Somehow it is already that time of year again, time for holiday break! Activities and gatherings are limited due to the pandemic, and taking a break from school or work may make it seem like there is absolutely nothing to do. If you are finding yourself in this situation, check out our list below for 80 musical ideas to beat the holiday break boredom!

1. Listen to your favorite songs.

2. Listen to your OLD favorite songs.

3. Listen to a new song you have never heard before.

4. Make a holiday playlist of the best holiday songs you know.

5. Make a fun road trip playlist, even if you aren’t taking a road trip.

6. Make a rainy-day playlist of songs that help you to feel better when you’re blue.

7. Learn a new string instrument. Guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, bass, harp, viola, banjo, mandolin, and many other string instruments are just waiting for you to learn them, and we can help with that!

8. Learn a new woodwind instrument. Clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, ocarina, recorder, didgeridoo, saxophone, bassoon, and many other woodwind instruments are just waiting for you to learn them, and we can help with that!

9. Learn a new brass instrument. Trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, euphonium, baritone, sousaphone, mellophone, flugelhorn, and many other brass instruments are just waiting for you to learn them, and we can help with that!

10. Learn a new percussion instrument. Drums, piano, xylophone, tambourine, glockenspiel, marimba, bells, cymbals, bongos, steel pan, gong, congas, woodblocks, chimes, drum set, triangle, maracas, castanets, timbales, guiro, and many other percussion instruments are just waiting for you to learn them, and we can help with that!

11. Teach a family member how to play an instrument that you know how to play.

12. Create a family band playing instruments or pots and pans.

13. Write a song about how bored you are.

14. Write a song about a fantastic adventure.

15. Write a song about a favorite memory.

16. Write a song about you and your best friend.

17. Write a song about your family.

18. Write a song about macaroni and cheese.

19. Dance to your favorite song.

20. Dance to old classical music.

21. Create a new dance move and share it with someone.

22. Create a dance to an entire song and teach it to someone else.

23. Make a list of your favorite musical movies.

24. Explore music from a different country.

25. Explore music from a different time period.

26. Create your own drums out of pots and pans.

27. Create your own shakers out of jars and containers.

28. Create your own flute out of a glass bottle.

29. Create a music video to your favorite song.

30. Draw along to music.

31. Paint along to music.

32. Sculpt along to music.

33. Draw a picture based off a song and have someone else guess what song inspired your artwork.

34. Discover your pet’s favorite music by playing two songs and seeing which one your pet crawls toward.

35. Video chat with your best friend and sing songs together.

36. Video chat an older relative and interview them on their favorite music.

37. Create a life timeline of all the music you enjoyed during your life from when you were an infant to present day.

38. Create a slideshow of pictures from a vacation or a special day with music in the background.

39. Write down a silly story, then sing it.

40. Sing everything you need to say all day long.

41. Move around your house only by dancing.

42. Download fun music apps onto your device.

43. Draw a picture of your favorite musician.

44. Draw interesting instruments.

45. Write a letter or send a message to your favorite musician.

46. Write a letter or send a message to your favorite music teacher.

47. Find a live-streamed concert online and sing along in your living room.

48. Find a recording of a concert and dance along to it in your living room.

49. Listen to the theme songs from your favorite tv shows.

50. Try to write down every lyric to a song without listening to it or looking up the lyrics.

51. Find a video online on someone using ASL (American Sign Language) to sign one or your favorite songs, then learn it step by step, then perform it for someone.

52. Listen to a song that makes you happy.

53. Listen to a song that makes you sad.

54. Listen to a song that makes you angry.

55. Listen to a song that makes you scared.

56. Listen to a song that makes you surprised.

57. Listen to a song that makes you excited.

58. Listen to a song that makes you sleepy.

59. Listen to a song that makes you energetic.

60. Listen to a song that makes you confused.

61. Listen to a song that makes you dance.

62. Play your favorite videogame with the music turned up loud.

63. Line up all pots, pans, bowls, and cups in your house and attempt to arrange them from lowest pitch to highest pitch.

64. Draw a giant piano on your driveway or sidewalk with chalk, then jump on the keys to play musical hopscotch.

65. Practice your conducting skills by conducting someone singing. Change the speed and volume and see if they can follow along with their voice. Then switch roles so they can conduct you singing.

66. Go caroling in your own home, singing to your family members in each room.

67. Listen to your favorite holiday music while decorating Go caroling in your own home, singing to your family members in each room.

68. Listen to your favorite holiday music while decorating your home.

69. Remix your favorite holiday songs.

70. Listen to music from a holiday you do not celebrate and learn about the traditions of that holiday.

71. Record a cover of you performing a holiday song.

72. Call a friend or relative you haven’t seen in a while and when they answer just start singing a holiday song.

73. Write songs for loved ones as personalized Christmas presents.

74. Make someone a mixtape.

75. Create a movement playlist, then exercise while listening to it.

76. Stand on your front porch and sing Christmas carols loudly, then see if anyone looks out their window, or even better, joins you in singing from their own porch!

77. Research music therapy by going to musicalbridges.com or musictherapy.org.

78. Contact us to schedule a music therapy assessment session.

79. Contact us to schedule music lessons or a musical birthday party.

80. Make a New Year’s resolution to include more music in your life.