Sometimes with very small children, it can be difficult to get them into position and ready to perform. Musical Marks is a fun way to begin training them where their positions are. It’s particularly helpful if your performance has both movement and fixed positions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this game is an excellent way to ensure your children are socially distancing in class. When they begin to venture too close to each other, have a quick game of Musical Marks to get them back to their safe space.
| Covid-19 Update |
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| To ensure your students are socially distancing, mark their spaces two metres apart. |
Instructions
- Put the students into their positions for the scene.
- Place a mark on the floor where their position should be.
- Start playing music for the students to dance around to.
- When the music stops, the students must return to their marks.
- The last student to make it back to their mark is eliminated.
- Keep playing until only one student remains.
This game is an adaptation of musical chairs but if you also want to work on tableaus (frozen pictures) you could use an adaptation of musical statues.
Extension
- Create a frozen image with the students.
- When the music plays they can dance around the room.
- When the music stops they must return to their frozen picture.
- If you see anyone moving once they’ve recreated the tableau, they are eliminated.
- Continue playing until one student remains.
This technique is a great way to begin training the students to get to their position. Over time you can remove the music and use a sound signal to get them to their positions. Eventually, they will be able to get to their positions at the right time without an external signal.
This technique worked great with my 2-5 year-old students at Prague Youth Theatre. During our termly performance revue, we would include a short dance within the show. The students were able to quickly and seamlessly return to their positions to continue the story once the music stopped.
There is a further variation of this game for older students available in our Making to Music – Devising Lesson Plan.
Need help keeping your students socially distant? Try marking a space using the following:
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