YELLOW BRICK ROAD MUSIC

Black Snake in the Elementary Music Classroom

Black Snake is a fantastic game and song for listening, feeling, and practicing syncopation in the elementary music classroom.

CIRCLE GAME

The traditional game for this from the HNU Kodály Center states that there should be on child as the snake who “hides”. Then, the rest of the children march around in front of the snake until they tag someone, who then becomes the next snake. If you have a large area in which to play this game, then that would be great, and you should go for it! However, I think most music teachers are limited on space. Therefore, I suggest the following game as a simple replacement:

  • Students sit in a circle with one child on the outside as the “snake”.
  • Students sing the song while the snake walks around the circle lightly tapping their heads to the steady beat.
  • Whoever the snake taps at the end of the song (on the word “me”) must race the snake around the circle to see who can reach the newly vacant spot first.
  • If the child catches the snake, then the snake remains the snake for another round.
  • If the child doesn’t catch the snake, then they become the snake for the next round.

SYNCOPATION

With any game where most of the students remain seated, I highly suggest making sure they have some other action to perform beyond singing. In this case, I would ask them to pat/tap/clap the rhythm of the song as they sing it. Since the snake will be tapping the steady beat, this will give students both a visual and kinesthetic example of syncopation.

If your students are developmentally ready, you can begin working with manipulatives that visually show syncopation. For example, using printable rhythm cards that also show the steady beat (via blocks). You can download free rhythm cards for Black Snake HERE.

  • First, have students write out the rhythm of the song (or a single phrase from the song) using their rhythm cards.
  • Then, ask them to think of a four-beat rhythm in their mind’s ear.
  • Have them practice this rhythm in their minds silently.
  • Finally, ask them to write it out and practice tapping or patting the rhythm.
  • Then, have them share it with a classmate.
  • You could turn this into a game by having one student clap their rhythm with their cards down.
  • Then, have the other student try to name the rhythms they’ve clapped.
  • They can flip their cards over to check their answers.

Download the printable Black Snake Rhythm Cards HERE.

If you’re looking for a no-prep option to review rhythm, be sure to take a look at my Basics Series, where you can preview the Basics of Rhythm and the Basics of Steady Beat. My Basics Series is all about showing students the sights, sounds, and feel of musical concepts in their everyday life.