Teach even the youngest children to keep a rhythm by clapping hands and tapping toes. Teach beats and patterns with the assistance of caregivers guiding little hands as they keep time to favorite songs. Caregivers can also help children learn to keep a beat by bouncing them in time on their knees or lifting them up and down in time to music. Repetition is key, though preschool music projects should generally be divided into short, quickly-moving segments in order to retain the attention of children.
Preschool music projects that involve puppets or stuffed animals are often favorites of young children. Use puppets to simulate simple dance movements, with children following along. Stories that incorporate different musical elements, like ringing bells, a cymbal clap or a train whistle, also introduce children to different sounds and capture their attention.
Older children enjoy preschool music projects that incorporate hands-on use of simple instruments, such as maracas, wooden rhythm sticks, finger symbols, hand bells and xylophones. Percussive instruments like tom-toms are favorites as well. With assistance, children can learn to play instruments in concert with one another to achieve a variety of different sounds.
Young children love to explore the sounds they can make with their own bodies. Finger snaps, whistles, hand-clapping, foot stomps and singing are all fun ways to explore how we can all "make music."
Introduce children to different music styles, such as classical, new age and bluegrass. Ask them how different musical styles make them feel, or have them draw as they listen to different music forms and then discuss the resulting artwork.
Young children love the opportunity to move freely with music and experience its rhythms at their own pace. Give children flowing lightweight scarves and allow them to move to different musical rhythms, from upbeat to soft and soothing.