Kindergarten Music: Lesson Plan

Being a kindergarten music teacher for an hour sure goes fast. It’s so much fun and truly rewarding. There is a lot of work in preparation for the next day each week. The children look forward to our time together, learning all about music.

I usually start rhythm and music class with a kind of storytelling gesture. I say. “Good Morning Class.” The response is usually a typical response: “Good morning, Mrs. Rogers.” When I tell them I’m going to go out and come back in with my teacher’s face and try again, that’s when I know I have his attention and cooperation. Children are very flexible when you change the variables and come back with a greeting quietly or loudly. They will definitely copy you with their answer with more enthusiasm!

I then proceed with the following talking points:

1. What is music?
2. What is rhythm?

I start by explaining that music is like reading notes, not lyrics. We talked about music on the radio and a CD. You listen to music in bands and orchestras. One boy wanted to add to the discussion that he listens to music when the birds sing, while another girl added that her dad plays music on TV.

After a while, we introduce that music is like your heartbeat and that some notes are played more slowly than others. It is at this point that I go over to the piano or keyboard and play some songs that the kids are familiar with and that are examples of a slow song, like Away In The Manger. We move on to fast songs like Pop! Goes the doodle of weasel and yankee. We then marched in a circle to The Wheels on the Bus. There are tons of nursery rhymes available for your use.

It is at this point that I begin to talk in depth about teaching musical notes to young people. We name the notes, talk about how many beats correspond to that particular note, and then practice clapping.

So, within the first part of the hour, the children have an introduction to a quarter note, which is a black note that receives a bill. Then, we have the Half Note, being a white note that receives 2 beats. Children learn patience by pausing and holding a note during a longer count. Finally, we move on to the full note that takes place in 4 beats.

We applaud. Then we go into the drum machine and pull out the drumsticks. The class learns to click the beats with the Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star rhythm sticks. Once again, there are so many great songs to choose from. If we have time, we move on to other rhythm instruments.

Towards the end of the hour, I enjoy introducing the children to a music game. We played “I Spy The Whole Note” with toy magnifying glasses. I like to put flashcards around the room and have the kids close their eyes. On the count of three, the flash cards are turned over, eyes wide, children begin their search for what a complete note looks like. It’s fun to teach in a kindergarten music class.