Exploring Active Listening in Year 1 Music Classes

Teaching young students about music can be fun and rewarding! Here are some easy ways for teachers to help kids improve their listening skills:

1. Listening Circles

• Form a circle with your students.
• Play a famous piece of music.
• Ask them to close their eyes and really focus on what they hear, like the rhythm, melody, and volume.
• After the music stops, talk about what they noticed.

2. Finding Musical Elements

• Play short clips of different types of music.
• Ask students to find and name things like the instruments, speed, and feelings the music gives them.
• Questions like, “What instruments can you hear?" or "Is this music fast or slow?” can help them think.

3. Active Participation

• Invite students to move or clap to the beat!
• This helps them feel the rhythm while having fun.
• Simple actions, like marching for a steady beat or swaying for a melody, make it easy for all kids to join in.

4. Drawing Reactions

• After listening to music, give students some paper and crayons.
• Ask them to draw how the music makes them feel.
• This is a great way for them to show what they understand about the emotions in music.

Using these fun activities, teachers can help their students become better listeners while enjoying music together!