• Home
  • Articles
    • Instrument Pedagogy
    • Concert Band
    • Beginning Band
    • Theory & More
    • Motivation
    • Recruiting & Retention
    • Band Director Jobs
    • Collaborative Posts
    • Seasonal
  • Resources
    • Beginning Theory
      • Aural Skills
      • Musical Symbols & Terms
      • Note Names
      • Rhythm
    • Books for Band Directors
    • Brass
    • Cut Time
    • The Garner Ensemble Project – Rhythmic Ensembles
      • The Garner Ensemble Project – Set 2 (2021)
    • Instrument Overhauls
    • KHS America/Jupiter
    • Method Books
    • Music Stores
    • Percussion
    • Travel – Green Light
    • Woodwind Resources
  • Newsletter
  • Distance Learning
  • Freebies
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Band Directors Talk Shop

6 Fun and PRODUCTIVE Activities – After your Students Turn in Their Instruments

13 May
band activities without instruments

Although it’s not ideal, we often must have students turn in instruments early to take care of repairs, overhauls and inventory. Here are some ideas to keep your students engaged and learning.

band activities without instruments

1. Rock out with this Key Chant! Use this time of year to review theory. Another way to make theory review fun is to play Jeopardy with different theory categories – rhythm, note name, key signature, definitions, etc. You can also use this website to practice note names.

2. Play the Rhythm Envelope Game or play with BOOM Cards – Digital interactive and self assessing!

Interactive Music Games- BOOM Cards

3. Teach compound foot tap (and 6/8 time if they haven’t already learned it). For more advanced kids expose them to 5/8, 7/8, meter changes etc.

4. Have students count rhythm pages with a backbeat accompaniment. Use this free website or a similar one. You can spice it up even more by playing “Drop Out.”

5. Have the students write their parents a thank you note for supporting them in band this year. Help them realize all the things their parents do to allow them to be in band including the cost and time investment and emotional support. (If they finish early you could have them write a letter or sign a group card to thank any administration, custodians and others who help your band program regularly.) Get printable, music themed thank you notes here.

Music Thank You Notes

6. Share a motivational story with them like Dig Deeper or The Race. Or read them a book and relate it to what they’ve learned in band this year.

BONUS! Show them short videos that either teach them something or inspire them.
Watch an instrument overhaul
Fun short videos aimed at 4-6th grade (some TEDed, some OnTheTop)
Fun short TEDed videos aimed at 6-9th grade
Inspirational – Overcoming Challenges – middle school or high school
Tons of Woodwind and Brass solo and ensemble performance videos

If you’re lucky enough to have students bring their instruments all the way to the end, here are a few ‘playing games’ try:
Jar of Dooooom
Dice Game
Would You Rather (Band Version)
Connect 4

End of Year Band Director Resources

Related Reading:
End of Year Survival Guide for Band Directors
9 Things to do Before Closing the Band Hall Doors for Summer
Oops – Band Director Stress (BDS) Error

If you would like to receive our weekly newsletter, sign up here. 
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook too!

Learn. Share. Inspire.
BandDirectorsTalkShop.com




Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Filed Under: End of Year, Games, Rhythm Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « Retention Strategies to Keep Your Band Students IN (during the summer)
Next Post: Playing the French Horn with No Arms – Amazing Story of Overcoming Challenges »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Sign up here for our newsletter




SEARCH ANY TOPIC HERE

Categories

About Band Directors Talk Shop

Band Directors Talk Shop is all about helping you be a better band director so your students can be better musicians.  It is a collaborative effort of band directors, former band directors, private lesson teachers and fine arts administrators. Learn.  Posts will strive to teach you something you can use in your classroom today. ... Read More about About Us

let’s connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Featured Articles

Let Festivals Become Your Program’s BFF

To Perform or Not to Perform?

COPYRIGHT © 2023 BAND DIRECTORS TALK SHOP, LLC · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs