Why Rhythmic Tales Are Capturing Hearts in Music Classrooms
Since we launched Creative Music Room, we have had so much positive feedback across all our resources – but nothing has lit up our inbox more than our Rhythmic Tales!
So, what exactly is a Rhythmic Tale?
A CMR Rhythmic Tale is an original story-based lesson that helps you teach basic music concepts while reinforcing social-emotional values like empathy, friendship, and collaboration. These tales are especially beloved for their memorable characters, fun songs, and performance potential.
Meet the Cast: Musical Characters with Personality
The “special sauce” of these stories comes in the form of our ever-growing cast of beloved CMR characters who quickly become a treasured part of any elementary music classroom. Each animal character is named for a different music term or personality. And speaking of personality, our characters have an endless supply!
Moto Monkey – a joyful, energetic leader who brings friends together in times of need.
Grace Giraffe – soft-spoken but brave, she’s always willing to stick her neck out for others.
Louie Lion – his roar might go missing, but his heart never does.
Louie the Lion: A Tale of Teamwork and Thunder
In one of our most popular CMR Rhythmic Tales, we find Louie the Lion feeling anything but King-like. He is VERY sad because it seems he has lost his roar! This is where our CMR cast springs into action, working together to come up with and implement a solution that will lift their pal out of his funk.
How can you possibly replace a mighty roar? The caper sends our friends searching high and low and across a soundscape of nature until they land on a solution that produces the intended thunderous result: capturing thunder and placing it in Louie’s mouth during a yawn!
This tale beautifully weaves in teamwork and compassion.
The Monkey Who Lost His Tail: A Mini-Musical for Your Students
Our first Rhythmic Tale “mini-musical,” The Monkey Who Lost His Tail, takes performance up a notch. When Moto Monkey’s tail gets stuck between two rocks, his friends leap into action.
With short, catchy songs and multiple speaking/singing parts, this tale is a fun, accessible way to introduce performance opportunities. It’s perfect for:
- Kindergarten through 2nd grade
- Spring or end-of-year concerts
- SEL-integrated music lessons
Why Teachers Love Using Rhythmic Tales
- To teach foundational concepts like rhythm, pitch, and dynamics
- To reinforce SEL through storytelling and character development
- To add movement and performance to your regular lesson plans
- To spark creativity, empathy, and musical thinking all at once
Bring Rhythmic Tales Into Your Classroom
We invite you to explore our full collection of CMR Rhythmic Tales, including:
- Ready-to-teach scripts and songs
- Character-based lesson plans
- Opportunities for movement and performance
Bring our stories into your classroom today and help your students grow musically—and emotionally—through story and song.
