Preschool Music Lesson & Free Learning Pack

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Teaching preschoolers about music is both easy and fun! These little learners enjoy making noises with almost anything they can get their hands on, so it is very simple to take their love for noise and make it a preschool music lesson!

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Rhythm

The first step for your preschooler’s music lesson is rhythm. Without rhythm there would be no music, so you have to start by teaching them rhythm. You can start off by clapping with your hands to show them a simple rhythm like this – 1 clap, 2 clap, 3 clap, 1 clap or 3 clap, 3 clap, 1 clap. Have fun making up different rhythm patterns with your preschooler and try to keep up with each other!

Notes

After you’ve had fun creating rhythm with your preschooler, take time to explain that music is created by the use of notes, which are different tones you hear when you sing or play an instrument. If you have a piano or keyboard, play each note in an octave to show them how each note has it’s own tone/sound. An added fun lesson here would be to spend time creating fun rhythms together on the piano/keyboard together using only the notes in one octave!

Counting

Once you’ve had fun creating rhythms and learning about notes with your preschooler, it is time to teach them how to count. Counting is important for creating music, without counting our notes music would be noise. Teaching your preschooler how to count in music class is similar to teaching rhythm. Instead of having fun creating your own rhythmic patterns to clap out, this time you’re going to create a pattern to count out together in time.

Start off by planning a few simple patterns (I recommend staying with 1-4 counts at the preschool age level), make sure you write them down because you don’t want to forget what you’ve clapped out when your preschooler wants to do it together. Here are a few sample patterns to start off with; 1 clap, pause, 2 claps, pause, 3 claps or 1 clap, pause, 1 clap, pause, 2 claps, pause, 2 claps, pause, 1 clap.

Left and Right Hands/Bass and Treble Clef

The sooner your little ones can tell their right hand from their left hand the easier music will be for them. No matter what type of instrument they may grow up to play, each hand will have it’s own purpose. Take time to teach them to know their left hand from their right hand and that in music each hand has it’s own plan and place!

Next, pull out a piece of sheet music and show them the bass clef and the treble clef signs, ensure that they know that the bass clef is for the left hand and the treble clef is for the right hand when playing the piano or keyboard.

Music provides so many opportunities to have fun together! Once your preschooler has gotten the hang of rhythm and counting through clapping, try making a set of drums from oatmeal and coffee containers or a pair of maracas from old spice containers filled with popcorn or rice! Then start the music lesson over and create fun, new rhythms and music patterns together! Teaching your preschooler about music is sure to bring a smile to both of your faces and laughter to your day!

Be sure to grab a copy of the free preschool music learning pack here to help your preschooler learn more about notes and counting. They’ll also be working on their handwriting skills too!

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How do you incorporate music lessons into your homeschool preschool day?

 

Misty - Founder of Year Round Homeschooling

 

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