Music Speeds: A Kindergarten Music Lesson

Materials:

1. CD Player
2. 4 CD's of Different Tempos
3. The Student's Chairs

Teach:

1. Tell your students that music can be played in over twenty-five different speeds. Since the students are only in Kindergarten, let them know you are going to introduce them to four of those twenty-five speeds. The speed of the music is called the music's tempo.
2. The slowest of the four speeds is called Adagio. Write the word Adagio on the chalk board at the bottom. Place an upward arrow above the word Adagio.
3. Above Adagio write the word Moderato. Moderato means moderate or not too fast and not too

   slow. It is just about right. Again place an upward arrow above the word Moderato.

4. Above Moderator write the word Allegro. Allegro means fast. Place a final upward arrow above the word Allegro.
5. Write Presto on the top. Presto means super fast. Show the children how the music starts out slow with Adagio and ends up super fast with Presto.
6. Pick a song like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and help the student to start out singing it Adagio. Have them sing a bit faster when you say "Moderato". Wait a little longer and then use the word "Allegro" so the children can sing faster. Finally, have them sing as fast as they can when you shout out "Presto".
7. Once the children understand the speeds get ready to play musical chairs. Have one chair less then you have students. Have four CD's ready with your CD player. One should be a representation of each speed. Each round you will play a different speed which determines how fast or slow the students move around the chairs.
8. After you stop the music the students will scramble for a chair, but one student will not have one. That student is out.
9. This continues until only one student is remaining.

Recommended:

Play an episode of the "Little Einsteins" cartoon. They go over the music speeds in a fun way. You can watch an episode anytime online so you could set up your computer to play the episode for your students.