Not so difficult cue card games for rock bands

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Not so difficult cue card games for rock bands

outoftheloop 20 Mar 2018 16:04

I teach at a school with rock ensembles. I have introduced simple game ideas into the classes. The students have been enjoying them and asked for more. would love to find as many as possible as my students think there's an endless supply of these games somewhere!
They don't necessarily have to be cue card games but I've found them to be the most accessible with the students.
Thanks.

Re: Not so difficult cue card games for rock bands

odolany 21 Mar 2018 11:58

Is the aim here to develop 'rock skills' or to widen horizons?
First type might be harder to find in a library, but I think I'd try 'Musical Tetris' with some very slow metronome playing for timing practice.

Re: Not so difficult cue card games for rock bands

outoftheloop 21 Mar 2018 15:43

Most of these students are "at risk" students. The sole purpose of these ensembles to to allow them to blow off steam, have fun, and relax. Of course I hope for them to learn about the music we're playing. Right now we are learn rhythm patterns of rock. I have cue cards with different simple patterns on them that we play games with.
Musical Tetris might work. I would have to simplify it. Thanks so much for the recommendation. I really hope to see this library grow. I guess it's up to all of us. I'll get some stuff up there soon. At first I thought my games might be too simple, but I realize that simple games are indeed necessary.

Re: Not so difficult cue card games for rock bands

notrightmusic 22 Mar 2018 15:59

How about conducting with cue cards? Everyone loves taking turns conducting improvisation. It also gives students the sense of creative accomplishment.
I'll get some easy style rock cue card games up.
Here's a silly little thing that might work with your students. Use cue cards for rotating singers. Get the band to play some rock groove. Have a deck of cue cards with animal names on them. Each singer has to musically imitate an animal on the card being held up. Let the singer go nuts making these sounds, hopefully mimicking the animal's movements as well. Encourage the band to follow along with the (animal) singer. After a few minutes hand the mic to someone else and pick a new animal. Make sure to open the windows to share the madness!
Have you tried having students make cue cards - then play a simple game using those cards?