Instrumental Activity Book - Mice, Mice

The "Mice, Mice" chant from the Instrumental Activity Book is a delightful and simple rhythmic piece that is perfect for teaching young children the fundamentals of musical rhythm. The chant consists of playful lyrics that are easy to remember, with phrases like "eating all the rice" and "nibble, nibble, nibble, nice, nice, nice!" The structure of the chant is designed to help children tap into the pulse and rhythm of the music, making it an excellent tool for rhythm work in a classroom setting.

The activity book suggests a variety of ways to engage with the "Mice, Mice" chant, catering to different levels of musical experience. Children can start by chanting and tapping to the pulse, then progress to clapping along with the rhythm. As they become more confident, they can think the rhythm in their heads while clapping, and eventually move on to playing the rhythm using musical instruments. For those ready for a challenge, the book includes a rhythm/action game where children play different rhythmic patterns on various percussion instruments, such as the tulip block, agogo, and tambourine. The activities also introduce the concept of a rest—a silent beat—which requires a degree of skill and understanding to execute correctly. Additionally, the book encourages children to explore playing the pulse and rhythm on tuned instruments using the notes C, E, and G (Do, So, and Mi), although any set of notes can be used for this exercise.