🎶Top Choir Activity Ideas for Virtual E-Learning Days (Freebie included!)
My school rarely cancels for bad weather, but this year, we’ve already had three online learning days! And let’s be honest—teaching choir virtually brings back some major flashbacks to pandemic teaching. 😬
Since singing together over a virtual meeting is next to impossible, what can choir teachers do to keep students engaged? I’ve got you covered with some simple, fun, and effective activities that have worked for me and my students.
1. 🎤 Use YouTube for Practice
YouTube is a goldmine for choir directors! 📺 When a concert is coming up (like mine, which is just five days away 😅), I provide students with YouTube links to high-quality performances of our songs. I encourage them to sing along at home and focus on memorization. Sometimes, I even find publisher videos that display the sheet music while the music plays—bonus! 🎼
💡 Tip: To hold students accountable, I have them complete a short Google Form or survey after practicing. ✅ This ensures they actually listen and sing along—and I count it as a grade!
2. 🕵️♂️ Virtual Music Scavenger Hunt
This is a fun and interactive way to keep students engaged! Give them a music-related prompt and let them race to find an object in their home. 🏃💨
🎵 Example Prompts:
🔹 Find an object that can be used as a percussion instrument. 🥁
🔹 Bring back something that makes a unique sound. 🔊
🔹 Find an item with a musical symbol on it. 🎼
After 60 seconds, students return to their screens and show their objects. Sometimes, I even let them unmute and play their "percussion instruments" for a few seconds! 🥁🎶
💡 Bonus: Want a ready-to-use version? Here’s a FREE slideshow with 14 fun scavenger hunt prompts! 🎉 Download it now so you’re prepared for your next virtual day.
3. 🎼 Music Theory Made Easy
A great no-prep option is MusicTheory.net—a free website with interactive lessons and exercises on note names, key signatures, and more. ✏️📖
🎶 How to use it:
✅ Share your screen and go through a quick lesson together.
✅ Have students type answers in the chat (e.g., “What’s this note?”).
✅ Or create a short Google Form quiz for them to complete.
This keeps them learning even when they can’t physically sing! 🎵
4. 🐾 Pet Show & Tell
I know this isn’t music related but if you have a few extra minutes at the end of class, let students show off their pets! 🐶🐱🐰 They LOVE it. My Australian Shepherds, Savvy and Ellie, always make an appearance, and students get a kick out of seeing each other’s furry (or scaly) friends. 🦎🐠
💡 No pet? No problem! Let students show off a favorite stuffed animal instead. 🧸
5. 🎛️ Explore Chrome Music Lab
Chrome Music Lab is a free, interactive site that lets students experiment with music concepts. 🎼🖥️
🎶 Ideas for use:
📌 Share your screen and explore one of the tools together.
📌 Let students experiment independently.
📌 Have them type in the chat what they learned or created.
🔗 Try it here: Chrome Music Lab 🎵
6. 🫧 Have Fun with Blob Opera
Need a quick, entertaining filler activity? Check out Blob Opera! This hilarious AI-based tool lets students create and manipulate singing blobs to explore harmonies and vocal ranges. 🎤😂 It’s a guaranteed hit.
🔗 Try it here: Blob Opera 🎶
Virtual learning days don’t have to be stressful for choir teachers! With a mix of interactive games, music tech, and creative activities, you can keep students engaged and learning—without the frustration of trying to sing over a lagging video call. 🙌
💬 Do you have a favorite virtual choir activity? Share your ideas in the comments!
Happy Singing! 🎤 Melanie
