Have you ever been to an escape room? I actually haven’t! But I’ve done many of the at-home boxed or printed ones with family, and they’re so much fun! I’ve also created many music-themed ones for my students!
What is a Music Escape Room?
An escape room is a set of puzzles, usually with a story that gives us a goal or something we are trying to escape from. We work (either alone or as a group) to solve these puzzles to discover a key, code, or secret word that will let us ‘escape’ and win.
We’re not actually locking anyone in a room here!
A music escape room is the same idea, but the puzzles use musical skills and knowledge to complete!
Why Use a Music Escape Room with Your Students?
Because it’s fun! No wait, don’t go—there are educational reasons too!
Engaging Review
Did you complete endless notespellers and decks of flashcards as a child? I did! They certainly worked—I can read music very well! But…imagine if your students wanted to review their note names, rhythms, and terms?
Music escape rooms are a perfect way to review concepts that your students have learned. They will be very motivated to show you what they’ve learned since they want to ‘escape’ and win the game!
For example, do you have students who need to review reading notes in the treble clef? Try my (absolutely free!) treble clef escape room with them! All the puzzles and the secret decoder revolve around being able to read notes accurately in the treble clef. Give it a try, and see how much your students love review now!
Assess
Assessments can be formal, but sometimes they can also be fun. Escape rooms are essentially self-checking assessments. If your students do not know the concept of a certain puzzle, they will not get the correct code/answer and will not escape.
If you’re worried about upsets when someone is behind in their skills and is not able to escape, you can always give hints along the way to struggling students/groups. In fact, a ‘clue sheet’ is included in all of my escape rooms for just this reason.
Keep ‘Fun Classes’ Educational
Don’t put on a movie. Host a ‘music escape room’ party for your students instead! These activities are perfect for the last day before a school break, for a reward day, or even for a music camp. Keep your students learning about music without sacrificing the fun.
Do Printable Music Escape Rooms Take a Lot of Prep?
Creating your own puzzles can be time-consuming, but using a pre-made one is quick and easy. My seasonal printable escape room series requires minimal prep:
- Read the one-page teacher directions.
- Print the required pages for each group.
- Cut one page in half.
For supplies, students only need pencils, erasers, crayons, and scissors. No special equipment or locks are needed, but you can add a lock for prizes for extra fun.
You can find all of my seasonal music escape rooms here.
Or try my free treble clef escape room here:
