5 FREE Elementary Music Word Searches (Expert Tested!)

elementary music word search

One of the easiest lessons to leave for a music sub or to give to your class while working with a small group of students are Word Searches. 

There are a ton of elementary music word searches out there. 

But I decided to share five of the simpler ones I made up with you for FREE. 

Look ahead for a quick description of each page and later on in the article for Word Search resources. 

Download the set of 5 pages here: 

Elements of Music 

The nine elements of music are words I love to teach and reinforce year after year. 

Even Kindergarten students can understand it a little. 

Every year, the students can get a little deeper of an understanding year after year. 

But this music word search puzzle will help them practice the words, and then you can use it as a launching point for more discussion. 

  • Steady beat
  • Rhythm
  • Pitch
  • Melody
  • Timbre
  • Texture
  • Harmony
  • Form
  • Dynamics

Rhythm Words

Rhythm is one of the musical concepts that most music students, young and old, latch onto quickly. 

It’s fairly simple (at first), but it doesn’t require pitch understanding. I think this is why inexperienced musicians cling to it at first. 

So naturally, building a familiarity with these words is a benefit to everyone! 

Even if the students don’t know what a whole note is, I like to have them do this rhythm word search to help lay the groundwork in terms of pure vocab. 

  • Quarter
  • Eighth
  • Rest
  • Stem
  • Notehead
  • Meter
  • Half
  • Whole
  • Measure

Brass & Percussion

Instrument families are one of the areas I’m most passionate about in teaching elementary students. 

Not all students need to go on into secondary music for me to be happy, but an awareness of other musical instruments and how they work is key for me. 

Well, and if it works for recruiting into a band program, even better! 

I’ll often pair this with some coloring pages featuring the different instruments too. 

I paired brass and percussion together since the brass family is relatively small and the percussion family is so big there’s no point in getting all the names out there. 

  • Trumpet 
  • French Horn
  • Trombone
  • Tuba
  • Snare Drum
  • Bass Drum
  • Xylophone
  • Maracas
  • Cymbal

Woodwind Family

This word puzzle is great for practicing the woodwind instruments. 

Like the last one, I’ll often pair this with coloring pages of different woodwind instruments or videos featuring them. 

You’ll notice I include the single and double reed instruments. Don’t forget about those too! 

Odds are, they’ll come across them at some point. 

  • Piccolo
  • Flute
  • Clarinet
  • Alto Sax
  • Saxophone
  • Oboe 
  • Bassoon
  • Reed
  • Recorder

Music Vocabulary

Sometimes, you just want to practice some higher-level music terms or music symbols. 

Whether for your older students or even middle school ones, this word search will do the trick. 

Sure, it’s not THAT hard, but again, I don’t suggest you use word searches and worksheets in a vacuum. 

Use it in conjunction with discussion, other music lessons, or small group work. 

Or use them as part of your music sub plans. 

Words used are: 

  • Treble Clef
  • Scale
  • Bass Clef
  • Staff
  • Chords
  • Phrase
  • Measure
  • Repeat Sign
  • Double Bar

Word Search Resources

When making Word Searches, there are some resources out there to check out on your own. 

Not to knock anyone who sells Word Searches or anyone who buys them; I know time saved is worth something on its own. 

But if you have a spare moment, some of these builders are PERFECT for making one or more in minutes. 

When making Word Searches here’s some things I’ve found that’ll help you along.

Easy word search puzzles contain: 

  1. Fewer words
  2. Fewer rows and columns
  3. Only forward moving words or may even exclude diagonals
  4. Don’t overlap with other words

Harder word searches have: 

  1. More words
  2. Longer words
  3. May go backwards
  4. Overlap and double-use letters

It’s up to you to decide what your students can handle and how much time you want to kill. 

In my examples, everything is pretty easy with 9 words, 10 rows and columns, no overlapping, and only forward words. 

Further Reading: 10 FREE Treble Clef Note Name Worksheets

Save time with these 60 FREE Music Resources to use in your room right away!

Stop searching the whole internet to find good activities. I’ll help you cut to the chase with my favorite 60 FREE resources.

Zach VanderGraaff

Zach VanderGraaff is a K-5 music teacher in Michigan with 12 years of experience. He's the President of the Michigan Kodaly Educators and founder of the Dynamic Music Room.

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