Jenna Michael

Our Spring recital is finished and the school year is coming to a close. It has been an intense month for all of my students and myself as we finish everything for the semester! We will be celebrating our hard work with a group lesson party during the first weekend of June and I’ve been brainstorming ways to have some extra fun with our instruments. Below are 10 ideas I’ve collected over the years from books, other teachers, and even students! They are perfect for a group lesson party of your own, or as a way to add variety into your regular group lessons.

1.) Hide the Bow

Skill Level: Twinkle and Beyond

For this game, choose one student to “seek” and take their bow. Have the seeker leave the room and hide the bow somewhere with the rest of the group. The goal is for everyone in the group to know where the bow is except for the seeker. Then, invite the seeker back and have them look for their bow. As they get closer to the bow, the rest of the students should play louder, and as they get farther from the bow, the rest should play quieter. You can have students play any note you want, choose notes of a chord, or for a challenge, have everyone play a review song.

2.) Playing Position Parade

Skill Level: Pre-Twinkle

This should be done in a space with plenty of room and very few things to bump into. Pre-Twinkle students can do this with a box violin or a real violin. Students should hold their violins in “playing position” with their left hand holding the body of the instrument (As they would to play open strings as a complete beginner). You can serve as the leader, or have a more advanced student lead the parade around the room or whatever space you are in while the students are in playing position. At the discretion of the leader, stop the parade and go to rest position by announcing “rest position!” periodically. Students should be reminded to pay attention to who is in front of them so there are no crashes.

3.) The Posture Game

Skill Level: Pre-Twinkle

This game is a HUGE hit at my group lessons, and my Pre-Twinkle class plays it every time we meet. One student stands and holds their violin and their bow with the worst posture they can imagine and plays a few notes for the class to hear. Then, the class works together by suggesting ways to fix the poor violin and bow holds. Students should raise their hands and wait to be called on so that corrections can be made one at a time. Once each correction has been made, the student demonstrating the poor-posture-turned-perfect can then play the same notes again to demonstrate what a difference good technique can make. A few tips from someone who has led the game a few times: Instruct all students that violins must be facing up and both feet should remain on the ground!

4.) Simon Says

Skill Level: Twinkle and Beyond

Choose a leader to play either open strings, scale patterns, or arpeggios so that the rest of the group can repeat after them. They key is that just like regular Simon Says, there should be a signal to the students of when to repeat and when not to. I do this by tapping my index finger or pinky on the bow before playing. Students who repeat what I play if I haven’t tapped a finger on my bow hand are “out” and sit down until the game is finished. Beginning students should stick to open strings, and you can add scales or arpeggios for more advanced students. The rhythm should be kept simple unless you elect to play everything on the same note.

5.) Name that Tune

Skill Level: Pre-Twinkle and Beyond

This game is relatively simple: play a piece from the Suzuki Repertoire and see who can name the piece first. This does wonders at encouraging students to do their daily listening! You might “sweeten” the deal by rewarding a piece of candy to each winner.

6.) Create Your Own Twinkle

Skill Level: Twinkle and Beyond

There are 5 variations of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star published in Suzuki Violin Book 1. By the time a student reaches the end of the Twinkles, they likely can play each of them fairly fluidly by just hearing the brief 2 bar introduction. Take turns creating new variations by blending the rhythms, playing the rhythms backwards, or using completely different rhythms. Students can lead the rest of the group in their new variation by playing the two bar introduction in their chosen rhythm.

7.) Create Variations of other Review Songs

Skill Level: Lightly Row and Beyond

Take the title of a review song for the group and add a spin to it. For example, Song of the Wind can be turned into Song of the Breeze and played slowly, or Song of the Hurricane and played quickly! Lightly Row can become Strongly Row with big, goofy bow strokes, and Allegro can become Adagio by playing it very slowly.

8.) Memory Games

Skill Level: Twinkle and Beyond

Challenge your students’ memory by removing one note from their review songs. For example, when playing through Lightly Row, tell the class that the note E is not allowed! Instead of playing E when it occurs in the song, students should treat it as a rest.

If you have your students use a shoulder rest, you can also have them release their left hands when they play open strings. This highlights which students are holding their instruments with their hands instead of balancing them between their shoulders and chins. I recommend only doing this with students 7 years old or older and being extremely clear that they should not let go of their instruments if they feel it is at risk of falling.

9.) Egg Shaker Passing

Skill Level: Pre-Twinkle and Beyond

This idea comes from the Stone Passing Game from Ghana where students sing together and tap a stone on the ground. If you are working with a space that has carpet like I am, you may find that egg shakers are a little more fun to do this with! You can teach your students Obwisana or have them sing music from the Suzuki repertoire while keeping the beat with their shakers. I have even had more advanced students play a piece they know very well while the rest of the group passes egg shakers.

You can create your own egg shakers by putting dry rice into a plastic Easter egg and super gluing it shut or using tape to seal it shut. Just be careful that no one is tapping the DIY shakers too violently, or they might break open and you will have a bunch of rice in your carpet!

10.) Soundpainting

Skill Level: Pre-Twinkle and Beyond

Soundpainting is the multidisciplinary live composing sign language created by Walter Thompson. I learned about the technique while I was in the New Music Ensemble at GVSU, where Dr. Ryan would often use it to start rehearsals. Soundpainting a fun, creative activity that musicians of all skill levels can enjoy. By teaching the group just a few gestures, leaders can get their creative juices flowing and create beautiful soundscapes or in-your-face musical chaos!

What games do you like to play with your group classes? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!