Group Class Ice Breakers

In my last post here I talked about the “formula” I use for the monthly group classes I do with my students. I always start my group classes with an ice breaker activity. Since my students sign up for classes whenever they like, I have different students attending each class and an ice breaker game gives them all a chance to get to know one another a bit. These games are short, require no set up time, and can be customized for different ages and skill levels. Here are my three favorite ice breakers:

• Name that tune

Each student is given a slip of paper with one line from a famous song. They take their paper up to the piano and sight-read it, and see if the group can “name that tune.” This activity is easy to customize for different levels of students. You can also customize the song selections and play holiday name that tune, patriotic name that tune, Halloween name that tune, etc.

• Music charades

Each student draws a slip of paper with a common musical term written on it. (Some examples might include: middle C, treble clef, quarter note, etc.) Without playing the piano, students have to act out the word and see if the group can guess what it is. This is a fun game and can get quite silly depending on what terms you pick!

• Mamma mia! (Italian term review)

Each student draws a slip of paper with an Italian term written on it. At the piano, students play a scale (or other short pattern) using this Italian term and see if the group can guess what it is. For example, they might play the scale fast for “allegro,” or gradually slow down as they play the scale for “ritardando.” Bonus points if the students can say the term with the proper Italian pronunciation (“Mamma mia!”)

What do you think? What kind of games do you use with your students?