Printed from the MusicK8.com Idea Bank

Plastic Coffee Stir Sticks for Learning Parts of the Note

Submitted by Tami Mangusso, Colorado

Idea posted 2012-07-30

I use plastic coffee stir sticks that are flat and very strong. The long ones are the stems of the note, and I cut some in half for the eighth note beams. I use two different size washers for the half note and the whole note. Each student also gets one beat strip. I print four boxes with a heart inside each box. If there is a rest, students don't put anything on the box, or they could make the "z" rest with the sticks. (We've done it both ways.)

You could print each note on card stock and put them in a 1" or 2" inch box. Print them out and cut the boxes out. Then, put however many of each note you want in each bag and give them a beat strip. (I also have these because it is faster for them to notate.)

I like the sticks to help them to understand the parts of the note, and it's just a great hands-on activity for them. However, I do like the notes already printed out for when I want to do some quick dictation or have them quickly create a rhythm to play.