Musical Bingo

Object:

• Encouragement of interpersonal skills.
• Provide sensory stimulation.
• Reminiscing opportunity

Materials:

• Computer and office paper (A4 sized sheets of white paper)
• Recycled cardboard or egg cartons
• A box or tin with a lid
• A musician who plays either the piano/guitar/ukulele to accompany the singing.
• Token prizes for the winners: small bag of marshmallows or chips, chocolate, diabetic treats, sodas.

Instructions:

• Download song cards and calling cards examples.
• Type as many 'song cards' as you want with songs of your choice as per examples; six songs on each page. Then print and laminate them. By choosing your own songs you can pick exactly what your clients are used to singing and enjoy to sing.
• Type 'calling cards' with the chosen songs; then laminate and cut them out.
• Place calling cards inside a secure box or tin with a well fitted lid.
• Make song covers (six for each participant) using cardboard or egg cartons; rule and cut rectangles 6 ½ inches long by 1 inch wide or (16 cm by 2 cm).
• Ask residents to paint song covers in colours of their choosing.

How to play the game:

• Give each resident a song card and six song covers.
• The Activity Officer pulls a calling card from the box and reads it out loud for all to hear.
• Participants with the called card cover it. Then the musician or leader will ask participants: 'Can you remember this song? Shall we see how much we remember?'
  
  Note: Lyrics are not required; participants should sing a short melody from the song: just what they can remember, accompanied by the musician.
• Another card is called and so on.
• Every time someone says 'Bingo!' a small token prize is given to the winner.
• The sing-along aspect of the game is very important. It adds another dimension to the game.
  Observe alertness and engagement of participants and report in Progress Notes or equivalent.

Tip: If you work in a culturally diverse facility it would be advisable to choose some songs your residents can identify with such as 'Volare', 'Santa Lucia', 'Amapola', 'Hava-Nagila' and, 'Never on Sundays' or any other famous international songs we all know. The lyrics may not be known but everybody can hum along. Believe me, it is a lot of fun humming or la-la-la-ing along to 'Hava-Nagila'!