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Stop-walk

1

Category

vocal
rhythmic
instrumental

Age

10+

Number of participants

5+

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

Equipment and instruments
  • optional: any type of instrument
Competences
  • attention
  • concentration
  • creativity
  • cooperation
  • quick reaction
  • team cohesion

Stop-walk

A general warm-up exercise that can also use musical sounds
as a command in a more creative form.

AIM

A general movement exercise in which musical commands can be used to direct group members. This is a useful team-building game, icebreaker, in which the participants can get to know music in a new aspect.

Description

The participants are placed randomly in the space.
At the leader’s command, the participants perform certain activities:
„WALK” – to go
„STOP” – to stop

Then you have to do the opposite:
„WALK” – to stop
„STOP” – to go

You can even go back to the original version so that they understand it literally, and you can change it several times.

You can expand the command words:
„JUMP” – to jump
„SQUAT” – to squat
and so on

With these expanded activities, you can also play the opposite, you just have to discuss exactly what each one means.

 

Level up!

Match each command word to general sound effects or music.
These can be imitations of animal sounds, car sounds, ringtones, different rhythms clapped, and of course they can also be musical – e.g. if there are instruments or vocals, the high-low sounds can be given meaning.

Feel the Vibe

3

Category

vocal

Age

15+

Number of participants

5-30

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

Equipment and instruments
  • optional: any type of instrument
Competences
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • open minded
  • team cohesion

Feel the Vibe

A cooperative game with a strong team-building character.

AIM

During the game, the goal is to pay attention to each other, to find harmony between group members. Music can only serve as a tool for this, but it undoubtedly brings an interesting color to the game.

Description

The participants stand in a circle.
The numbers are said one after the other from 1-30, but there is no fixed order as to who says the numbers one after the other. Those who feel it, say the following.
The point is not to say it at the same time, because then the game is over, i.e. it starts over.

 

Level up!

Try not to say numbers, but some kind of poem, melody, song, or maybe a musical scale for a group more familiar with music.

Alphabet Game

4

Category

vocal
instrumental

Age

10+

Number of participants

5-30

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

12  3  4  5  6

Equipment and instruments
  • optional: any type of instrument
Competences
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • concentration
  • team cohesion
  • sense of rhythm

Alphabet Game

A cooperative game that focuses on concentration
and has a strong team-building effect.

AIM

The goal of the game is to increase team cohesion, and to develop concentration and attention in terms of individual competencies in a playful form. The musical development of the game has unlimited possibilities.

Description

The participants stand in a circle.
The letters of the ABC are said one after another in a row, according to the way they are next to each other.
The point is that they keep saying the letters one after the other.
If they make a mistake, it’s game over, i.e. it starts over.
The game is constantly accelerating in tempo.

 

Level up!

As in the hocetus game, a well-known melody is played in a circle by syllables. It is also possible to increase the level with musical instruments, also by breaking them down into notes.

Unwrap It

5

Category

vocal

Age

10+

Number of participants

8+

Duration

approx. 10 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1  2  3  4  5  6

 

Competences
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • creativity
  • open minded
  • team cohesion

Unwrap It

Team-building game with cooperative and funny elements.

AIM

The purpose of the game is to play in a fun atmosphere, to strengthen team cohesion, and to develop creativity through the use of sounds.

Description

  1. Everyone close their eyes and make a sound that can be heard, e.g. singing voice, animal imitating voice, sound effect.
  2. Everyone chooses which one they like best. With your eyes closed, find the person who makes the sound you like best and touch that person’s shoulder. It is also possible that one of them has already grabbed someone’s shoulder, but the other is still looking for the real one, so they continue together until then.
  3. It is important to have a leader who sees when everyone has found the target person.
  4. At the end, random blocks are assembled. Open your eyes.
  5. Then take the hands of the two people standing next to you. This creates a tangled line.
  6. Try to make a circle out of it. The circle must be unrolled, even hiding under each other’s arms, but if possible, do not let go of the other.

Sing and Move

8

Category

vocal
rhythmic

Age

12+

Number of participants

10-20

Duration

approx. 30 min.

Working method

group work

Musical abilities of the trainers

1 2 34  5  6

Equipment and instruments
  • music player / app to play the song
  • coloured newspaper pages
Competences
  • movement coordination
  • common singing
  • sense of rhythm
  • attention
  • cooperation
  • team cohesion

Sing and Move

Music game to improve focusing skills
and playful learning about the EU.

AIM

With this game, we can promote the development of the participants’ sense of rhythm and movement coordination, and at the same time develop competencies such as mutual attention and cooperation. Singing together not only stimulates the musical memory, but the learning memory in general.
This exercise also gives participants the opportunity to listen to a symphony orchestra playing classical music (Beethoven: Symphony No. 9) while singing the familiar melody with them. It provides an opportunity to discuss general information about the EU.

Description

  1. Preparation: Collect colored newspaper sheets that can be used to make balls (the size of a tennis ball).
  2. First step is for the participants to grab a sheet of newspaper and create a small ball out of it by squeezing (the tighter folded the better).
  3. After that the participants form a circle and everybody puts the newspaper balls in front of them for now. The participants in the circle hold each other’s hands. The facilitator counts 1-2-1-2 at a steady pace and shows what to do next: everybody has to step left and right in a 2/4 pace.
  4. Next play is to go round the circle and one by one everybody says EU member country, or villages, places etc while keeping tempo and steady beat.
  5. When everyone got comfortable with the steps all participants have to put the ball from their right hands to the left hand of the participant on their right – following the beat as facilitator counts. Group practice this exercise.
  6. When the group is ready to pass the balls, it is possible to combine the delivery of the balls with the steps: pass the ball from the right hand to the left hand of the next member (beat 1), move the ball from the left hand to the right hand (beat 2).
  7. You can take a short break and after that the facilitator starts the counting again 1-2-1-2 at a steady tempo, the participants can start the stepping and the facilitator begins to sing the melody (without text, just la-la!). If somebody in the group knows the tune, they can immediately join in and repeat the Ode to Joy until almost the whole team can follow.
  8. Again, you can take a break while the facilitator can tell this is a famous tune asks if anyone knows who wrote it and what it is famous for? If the group hasn’t heard the melody before, the leader will tell them that it is a large piece of orchestral work that ends with a vocal chant written by a composer named Beethoven, chosen by the Council of Europe as its anthem and used by many occasions and countries in the European Union.
  9. After the break, the practice of stepping and passing the ball may continue, but now with the singing. Here, the leader prepare to turn on the music player: the next time they finish the song, the facilitator turns on the music – version with the band and chorus. It is important that this is a surprise for the group (not heard before) and that the recording should be heard properly. After listening to the symphony excerpt, the group may request a repeat, even several times.

Comments for facilitators

The leader must be very sure of the melody; counting with strong, loud volume; care must be taken to maintain a steady pulse, which can be achieved if the first step (1) is slightly more pronounced. It is advisable to listen to the orchestra recording several times in advance and use the same tempo.
If the group is having difficulty following the exercise, it may be slower to practice, but before the music enters, practice at that tempo.