"These notes with the hole in the middle." Yes, these are the half notes. Besides as being double as long as a quarter note there are many ways to learn this musical note value. This 3 step guide gives you ideas about how your child can learn writing, playing and understanding the half note in the most fun way possible.
1. Learning and Talking About Half Notes
Many times half notes are being introduced after quarter notes in music class. They are the ones that you need to "hold a little longer" than the quarter notes. By introducing just the shape of the notes early on and talking about differences and similarities, children can learn easily to distinguish note values before having the difficulty to play them right.
Colouring Game with Half Notes, Quarter Notes and Whole Notes
In this cute coloring printable children are asked to color different parts of the fox with different colors, depending on the note that is written. Although it is a perfect activity that they can do themselves, doing it together with your child holds even more possibilities. Keep asking questions about the shape, the head and the stem of the notes and your child will soon know all about them.
Mini Music Memory
For learning to distinguish half notes from other note shapes it is nice to have a reason to talk about them more. And we don't mean basic questions like "what's the difference between quarter notes and half notes?" Make it fun by using this little game of Memory. It gives you and your child a good reason for saying things like "No, they are not the same, right?", "Does it have a note stem, too?" or "Is the head of the note filled in, like in the quarter notes?"
I Spy Note Values
Here is an activity that your child can also easily do on their own and at the same time they learn to differentiate the different note shapes.
2. Half Note Rhythms
How does a half note sound like? Since it's a note value, it means that not its pitch but its length is important. The length becomes clear better in comparison to other note values, like quarter notes or whole notes.
Rhythm Animals Music Game
While the snail keeps going slowly but regularly in half notes, the lion can either jump veeeery far or roar veeeery long with its whole note. Comparing the two sounds here does the trick and will teach your child to put half notes in a system.
Rhythmic Rhymes Music Activity
Use this fun (and scary!) little rhyme to practice the half note rhythm. The "Boo-Hoos" in the first and third line are like half notes. Make a constant (quarter note) pulse by pounding on your chest (the hearts) and speak the words on the right count. This activity is a lot of fun with more than one person!
Note Hopping Music Game
Now (maybe for the first time) you can ask more concrete and theoretical questions about the half note as a note value. For winning this game you neet some luck, but you can also improve your chances by knowing precisely how many beats half notes and the other notes have.
3. Drawing the Half Notes
Maybe your child is already experienced in drawing quarter notes (or notes in general). That would make these activities of course very easy. But even if your child has no experience drawing notes (or is not yet very good at it), they can practice very easily with these two printables - without losing their confidence.
Trace Half Notes 1 and 2
These two worksheets give a child the opportunity to first simply trace the shape of the already pre-written half notes. After this they will be able to write them - big or small - all on their own.
How can I find music activities?
Find more activities like these on our website: https://www.paupa.org
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