Miss Donna 4 Music

Talking out of control in the classroom?

In an elementary music classroom, transitions can be tricky—especially when you’re moving from one exciting activity to the next. That’s where musical or rhythmic call-and-response attention grabbers shine! Instead of raising your voice (which I know I have a tendency to do), you can use rhythm patterns or short melodic phrases to gather your students’ focus while keeping the musical energy flowing.

Why They Work

• They connect directly to music skills you’re already teaching—rhythm, pitch, and listening.
• They provide a consistent, fun cue that signals students to stop, listen, and respond.
• They turn classroom management into a quick mini-lesson in musical literacy.
• And it helps save your voice so it lasts comfortably all day long!

Here are a few ideas:

• Teacher says: Hocus Pocus! Students respond: Everybody Focus! You could add some body percussion to the spoken chant, like the teacher claps the rhythm of her words, and when the students respond, they pay the rhythm of their chant on their knees.
• Teacher says: Hey, Hey! Students respond: Listen this way! Then teacher sings a simple solfege pattern for students to echo. The teachers and students could also turn this call-and-response into a singing exercise as well to prepare for the solfege singing. For example, the teacher sing, “Hey, Hey!” on So-Mi and students respond with “listen this way!” also on So-So-So-Mi.
• Teacher says: One, two, three – eyes on me! Students respond: One, two – eyes on you! Again this could be spoken in rhythm or sung using simple solfege and easily lead into the next activity.
• Teacher says: Mac and Cheese! Students respond: Everybody freeze!
• Teacher says: Holy moly! Students respond: Guacamole!

All these chants are a fun way to get your student’s attention without you having to raise your voice. They are quick and they get students to focus on you so you can either give them instructions or lead them into the next activity.

I also like the idea of having a secret pattern of the day too. So once you go through your call-and-response chant, clap a secret rhythm pattern that the students have to echo and remember later in class. Maybe it ties into a song or activity you are doing in class that day and you want to see if the students can point it out. Or hum a secret solfege pattern that the students can echo back and then see which students can tell you what the solfege pattern was by the end of class.

How to incorporate them

• Practice like a game! Try the patterns at different tempos or dynamics and see if they can follow you.
• Switch it up! Have a couple of these ideas in your back pocket and change up the patterns every couple weeks to keep them engaged and guessing.
• Tie it to your lesson! Use a rhythm or solfege pattern from one of the songs or activities you have planned for class that day or that week so it doubles as review.

The best part? Your students will light up when they hear your “musical call” and you’ll have their attention without saying a word and keeping them engaged and focused on music learning!

***Download this FREEBIE of the list of Musical Attention Grabbers to use in your classroom!!***