• 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

Connect 4 – Beginning Band Games – Finish Strong – Motivate until the last day of school

9 Apr
beginning band games

More beginning band games?  Yes, please!

Beginning Band Games

If you don’t have a Connect 4 game, ask the kids to bring one. I bet one of them has one at home. An alternate option is to play tic-tac-toe on the front board.

Start this game right at the beginning of class to be sure you have time to finish. The winner is the 1st to get 4 in a row OR if you don’t have time to finish or no one gets 4 in a row, the team with the most disks at the end wins.

Divide into 2 teams – Red/Black. Appoint or let the kids choose a team captain. Place the captain in the chairs close to the game board. The team can help the captain, but only the captain can actually drop in the disk.

As soon as teams are chosen, start your regular class routine. Go back and forth having them do things such as the ones listed below.

  • Count 4 measures of a rhythm page
  • Play 4 measures of a rhythm page on concert F
  • Play 1st line of warm-up
  • Play a scale
  • Play 2 measures of the chromatic scale
  • Count a line in the book
  • Note name a line in the book
  • Play a line in the book
  • Show you their supplies (pencil, books, reeds etc.)
  • Answer theory questions

If a team is not paying attention or has bad behavior, they forfeit their turn to earn a disk. This is a BIG deal because it keeps them from being able to block. 

At the end of class, announce a winner!

This is the second post in our series called “Finish Strong! Motivate until the last day of school.” Read last week’s post here – Band Dice Games. These beginning band games were made up with beginners in mind (obviously), but can be used with any class. Changing things up a little the last couple months can keep kids motivated and help greatly with discipline.  For more in depth explanations of using games to help with discipline, read this post: Beginning Band Jeopardy.

Looking for more fun games to end the year strong?  Check out this preview video for a Level 1 Games BUNDLE!  Works for any class size!  There are 9 games with multiple levels within games for a total of 20+ versions.

https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/End-of-Semester-Preview-Music-Theory-Games-Level-1-Bundle-HANDBRAKE.mp4

More Games to Use:
Band Dice Games
Measure Mix-up

Related Reading:
Improving Sightreading Skills with Thirds
Motivate Your Band – No Work, No Reward
Key Signature Chant (Fun Way to Teach Key Signature)

If this article was helpful to you, please consider SHARING it on Facebook so others can learn as well!

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: Beginner Band, End of Year, Games Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « “Bring a Parent to Band” Day
Next Post: Teaching Strategies to Evaluate Band Students »

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

band concert preparation

What Is Your Best Advice for Concert or Contest Day Preparation?

Let Festivals Become Your Program’s BFF

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