Looking for a fall music activity that combines movement, rhythm reading, and music making? This week, I’m revisiting my Autumn Medley Play-Along, with options to fit your students and your classroom goals.
The medley celebrates September, October, falling leaves, and cooler weather—without references to Halloween or pumpkins. Students can follow the movements, perform body percussion, read the rhythms, or play classroom percussion instruments.
The Music
This medley features four songs with contrasting tempos and styles, including country, ballad, and R&B:
I emphasized movement to help my students feel longer note values, experience eighth-note subdivisions, and prepare for the dotted-quarter-note–eighth-note pattern.
The Rhythms
If rhythm reading is your focus, students will encounter these patterns:
Four quarter notes
One whole note
Two quarter notes followed by two quarter rests
One quarter note, two eighth notes, and two quarter notes
Two quarter rests followed by two quarter notes
Four eighth notes followed by two quarter notes
One dotted quarter note, one eighth note, and two quarter notes
Two half notes
Two quarter notes, two eighth notes, and one quarter note
There is also a dance-party section for students to enjoy moving to the music!
The Movements
Use these movements to practice the patterns before starting the video:
Whole note = Clap on beat one and then wave your hands in the air for beats two, three, and four
Dotted quarter followed by an eighth note = Pat your knees on the first best, slide on the downbeat of beat two and clap on the upbeat of beat two
Quarter rest = shh
Two eighth notes = two snaps or flicks in the air
Quarter notes = stomps or claps
Half notes = Step then slide
Choose the movements that work for your students. Seated movements, finger flicks, and claps can provide alternatives when standing, stepping, or snapping is challenging.
Before You Press Play
I like to introduce the patterns with digital manipulatives before students perform with the video. This gives us time to practice, make adjustments, and build confidence.
Here are two ways to get started:
Try a pattern together, then invite a student to lead. Display a pattern and practice it as a class. Use Wheel of Names to select a student to demonstrate it. Afterward, the student can choose an instrument to use during the play-along.
Let small groups become the teachers. Assign each group a pattern to practice and teach to the rest of the class.
You can begin with body percussion and add instruments once students are comfortable with the patterns.
Keeping Instrument Playing Manageable
When everyone plays at once, the volume can quickly build! These are a few approaches I use to keep students engaged while making the music easier to hear:
Assign patterns to instrument groups. For example, shakers play one pattern and drums play another.
Offer a selected collection of instruments. Students still have choices, while you guide the overall volume.
Give instrument-group cues. Try calling, “Just the metals play now!”
Divide the class into two groups. One group plays instruments while the other performs body percussion. Then switch roles.
These options also give students a chance to listen, watch, and respond to one another.
Play-Along Manipulatives
The accompanying PowerPoint and PDF manipulatives are available in the Extras section of my Buy Me a Coffee page.
Use them to introduce the patterns, practice body percussion, or prepare students to play classroom instruments with the video.
I hope this medley brings some autumn music making to your classroom!
Don’t Forget: Fun with Classroom Instruments!
Looking for fresh ways to get your elementary music students playing? Join us for Fun with Classroom Instruments, a free, interactive MusicFirst Elementary webinar on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Bring an instrument and play along! We’ll explore activities for ukulele, recorder, barred instruments, Boomwhackers, and more. Come ready to make music and gather ideas you can bring into your classroom.
🎵 Attend live for a chance to win a Studio 49 glockenspiel OR a set of Boomwhackers!
Whether your students are picking up an instrument for the first time or are ready for a new challenge, we hope you’ll join us for an evening of music making.
👉 Register for Fun with Classroom Instruments
Bring Your Instrument and Play Along With Us!
October 7 • 7:30 p.m. ET • Free Webinar