Spring break is over. We're in the home stretch and we're all feeling antsy. It can be hard to maintain a focused rehearsal when everyone is trunky for summer vacation. Here are a few games to get students moving, listening, and focusing. My students are grades 6-7 and they love these games. I think older and younger students would enjoy these as well!
1. Signs
In an ensemble, students must be aware of other players and match technique, intonation, bowing, etc. In this game, students practice paying attention to a 'leader' and must imitate every action the leader does. Have students sit or stand in a circle. Choose one student as a guesser and have them stand in the corner with eyes closed or in the hall while the group chooses the leader. All students follow the actions of the leader while the guesser enters and circle and watches to guess who the leader of the group is. The leader should keep changing up movements as the group follows. The guesser has 3 guesses. This game could also be done while sitting as a regular orchestra ensemble...it's more difficult, but it teaches students to find ways to 'watch' and be aware of each other.
You can do a similar game with bowing in a rehearsal. Choose a student to stop their bow...and every other student must stop their bow when the leader stops. Or a leader can switch to pizzicato and the group must also switch to pizzicato...etc. It gets students really listening and paying attention.
2. Pass the Beat Around the Room
The easiest way to explain this one is to watch THIS VIDEO.
This game is more fun than it looks. It requires concentration and focus...so silly mistakes will be made. Once students have the pattern, we replace the word 'beat' with a hand clap. If a student says ' beat,' they are out. Then we replace the word, 'room' with a foot stomp.
This game helps students maintain a steady beat and focus on what comes next. It's a great way to get a group moving and thinking.
3. Zip, Zap, Boing
This is a quick-thinking group game that re-energizes students and activates their brains to pay attention, follow directions, and focus! Read the ZIP, ZAP, BOING instructions HERE. After you read the rules, watch THIS VIDEO to see how it's done. My students loved this one!
4. Eyes
This is a fun elimination game. It can be used to practice moving, responding to certain beats in a measure. While stand in a circle, have all students put their head down. You can start some music or a drum beat. Have all students lift their heads and look at anyone else in the circle on beat 4. If they make eye contact with another person, both people are out. Continue until one person is left.
5. Silent Ball
I love this game because it's quick paced and SILENT! If your class is noisy and driving you crazy...this is the game for you. The game teaches coordination, self-control, and awareness. Here's how to play: 1. Put all instruments away for safety. 2. Students stand on a chair. 3. No talking...if a student talks, they are out and must sit down. 3. Using the lightweight bouncy grocery store balls, have students gently toss a ball to each other. Students must pay attention to where the ball is and catch it when it is thrown to them. If they don't catch the ball, they are out and must sit down. 4. If a student does a bad (uncatchable) toss, that student is out. 5. No throwing a people's backs. 6. Forming alliances is allowed.
Once students get good at tracking one ball, I start to add up to 2 more balls. It's tricky to keep track of multiple balls in play.
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