10 Easy Rhythm Games & Activities for Music Lessons

Do you have a favorite rhythm game or activity to use in your music lessons? Rhythm is something that always needs review, so you can never have too many rhythm games and activities up your sleeve!

I’ve put together a list of 10 rhythm games that can be used to practice any rhythm your students are working on. Plus, most can be pulled together fast if you have some rhythm flashcards on hand, for last-minute lesson ideas.

Please share at the bottom if you have another favorite game or activity to add to the list!

#1 Rhythm Trashketball

Trashketball is a popular review game across subjects and ages. So, why not put a sports twist on your rhythm review?

This game can be played in large group classes by creating teams of 3 – 5 kids, and can also be adapted to private lessons.

To play trashketball you will need:

• A ‘hoop’ – a trash can will work.

• A few ‘balls’ – crumpled-up paper is fine.

• Rhythm flashcards (or write out rhythms on the board or a piece of paper)

To play:

• Place lines (of tape or any other way of marking) to mark 1, 2, and 3-point lines. If you have young students, one line only is simpler to start.

• Divide students into teams if you have a larger group.

• Each team is presented with a rhythm flashcard

• If they clap/play it correctly they get 1 point, and the chance to take a shot at the basket.

• They may choose which line to stand at.

• If they get the ball in the trash can, their team gets that many points. Line 1 is 1 point, line 2 is 2 points, etcetera. The farther lines are worth more points.

#2 Poison Rhythm Game

Poison Rhythm is one of my absolute favorite rhythm games, and students love it too! It’s fast-paced, fun, and excellent rhythm reading (or clap-back) practice! Plus it can easily fit into the last few minutes of your lesson. This game can be played in both large class and private lesson settings.

To play Poison rhythm:

• Choose one bar of rhythm as ‘poison’. You may show a flashcard, or write it on the board. Students must not play the ‘poison’ rhythm.

• Continue to show (with flashcards) or clap one-bar rhythms.

• Students must play/clap each rhythm back to you.

• But, if they clap the ‘poison’ rhythm they are ‘out.’

#3 Rhythm Composition

Rhythm composition is a great way to get students invested in performing rhythms.

There are lots of options for rhythm composition:

• Give students rhythms on manipulative cards. Ask them to put the cards in any order to create a composition. They can then perform their rhythm! If you wish, they could also write down their rhythm composition on a separate worksheet.

• One way to practice new or challenging rhythms is to do rhythm composition with words. Assign a word to each type of note your student is practicing. For example, apple for beamed eighth notes and tree for a quarter note. Write each word and its rhythm on a separate card. Allow students to manipulate the cards into their own pattern. They can then play the rhythm while saying the words. This can help many students get the feel of new rhythms when counting isn’t doing the trick.

#4 Matching or Memory Games

Matching cards are an easy way to reinforce basic rhythms (as well as note names, symbols, and just about anything else!) for younger students. These games work best in centers or private lessons.

You likely already have some matching cards. You simply have the rhythm drawn on one side of a card and the name or number of beats on the other side. Cut the card in half, and have students match the correct halves back together. You can create your own or look for a fun seasonal version that is premade.

Memory is another game you might already know.

To play:

• Flip all the matching cards face down.

• Students take turns (this can also be done as a single-player activity) flipping two cards over.

• If the two cards match, they keep them and take another turn.

• If the cards don’t match, they put them back face down, and the next person takes a turn. Students will try to remember what was where.

• The game ends when all the cards have been taken. The player with the most pairs wins.

#5 Rhythm Train

To make a rhythm train, you will need a variety of 1-bar rhythm flashcards. Students can use them to create a rhythm train (individually or in small groups) as long as they wish.

Take turns playing/clapping the entire train. Who can get farthest down the train without making a mistake?

#6 Silly Sentences

Kids love silly sentences and tongue twisters!

• Ask each student to make up and write down a silly sentence or tongue twister.

• Give students options for a few different rhythms. Try to include different lengths of sounds: eighths, quarter, half, sixteenths, whatever they are learning.

• Ask them to write the rhythm of their sentence. Saying it out loud rhythmically will help.

• When done, they can say and play/clap their rhythm!

• This activity is best demonstrated first by the teacher so that students know what you mean by the rhythm of each word.

#7 Rhythm Bingo

Bingo is always a hit with groups of all ages!

To play rhythm bingo:

• Fill in a bingo board (3×3 or 5×5 depending on your students’ ages and levels) with different one-bar rhythms. You will need to create multiple versions, so all the kids don’t win at the same time.

• Give each student a bingo board and bingo markers (scraps of paper, dry beans, etc.). Or laminate the cards and use dry-erase markers.

• Play/clap a rhythm. If students have that rhythm on the board, they cover that square.

• The first student to cover all the squares (or a whole row for a shorter game) wins.

#8 I Have, Who Has

‘I Have, Who Has’ is another classic game that is great for review. You can look for premade game cards or create your own.

Each student will have a card with two rhythms: ‘I Have’ and ‘Who Has.’

The student should clap the ‘I Have rhythm’ and ask ‘Who Has’ and clap that rhythm.

The student who has that rhythm should respond: ‘I have’ (clapped rhythm), who has (clap their card’s rhythm).

The game continues until the last student is reached.

#9 Rhythm Telephone

Rhythm telephone is a twist on the classic telephone game. Instead of passing words down the telephone, we’re passing a rhythm!

To play:

• Students should sit or stand in a line with their backs to each other (like they are lining up to go somewhere).

• The teacher gives the student at the back of the line a rhythm

• Each student silently taps the rhythm on the shoulder of the student in front of them.

• The last student claps the rhythm out loud. Is it the same rhythm you started with?

#10 Rhythm Musical Chairs (or marked spots on the ground)

To play this game:

• Set up as many spots (or chairs) on the floor in a circle as you have students.

• On each spot/chair set a rhythm (quarter note, beamed eighth notes, 4 sixteenth notes, etc.).

• Play music, and have students walk slowly around the circle. When the music stops they must stop at the spot/chair closest to them. Be sure to talk ahead of time about not racing or pushing for spots.

• Count the students in, and have them go around the circle clapping their rhythms.

• Play the music again and continue the game as long as you wish.

What is your favorite rhythm game or activity?

Those are 10 ideas for you to try, but I’d love it if you add your own below as well!