Fun Sequential Elementary Music Lessons to Develop Music Reading Skills
Fun elementary music lessons and activities that build on prior learning are essential to teach young children to read music.
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Do you ever wish there were method books to teach music reading in the elementary grades? Current elementary music textbooks do provide quality repertoire but they do NOT have a sequential curriculum to teach music reading.
At best, the current music texts/online programs haphazardly address music reading skills. This leaves many elementary music teachers in a constant search for songs, lessons, and activities to teach specific music elements and skills.
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Instrumental Method Books
Beginning band and string method books have a logical, efficient, and effective sequence to introduce musical elements. They provide guided practice to build skills and proficiency before introducing additional elements. Lessons build slowly to help students master music reading and performance concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.
The Kodály Method identifies a similar pathway to teach young children to read and perform vocal music. It provides a model which may be adapted to meet the needs of any elementary music classroom.
An Eclectic Approach to Elementary Music Methodologies
The best approach is an eclectic one. Blending Kodály, Orff, and Dalcroze methodologies creates a well-rounded elementary music curriculum. However, the Kodály method, with its sequential song-based lessons, has been the foundation of my music literacy teaching for many years.
Developing Music Reading Skills with Kodály-Style Lessons
If you’re unfamiliar with the Kodály approach, the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) provides a clear and concise summary on their website. In short, the Kodály approach is based on teaching singing in a natural environment, similar to how a child learns to speak.
The repertoire includes high-quality folk songs which is one of my favorite genres. Songs are taught playfully through games and interactive activities. The Kodály method forms a strong music literacy foundation, with carefully designed, sequential lessons that build on previous learning.
The main tools of the Kodály method are rhythm reading syllables and the solfege pitch reading system.
3 Essential Steps of the Kodály Method
The Kodály method provides a strong foundation for developing music with three essential phases.
- Prepare
- Present
- Practice
Prepare: During the prepare phase, students are introduced to musical concepts aurally. They experience these elements through singing, moving, and playing. Various activities, including songs, games, chants, movement, and developing repertoire are used to prepare each musical element. These activities all play a crucial role in the preparation phase.
Present: Once students have an aural understanding of the targeted musical element, they are ready for the “present stage.” The present stage is very short. This is when the musical element is named and the symbol is visually introduced. (It’s important to present only one element at a time.)
Practice: Everything that happens after that is practice. The practice phase, of course, is the longest.
This is an oversimplification of the Kodály method. For more information see the Kodály Music Institute.
Movable Do
Kodály was a proponent of teaching movable Do. However, many elementary music teachers still avoid it today because they lack the time to prepare lessons. And ready-made lessons that teach movable Do are hard to find.
Teaching movable Do is important. When you use a consistent method to teach the same songs in different keys, key changes become routine. This makes playing in various keys less intimidating for students learning instruments in band or orchestra.
Kodály Song Resources
The American Folk Song Collection hosted by Holy Names University is a fabulous FREE online resource to find Kodály songs and games. Search their collection of over 500 indexed folk songs.
Check your local public or university libraries. They should be able to obtain the texts below through interlibrary loan. Or, maybe it’s time to build your library of Kodály method books. Take a peek at a few of the American standards below.
- Kodály Today Handbook Series by Micheal Houlahan and Philip Tacka provides an updated approach with engaging music repertoire for the elementary music classroom.
- The Kodály Method by Lois Chosky. I cannot believe how expensive this book has gotten since I purchased mine. Look on Amazon, they had some used books for approximately 70% off. This will give you a good historical perspective of the origins of the Kodály Method.
- 150 American Folk Songs to Read, Sing, & Play published by Boosey & Hawkes. This fabulous song resource follows the Kodály sequence.
- Sail Away 155 American Folk Songs to Read, Sing, & Play also published by Boosey & Hawkes is the sequel to “150” and also follows the Kodály sequence.
The Kodály method offers a proven system for developing music reading skills in the elementary grades. Teachers often adapt the method to fit their specific music curriculum.
See this post for more information on teaching rhythm reading in the elementary grades – Stick Notation vs. Standard Notation.
Sequential Repertoire of Elementary Music Lessons
Developing music literacy in elementary grades requires intentional effort. It takes sequential lessons and activities that build on prior learning. While you can create your own lessons, it can be time-consuming.
If you don’t have the time to create all your elementary music lessons, give yourself a break. Check out the NO-PREP complete bundles below. These resources teach movable Do in a way that’s simple for teachers to teach and easy for students to understand.
Benefits of Using Our No-Prep Kodály Music Reading Bundles
- Engaging for Students: These bundles make learning music enjoyable, with lessons designed to be both natural and fun. We like to call it “sneaky learning.”
- Effective Music Reading: Students develop music reading skills effortlessly through interactive and playful activities.
- Time-Saving for Teachers: These ready-made lessons save you significant time, so you can focus on teaching rather than lesson planning.
✅ No Kodály training is necessary to teach these lessons. Easy-to-use guided lessons lead teachers and students through all activities.
Each bundle below includes the following.
- Projectable PowerPoint lessons
- Directions for use with Google Slides
- Songs
- Games
- Instrumental activities
- Printable Take it Home sheet music pages
- Digital Easel Activities
- Plus other activities to reinforce learning.
Save over 35% when you invest in the sequential Mega Activity Bundle.
We Make Happy Music Teachers
There WAS no such thing as an elementary music method book for teaching music reading. So, we created one! And, to be the most beneficial for elementary music classrooms it’s DIGITAL designed to be projected on your classroom whiteboard.
Our Music Activity Bundles have been used by thousands of students.
See What These Happy Elementary Music Teachers Have to Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alan D. – This bundle is the perfect way to teach So-La-Mi through a variety of songs and musical activities connected to the songs. This resource centers around actual repertoire (i.e. songs) as opposed to isolated musical exercises. I highly recommend this!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Susan W. – This is a great resource because it’s able to be extended across several lessons and developed for whatever classroom instruments are available.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cheryl T. – These are FANTASTIC! Everything is ready for you to just start teaching! I love the little assessment at the end as well. Thanks so much!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jennifer M. – My students love these arrangements! They’re always excited to perform on the instruments and know many of these songs by rote, which adds another layer of excitement as we can build upon previous learning.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Diane J. – This bundle is great for tying everything together. Such detailed step-by-step makes teaching solfege easy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cheryl K. – I appreciated being able to find accurate and ready-made visuals to use for a song I always include in my lessons. Saved me lots of time creating my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alissa R. – Students loved this activity! Very helpful song to teach do, re, mi and key change! Students were very engaged. I also really liked the take-home activities to reinforce concepts. Thank you so much!
Do You Need a Lesson or Two to Use as a Model?
Start by identifying the gaps in your curriculum, then browse through a few of our Music Literacy Resources that best meet your classroom needs. Each activity is available separately or as part of the leveled skill bundle.
Save over 35% when you invest in the Mega Bundle.
Method “Books” for Elementary Music Really Do Exist!
This is the closest I’ve found to a sequential music “method book” for elementary students. And, a structured musical literacy repertoire simplifies lesson planning. When you add performance-based activities, games, and digital tools, teaching and learning becomes more engaging and enjoyable.
Learning to read music can be fun for teachers and students! 😊
Think you don’t have time to teach music reading lessons every day?
Building students’ music literacy skills takes time, but teaching music reading every day is easier than you might think. Check out 10 Tips to Integrate Music Reading into Every Lesson for practical steps you can start using today.
More Featured Kodály Resources 📚
- The Kodály Method by Lois Chosky.
- 150 American Folk Songs to Read, Sing, & Play
- Sail Away 155 American Folk Songs to Read, Sing, & Play
Related Posts
- 3 Simple Steps for Teaching Music Reading in the Elementary Grades
- 10 Tips to Integrate Music Reading into Every Elementary Music Class
- Elementary Music Rhythm Reading Standard Notation vs. Stick Notation
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.
Terri is active in music education through blogging, presenting and attending 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.
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