4 Ways to Teach and Reinforce Steady Beat

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Identifying and keeping the steady beat is the most important skill we can teach our elementary school scholars. It is the most fundamental concept in which every other concept is built upon. So what exactly is a steady beat? I like to teach my students that steady beat is the “heartbeat of music” and it is “the beat that doesn’t change”. Some students walk into kindergarten with a strong sense of beat. Others have no idea where the beat is. From day 1, I am conscious in making sure my students can hear and feel the steady beat. Here are 3 activities I do to teach and reinforce steady beat:

BODY PERCUSSION:
The ability to feel the steady beat is just as important as hearing the steady beat. I want to know that my students can clap, snap, and pat to the beat. Put on any song that has a strong steady beat and have students follow along with your movements. A part from being a great way to see how well your students can move on the steady beat it’s also a great way to test their listening skills!

FREE DANCE:
Who doesn’t like dancing? Sometimes, my students have favorite songs that I can’t really use as part of the main lesson. So instead, I add them to my free dance playlist (as long as it is clean!). During this time, I give my students time to dance around the class. It’s fun for them, but it also gives me time to walk around to walk around and correct any students that are not dancing on the beat.

CHANTS
When teaching a chant, also show the steady beat by patting or clapping. One of my favorite chants to teach steady beat to is Engine Engine Number #9. It’s easy enough for them to recite the chant and pat the steady beat simultaneously.

BALL PASS
Have the students pass the ball around the circle on the word “steady beat”. They hold the ball on “steady” and pass on “beat”. Have a metronome playing in the background or keep the beat steady with a drum.
There are many more way you can teach and reinforce steady beat with your young musicians. These are just a few of my favorites. Let me know if you do any of this in your classroom or if you have any other ideas to share. I’d love to hear from you.

For the love of teaching,

Tosin Moji[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]