«Antón Pirulero»: Mind Your Own Instrument

Each child plays an imaginary instrument with their whole body while we sing the traditional Spanish song «Antón Pirulero» («everyone mind your own game»). When Antón copies someone's instrument, that child must switch to Antón's. It works on attention, self-control and switching movements, with no forfeits and nobody out.

How to play

1. Everyone picks an instrument played with the body: bass drum with big arms, trumpet while walking, cymbals while jumping, violin while swaying (2 min).
2. Sing and everyone plays their own instrument nonstop (2 min).
3. The teacher is Antón: plays her own and suddenly copies a child's; that child must switch to Antón's instrument (3 min).
4. Kids take turns being Antón in groups of six (3 min).
5. The big orchestra parades around the room, each with their instrument, ending with one big final chord (2 min).

Rules

• Play my instrument and watch Antón.
• If Antón plays mine, I switch to his.
• If I mess up, I laugh and keep going: no forfeits.
• We all play at the same time.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: arm and head instruments, like drum or flute.
• Hearing impairment: it doesn't rely on sound; make the copying obvious by pointing.
• Autism: keep the same instrument all session if switching is upsetting, and play Antón alongside the teacher.

Learning goals

• Pay attention to someone else while doing your own movement.
• Switch movements on a visual cue.
• Learn a traditional singing game.

Teacher tip

In the traditional game a mistake means paying a forfeit; not here. Choose instruments with very different moves so it's easy to see who's copying whom.

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