Teaching Aids: Activities
Kids love games and fun teaching aids! And that is great because they help to develop musical skills and test knowledge through hands-on activities. They can be used in private or group settings. I invite you to have a look, and hope you find these ideas motivating and helpful.
I hope you enjoy the instructional videos so you can see some of the games in action. If you are unable to view the YouTube videos here on the page, try going directly to my Piano Discoveries Playlist in YouTube… just click here.
I have so many more teaching resources in development. Check back often to see what's new!
Listen Up in the Tree
Skill: Level 1 interval, scale and triad identification
Description: The teacher plays an interval, triad or scale on the piano. The student chooses the correct fruit card to go up in the tree. If the student answers incorrectly drop any one fruit card back down to the ground. Play until all of the apples or pears are up in the tree.
How to build:
- Print the pdf file (2 sheets) on 100 lb card stock.
- You may wish to laminate the pages for durability.
- Cut apart the apples and pears. You could apply magnets on the back if you are playing on a magnetic board.
Download Listen Up in the Tree (237 KB)
Circle of Fifths
Skill: All major and minor keys on the circle of fifths
Description: One side is a handy reference page, the flip side requires the student to fill in major and minor keys on the circle of fifths along with the order of sharps and flats. Use a dry erase marker and just wipe it clean so it can be used over and over again. This teaching aid reinforces the strategy presented in the Ultimate Music Theory series by Glory St. Germain.
How to build:
- Print the pdf file back-to-back on 100 lb card stock.
- Laminate the page so you can write and wipe with dry erase marker.
Download Circle of Fifths (207 KB)
The Interval Star
Skill: Identify unison, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
Description: This is a quick review activity for children working on interval recognition. Take 5 minutes or less during private lesson time to sort the interval cards into unisons, 2nds, 3rds 4ths and 5ths. Most of the cards are notes on the grand staff and some test intervals by letter names or keyboard diagrams. There are 15 cards in the pack.
How to build:
- I found my unfinished wooden star at a craft store and painted it yellow. You could also use foam or felt. I used large adhesive numbers 1-5, but you could easily draw them with a marker.
- Print the pdf file (2 sheets back-to-back) on 100 lb card stock. Cut apart the cards.
Download Interval Star (809 KB)
Spelling Bee
Skill: Spell words using notes in the treble or bass clef
Description: Spelling words with notes has always been a kid-tested favorite! Spelling Bee makes this activity even more fun and flexible. The student can spell a given word using the note game pieces, or can reveal a mystery word by naming the notes a teacher places on the staff.
How to build:
- Print the pdf file (2 sheets) on 100 lb card stock.
- Laminate both pages.
- Cut along the dotted lines to create a treble clef board, a bass clef board and two sets of alphabet letters.
- Find six note games pieces (3/4 inch). Use magnets, pennies, wooden plugs or dry erase marker.
Download Spelling Bee(197 KB)
Flashy Fingers
Skill: RH and LH finger numbers
Description: Practice those finger numbers with your young students. This activity reinforces the concept of red for RH and blue for LH, which is found in the Music Discoveries online program. Children also develop finger independence as they tap each finger sequence.
How to build:
- Print the pdf file, back-to-back on two sheets of 100 lb card stock.
- Laminate the Flashy Fingers board.
- Cut apart the Flashy Fingers cards along the dotted lines.
Download Flashy Fingers (707 KB)
Enharmonic Snap
Skill: Match enharmonic equivalents
Description: This activity will test your students' understanding of enharmonic equivalents. Complete this activity with a private student or in a group by taking the 18 cards and creating enharmonic pairs with two names for the same key (E Flat & D Sharp).
How to build:
- Print the pdf file (2 sheets back-to-back) on 100 lb card stock. Cut apart the cards.
Download Enharmonic Snap (718 KB)
The Funny Farm Game
Skill: Beginner concepts general review
Description: The Funny Farm Game is an excellent review activity for beginners in private or group lessons. The Funny Farm Activity Cards include basic rhythms to clap, white key naming, beginner level notes on the grand staff and basic musical signs.
How to build: I purchased a wooden picture frame at Michael's for $1.50, painted it white and added the black keys with sticky-back craft foam. The Funny Farm picture in the centre is a simple 4 x 6 which I included in the pdf file. Print the pdf document on white cardstock paper (back to back) and cut apart the cards. You could use a simple die to shake and move around the board, or make a special die using steps and skips. I found my animal game pieces in the button aisle at Michael's and stuck them into pieces of clay.
Download Funny Farm (1.7 MB)
The Interval Garden
Skill: Elementary Intervals
Description: The Interval Garden is a fun little game to help young students practice intervals. This game could be played solo or in a small group. The card questions test the recognition of 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths on the grand staff, keyboard and using letter names. It's a perfect review activity to practice intervallic reading from several angles.
How to Build: Again, I picked up an unfinished wooden frame at Michael's for $1.50, painted it white and added the sticky-back foam for black keys. Print the pdf document back-to-back on heavy white cardstock. Laminating is always a good investment. The pdf includes the 4 x 6 image that goes in the centre of the frame. Hunt for a cute game piece, I found this little wooden butterfly at Michael's too. Don't forget a die for moving around the board, mine has steps and skips on each side.
Download Interval Garden (1.6 MB)
Alphabet Scramble
Skill: Beginner white key names and music alphabet
Description: This teaching aid has a variety of applications at many levels, but my favourite is the scramble. We shake up the letters and see how fast the student can place them on the keyboard. If you had two sets you could have a scramble race with two students or use one set to play solo.
I use this teaching aid all the time with my advanced theory students who often need a keyboard reference as they build intervals, scales and chords.
How to Build: The board is a thin piece of 12¨ x 4¨ wood from a craft store. I painted it white then measured out 14 keys. The black keys are cut from craft foam with sticky backing. I also added a large piece of foam on the back of the board for a nicer finish. The discs are 3/4¨ wooden plugs found at a craft store. I bought a sheet of alphabet stickers for the letternames.
Build-a-Rhythm Activity Cards
Skill: Beginner/Elementary rhythm notation
Description: These activity cards help students visualize the number of beats in basic note and rest values. You will think of lots of different ways to use your cards. Here are a few suggestions:
- Compose rhythms to clap using some or all of the note values.
- Learn how to add bar lines using different time signatures.
- Do rhythm clap backs and have your student puzzle out the correct notation sequence.
How to Build: SImply print the pdf document onto four different colours of cardstock paper. I had mine laminated as well because they get lots of use. Them cut apart the different notes along the dotted lines. I also bought some wooden 3s and 4s at Michael's for building time signatures. You could create bar lines with popsicle sticks or pipe cleaners.
Download Build a Rhythm (372 KB)
Soccer Rhythm Chant
Skill: Junior sixteenth note rhythms
Description: Kids love soccer, so what could be more enticing than a fun soccer themed activity to learn sixteenth note rhythms! There are four different rhythm cards to learn before creating a complete rhythmic pattern. I like to have fun by thinking up soccer words to match each rhythm card. Create an 8 card pattern on the floor, then clap and chant the rhythm. Lots of fun in group lessons!
Here are some ideas for soccer words:
- Two eighth notes = “soc-cer”
- quarter note = “ball”
- four sixteenth notes = “run-ning run-ning”
- two sixteenths and an eighth note = “get a goal”
How to Build: Print the pdf document on heavy white cardstock paper. I would print two or three sets so you have enough patterns to build a nice long rhythm. I found a fun package of 1 inch soccer ball stickers at Michael's. They also had baseballs and basketballs, so use your imagination. I attached the soccer ball stickers to every note head.
Download Soccer Rhythm Chant (176 KB)
Leaping Ladybugs
Skill: Whole tones and semi-tones
Description: Here is a delightful game for teaching whole tones and semi-tones. Shake a die to fly around the board, if you land on a ladybug do a Leaping Ladybug Card. If you get the answer right you earn a ladybug. At the end of the game trade in you ladybugs for treats, like jellybeans or Smarties!
How to build: I purchased the unfinished wooden picture frame at Michael's for $1.50 and painted it green. I found the package of pre-made ladybugs and leaves in the craft foam section. Once I laid them out, it was as easy as peel and stick. Print the pdf document on heavy white cardstock (back to back) and cut apart the cards. You will also need a die and two ladybug game pieces (one for the player and one for moving around the center keyboard).
Download Leaping Ladybugs, v. 1(758 KB)
New for my American friends! Would you rather use the terms whole step and half step? No problem, just download Leaping Ladybugs version 2 for the same game.
Download Leaping Ladybugs, v. 2 (761 KB)
Circle of Fifths Wheel
Skill: Identify all major keys around the cirlce of fifths
Description: Students need plenty of reinforcement with the concept of key signatures and the cirlce of 5ths. This teaching aids requires students to match the number of sharps or flats to the correct major key.
How to Build:
- Purchase an unfinished wooden circle from your craft store. Paint it your favorite color.
- Add sticky craft foam on the under side plus decorative trim with a glue gun.
- Measure out the pie pieces and add lines with a black marker.
- Add numbers either by hand or by using 3/4 inch labels.
- Purchase 15 wooden plugs (3/4 inch) and add major key names either by hand or with sticky labels.
