The end of the school year can feel a little… chaotic. Students are antsy, excited, and routines are breaking down. And let’s be honest—you’re tired too. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to reinvent your music lesson plans to keep students focused and learning during those last few weeks.
Whether you’re teaching general music, elementary music, or middle school, these end of year music lessons are low-prep, high-engagement, and perfect for winding down the school year while still reinforcing important music skills.
Here are 5 fun and effective ways to keep your music classroom running smoothly and joyfully to the very last bell!
1. Pull Out the Review Games – Especially Bingo!
Now is the perfect time to review key rhythm concepts with music games that reinforce learning. Games like Rhythm Bingo are an excellent way to practice quarter notes, eighth notes, and rests—all while giving students the feeling of play.
These review activities are especially helpful at the end of the year because:
- They’re familiar to students
- They feel like a treat
- They require minimal prep from you
- They reinforce what you’ve already taught
💡 Bonus Tip: Add a small prize for each Bingo winner to boost excitement and engagement!
🎯 Try these ready-to-use rhythm Bingo games with music already included—no more searching for recordings or clapping rhythms yourself!
👉 For beginners:
Quarter, Eighth Note, Half Note Rhythm Bingo
👉 For more advanced learners:
Sixteenth Note Rhythm Bingo
These games are a hit with both students and substitute teachers!
2. Classical Listening Activities That Calm and Teach
Don’t underestimate the power of classical music to bring peace to a classroom of wiggly students. One of my favorite end-of-year music class activities is using the final 10 minutes to do an active listening exercise.
Choose a classical piece (like “Spring” from The Four Seasons or “In the Hall of the Mountain King”), and ask students to listen for:
- Instrument families
- Changes in tempo or dynamics
- Mood and emotion
Ask a few discussion questions afterward to spark curiosity and reflection. The right piece of music can completely transform the energy in your classroom—your students will be calm, focused, and ready for dismissal.
🎧 This orchestra listening book is one of my favorite tools for this. Each page introduces a key piece of music or instrument with a quick blurb, a high-quality recording, and a discussion prompt. I often let students pick an instrument they’re curious about, and we find it in the book together. (This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through the link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you)
🎨 Or try ready-made “Color and Listen” worksheets—where students color while following listening glyphs or identifying specific musical elements. These are fantastic quiet time activities that still promote active music listening and comprehension.
3. Host a Music Game Show in Your Classroom
Want to feel like a rockstar teacher with minimal effort? Try a PowerPoint-based music game show.
These games use macros (pre-programmed instructions) to create interactive experiences, complete with sound effects and automatic scoring. It feels like a real game show—and your students will be so engaged, they won’t realize how much they’re reviewing.
🎤 Use it to review musical terms, note values, composers, or even instrument identification.
💻 All you need is PowerPoint and a projector or large screen. These music games are perfect for:
- Whole-class review
- Sub days
- Reward activities
🎯 Find a pre-made Music Game Show or create your own with reusable templates!
4. Add Movement with Singing Games
Singing + movement = engagement. Every time.
One of my all-time favorite end-of-year music classroom games is Japanese Rock, Paper, Scissors (Sei Sei Sei). It’s energetic, competitive, and inclusive—every student can participate.
I’ve adapted it so the whole class can play simultaneously, and I even use a background singing track to keep the pitch and rhythm consistent. I once played this with three full grade levels in a gymnasium, and it was such a hit. Students who got out stayed to cheer for their classmates—a total buy-in.
🎶 Movement-based music games like this help students burn off energy and practice musicality (rhythm, singing in tune, coordination).
✨ This game is so well-loved that I use it multiple times throughout the year—it never gets old!
5. Explore Music from Around the World
Spice up your music curriculum and introduce students to music from different cultures!
This is a great time to introduce world instruments, music traditions, and global rhythms. Whether you have five minutes or a full class period, you can expose your students to music that expands their cultural understanding and musical vocabulary.
🌍 Try this Interactive African Instruments Mini-Course that includes:
- Tap-and-hear features
- Short video performances
- Visuals of authentic instruments
🎲 Or play African Instrument Bingo to review what they’ve learned in a fun, collaborative way.
Final Note 🎵
You don’t need an elaborate lesson plan or hours of prep to finish the year strong. With a few go-to music activities—games, listening, movement, and culture—you can keep the music alive and your students engaged right through the final week.
The best part? These activities are not only educational but FUN. And fun is what makes music class so memorable.
📌 Save this post for your end-of-year planning, and be sure to check out the ready-to-use resources linked above to lighten your load!
