, so students have to pay attention as to whether the person in front of them is “safe” or “sunk.” Once they’re sunk, they head to the back of the line.
It’s a great activity to get students problem solving and can be used as a zero-talking or talking-encouraged game depending on your needs.
#4: Music Pictionary
This next music classroom game is similar to the classic game of Pictionary, but with a musical twist! To start, you’ll need to create a list of musical terms, phrases, or objects on slips of paper. I like to write down things like “conductor,” “treble clef,” “piano,” etc. But you can really write down anything music-related that you think your students might know.
Then, have your students form teams and choose one student to be their team’s “artist.” The artist will then choose a slip of paper from the hat/bowl and try to draw a picture of the word without speaking. Their team will then have to guess the word.
If they get it right, they earn a point for their team. If they can’t guess the word, then the other team gets a turn. The game continues until all of the words have been guessed or until one team has earned a certain number of points (whichever you prefer).
This is a great game for getting your students to work together and have some laughs.
Are you looking for a fun way to get your students walking and talking with one another? Do you need a perfect get-to-know you activity for the beginning of the year?
Music Classroom Bingo was one of my favorite games for building community at the beginning of the year in my music classes. Not only does it get students up & walking around, but it gets them learning & spelling other students’ names, and finding commonalities with their classmates.
The questions challenge students to discover specifics about their peers. Instead of “___ has a sister” the question will say, “_____ has a sister. Their name is _______.”
Or, instead of just “_____ likes rock music,” the question will say, “_____ likes rock music. Their favorite artist is _____.”
It also challenges students to find commonalities. For example, “_____ has the same birthday month as me. We were born in _______.”
As the teacher, you can decide:
- How many bingos is the goal (blackout, first to get a bingo, outside edge bingos, etc.)
- How many times one student can appear on another student’s bingo card (eliminates BFFs only talking to one another).
Also included is a blank Bingo card for you to create your own game!
#6: The Conductor's Baton
The Conductor’s Baton is a fun music classroom game for getting students up and moving while also teaching them about following directions. It’s also a great way to review musical terms!
To start, you’ll need to create a list of musical terms on slips of paper (I like to write down things like “forte,” “piano,” “crescendo,” etc.) Then, have your students form a line at the front of the room.
One student will start as the “conductor” and will stand in front of the line with a baton (or any object that can be used as a pretend baton). The conductor will then choose a slip of paper from the hat/bowl and read the musical term aloud.
The rest of the students in line will then have to act out the meaning of the musical term. For example, if the musical term is “forte,” they would need to act out playing loudly. If the musical term is “crescendo,” they would need to start soft and get louder.
The game continues until all terms are used.
You can choose to keep score or just have fun. If you keep score, have students split into two lines and only the person at the front of the line can act out. The first person to act it out correctly (or most inventively) gets the point.
#7: Music Quiz Quiz Trade
To start playing Music Quiz Quiz Trade, you’ll print off a bunch of music preference questions like:
- What’s the last song you listened to?
- What’s a song you listen to when you’re upset?
- What’s a song your family likes?
- What’s your earliest musical memory?
- Who is a musical artist you’d most like to have dinner with?
- etc…….
Have students mix up, and play a fun music playlist to get them moving. When the music stops, they will find someone to ask a question to. Once they answer the question, the other student will ask their question. Once they both have been asked and answered, they will trade questions and restart with a new partner.
To make it even harder, don’t allow students to pair up with the same partner twice.
#8: Music Icebreaker Cootie Catchers
Are you looking for an awesome “get to know you” or icebreaker game for your music classroom for back to school? These Music Classroom Icebreaker Cootie Catchers are perfect for getting to know your middle and high school students in ways that are truly meaningful for you while also giving them a fun activity to get to know one another.
This resource includes:
- A Music-Themed Cootie Catcher Template
- 30+ Music-Related and General Icebreaker Question Prompts for students to put on their cootie catchers.
- ‘Something You Should Know About Me’ Activity for students to share something personal with you.
- Activity directions, folding instructions, and teacher’s guide.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a way to get your students up and moving, review musical terms, or just have some fun, these are some awesome music classroom games and icebreakers. They’ll help you build community in your music class and helping students get to know each other from day one.
If you’re planning the beginning of your year, make sure to grab some free checklists!
Looking for even more ideas? Check out the icebreakers I just compiled for Midnight Music blog (I’m also the content manager over there!) — between these two blogs, you’ll be SET!
Once you have some fun with icebreakers, have fun reviewing some musical terms to freshen up some more musical vocabulary. You can grab a free game of Music Symbol Bingo below (includes 100 game cards)! 🔽
