Submitted by Tami Mangusso, Aurora, Colorado
Idea posted September 8, 2003
I do daily review questions every day for the first five minutes of class. We call it Music Madness time. I write five to eight questions on the board. The questions cover topics such as naming notes on the staff, writing the name of notes, writing in the counts to rhythms (or ta's and titi's), writing the missing word to the phrase, etc. I call students by pulling sticks from a cup. (I use those craft sticks that you can get from a craft store.) I write every student's name on a stick for every class. I have a system of keeping track of who has had a turn and who hasn't. I usually call several students at a time. When a student gets his/her answer right, I ring a bell, and they can get a little treat from the candy tin (they don't eat them until after school). If they get it wrong, then I call another student.
We do this activity until all questions are answered or until five minutes are up. When students take too long to answer a question, we sing the Jeopardy song only one time through. When we get to the end of the song, time is up and I call another student.
I have to say that everyone is engaged during this activity. Many of them sit on the edge of the risers with anticipation, hoping that they will get called next.