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Fun Interactive Digital Activities for Music Class

It’s simple to engage all students and develop real music literacy skills with these FUN digital activities for music class. Take a peek.

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Do you need music activities a long-term sub can deliver? Or, do you simply need more activities to teach and assess music reading skills?

During the pandemic, elementary music teachers discovered MANY different types of digital music activities which are valuable tools in the classroom. All of the activities in this post were originally designed for use in the elementary music classroom as whole-group lessons, centers, individual activities, or even assessments. 

We pulled all of these resources together into one post to help classroom music teachers, private studio teachers, and homeschool parents who found themselves unexpectedly teaching and learning in distance learning situations. Now, these same activities are valuable tools in the music classroom again.

Music note blocks displayed on a classroom whiteboard

Don’t miss the 8 FREE sets of Boom Cards included in this post!

Advantages of Interactive Digital Activities in Elementary Music

Now that we’re back in the classroom, don’t forget about the benefits and advantages of INTERACTIVE digital music activities.

  • Consistent, Focused, and Efficient. Digital activities help teachers deliver more consistent lessons which are more consistent and focused as you teach the same content to several different classes.
  • Motivating. Well-designed digital lessons challenge students to develop music literacy skills in small attainable chunks.
  • Sequential Series. Our digital music activities have been designed as sequential series and introduce one new element at a time. This is similar to the design of instrumental method books.
  • Differentiation is Easy. We have designed some of our digital activities to extend well beyond the scope of the elementary music classroom. This allows elementary music teachers to challenge students who may be taking private lessons.
  • Easy for Subs to Deliver. During pandemic teaching, we ALL need to be ready for a sub at all times. These digital activities provide a simple structured platform for substitute teachers to deliver thorough music reading lessons which challenge students.

Take a peek at the various digital activities below.

Interactive Music Composition Blocks – 4 Lessons in 1

These interactive drag-and-drop rhythm blocks and music composition templates provide structure to help all students be successful while students learn valuable music reading skills. These activities are sure to be a hit with your elementary music students.

Each leveled set includes 4 separate lessons in which students create 4 different types of rhythm compositions. Each activity builds upon the other. As students create each composition they learn about note values, meter, form, and lyrics.

These Composition Blocks are available in PowerPoint and Google Slides format. The bundles include all 4 differentiated sets for use with various grade levels or for differentiation within classes. These drag-and-drop activities may be assigned with Google Classroom or with your school’s LMS (Learning Management System).

Click here to view PowerPoint versions.

Pair Digital Composition Blocks with Printables

Lead students through the digital composition lessons above while students complete the composition activities with these PRINTABLE Color, Cut, and Compose blocks and templates included in this differentiated set.

Download this Free Primer Set for use with your early elementary students.

Meet the Instruments of the Orchestra and Band

This series is designed to be delivered by music teachers in the elementary music classroom. However, these lessons are perfect for non-music sub lessons and/or homeschooling. Each no-prep, guided PowerPoint lesson includes built-in student interaction throughout to involve all students.

The presentations include quality sound links and images for each instrument and optional worksheets.

Save over 20% when you invest in these NO-PREP resources as a BUNDLE.

Important Note: Most of the sound links are to professional symphony orchestras and are designed for children to learn about instruments. A few links are provided from other appropriate sources. Follow your school’s online internet policy.

8 Advantages of Music Literacy Boom Cards

Our Music Literacy Boom Cards are designed to help develop REAL MUSIC LITERACY SKILLS and be simple for music teachers to implement and use. Boom Cards provide many advantages to practice, develop, and assess music reading skills.

  1. No-Prep. Boom Cards are easy-to-use interactive activities.
  2. Motivating. These digital task cards provide engagement and interactivity for students. Boom Cards are set in a game-like environment that motivates students to improve their performance. 
  3. Students Get Immediate Feedback. Boom Cards are self-checking and students give immediate feedback. If students make a mistake, they should listen again and fix their answers.
  4. Decks May be Repeated. Students may play the same deck of Boom Cards several times to improve their scores. Our Boom Cards are set to “randomize” so each time students will see the cards in a different order.
  5. Differentiation is Easy. You may assign different sets to different students or teachers may “hide” certain cards for specific students. All of our Boom sets are designed in sequential series which makes differentiation a breeze.
  6. Versatile. Boom Cards may be used as whole-class activities, centers or stations, or 1:1 activities with each student using their own device. Boom Cards are perfect for reinforcement, practice, or even assessment. (See more below.)
  7. Preview and Sample Each Deck. Boom Learning allows teachers to preview the first 4 cards of each deck so you know what each activity is about and if it matches the needs of your students.
  8. Free Teacher Accounts. Boom Learning has different levels of teacher accounts. Because music teachers have MANY students, I recommend the free teacher accounts. (I would appreciate it if you would use our referral link at no cost to you.)

Boom Cards are Economical

When I first learned about Boom Cards, I thought you needed to purchase a set for each student. I couldn’t believe it’s a one-time purchase and you can use one set of Boom Cards with ALL STUDENTS year after year!

That’s economical!

Boom Cards are Versatile

Boom Cards may be used as individual 1:1 activities (with one student to one device), as centers or stations, or as whole class activities. If your school is not a 1:1 school, you can display Boom Cards on a whiteboard and the class can all participate together as they “write” their answers with simple manipulatives.

See this post for more Ways to Use Boom Cards in the Elementary Music Classroom as whole-class lessons with manipulatives.

Free Ear Training Series

If you have never used Boom Cards with your early elementary students, start with these FREE sets.

Rhythmic Dictation – 8 Sequential Sets

Rhythmic Dictation is one of our favorite ways to use Boom Cards! Students listen and drag and drop the blocks to “build” the rhythm they hear. With 7 sequential sets, you can meet the needs of all your students and all your classes.

Click the video below to see Rhythmic Dictation Boom Cards in action.

YouTube video

Drag and Drop Rhythmic Dictation Boom Cards

Click below to see the progression of the sequential bundle which includes all 8 differentiated Boom Cards sets.

Melodic Dictation – 7 Sequential Sets

These Melodic Dictation task cards are similar to the design of the rhythmic dictation set. Students listen and drag and drop the blocks to “build” the melody they hear. This series includes 7 sequential sets to provide differentiation between grade levels or within classes.

Click the video below to see Melodic Dictation Boom Cards in action.

YouTube video

Click to preview the Melodic Dictation sets below

The sequential bundle includes all 7 Boom Cards sets below.

Click to See 7 Sequential Boom Cards Sets – Melodic Dictation

Click to browse more sequential Music Literacy Boom Cards.

Treble Clef and Bass Clef Note Name Series

This Treble Clef and Bass Clef Series follow the same pattern and sequence to introduce limited elements at a time and provide scaffolding for young musicians.

Sets 1-3 practice BASIC space and line notes separately and then combine notes together. Sets 4-6 practice the EXTENDED space and line notes separately, and then combine all notes together.

See the video preview below to see one set in action.

YouTube video

Easy-to-Use Treble Clef Complete Bundle

This soccer theme and the game-like atmosphere of Boom Cards help to engage reluctant students who might otherwise “tune out” during such music activities.

No-Prep Bass Clef Bundle

These bass clef sets follow the same scaffolded sequence as the treble clef sets.

Need Help Getting Started Using Boom Cards?

If you would like to learn more about Boom Cards or get more ideas for ways to use them in your classroom, click to see the blog posts below.

Not finding what you need? Click to browse more sequential Music Literacy Boom Cards or send us a quick email through our Contact Us form.

Snow Days, Quarantine, Water Main Breaks, Oh My!

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us ALL it’s that we have to be prepared for anything. For some schools in our area, snow days or inclement weather days are a thing of the past. And, yes, a water main break canceled school in one nearby district.

For some districts when school is canceled for any reason, it becomes an automatic online virtual school day. This gives teachers and families little notice to prepare. While long-term online teaching is hopefully in our past, you may still have a need for online teaching ideas and tips. And, many of these activities are also helpful in the classroom.

Conclusion – Supplement Your Lessons

What a joy it is to be back in our music classrooms and see our students face-to-face. We will never take it for granted again! But don’t forget about all the FUN digital music activities which are perfect supplements to elementary music lessons in your classroom, the private studio, for sub lesson plans, or for the homeschool setting.

Best wishes!


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Meet the Author

Terri Lloyd is a former elementary music teacher with over 25 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Music, a Master of Science in Education, and a Technology Certificate in Instructional Design.

She is currently active in music education through blogging, workshops, and curriculum development. She serves on the music staff at her church and volunteers for an after-school children’s program. Terri is an active musician in the community, performing in a local Big Band, pit orchestras, and various events.

More Ways to Connect – Instagram, Facebook, YouTube.