Musical Memory Game Level Four

Musical Memory Game Level Four

Today is level 4 of the Musical Memory Game cards that I made back in the summer. This set includes some of the vocabulary words and terms that are on Level Four of the Texas State Theory Test. It doesn’t include all the words in Level Four however, so keep that in mind if you are using these cards to study for the test.

Other Uses for the Musical Memory Cards

Do you have trouble getting students to notice expression marks and  other musical signs and symbols on their music?

A few months ago my friend Cecilly had a good idea to help students become aware of the symbols  in a new piece of music. She calls that game Sign and Symbol Hunt and you can read how to play it here, or look in Cecilly’s Games category. You can use these cards for that activity.

I like to call this a “treasure hunt” and tell the students that looking for expression marks is like looking for hidden treasure. You can mix and match from all the levels of cards I’ve posted for this activity.

And, of course, you can use the cards from all four levels in the series as mini-flash cards.

Or, at a group lesson, you can put the cards in a bowl and let students draw them out. The student who knows the most cards wins. What? You have different levels in your group lessons? Don’t we all! Put your students in teams and let the older students explain the meaning to the younger ones.

As you can see, there are many ways to use these cards other than playing a memory game, so be creative! If you have some ideas, please post your comment here rather than email me, so we can share with other teachers.  Comments are closed after 30 days.

Have I left off any symbols and vocabulary words that you would like to see? If I  get a request for 8 new different words or signs, I’ll make another set of cards.

Music Memory Level Three

Musical Memory Game Level Three

Today I am posting the third level of the Musical Memory Game, which is a review of musical symbols and vocabulary words. Today’s level includes the terms tie, brace, natural, slur, legato staccato, and tonic or key note as some teachers call it.  There are two pages in the PDF file for you to download, and the second page, which is the back of the cards, is optional.

Monday I am going to post the last level I have in this series. One of my students told me yesterday it is his favorite table game. Maybe it’s because he can beat me!

Musical Memory Game Level Two

 

Musical Memory Game Level Two

Today I am posting the second set of my Musical Memory Game series. This level has the symbols of the second level of the Texas State Theory Test, but they are also appropriate for all average age beginning piano students. There are 8 symbols and vocabulary words: dotted half note, sharp, flat, piano, forte, 2nd, 3rd, and half step. I am using this set with second graders, if that gives you an idea of the age. Of course, it is also appropriate for older beginners. You can also mix these up with the level one game cards.  If you want the back to all 4 levels of this series to be the same color, pick the back you like best and use it for the entire series. I have found that a grid to place the cards really helps little ones, and you can print one here.  MusicalMemory_Grid

If you have never tried introducing theory terms before you introduce them in the student’s lesson book, you might want to rethink this. I love the fact that my students have been introduced to symbols and terms before they actually play them.

Take for instance the sharp symbol.  If you wait until the sharp is introduced in their method book, that is a lot more information the student has to assimilate in his brain for one piece, if you really want to teach the concept. You have to teach the physical properties of playing it, the visual, the concept of a half step up, and how to read it in a measure. Then you have to teach how to play the piece, including reading the notes and rhythm!

Alternately, if you do what I do and the student is already familiar with the sharp before they get to it in their book, there is a lot less to introduce at the lesson, and the student has a large measure of confidence, because they already know what a sharp is. 

So I do not wait for method books to chose the time when I introduce musical concepts. Who started that, anyway? I can’t imagine Bach turning a page in Anna’s notebook and saying, “Oh, look, today we’re going to learn an upper mordent.” I’m not anti-method book by any means, but I am trying to spread the word that we don’t have to follow a book like we’re chained to it.

Musical Memory Level One

Musical Memory Game Level One

This summer I finished up the theory memory games I started last spring for all the early levels of piano lessons.  These games are just like my Rhythm Memory Game, except they use vocabulary words and musical signs. Since I think memory games are more fun with  colorful backs,  I made the graphic for the back of the cards that you see above. Also, each level has a different color graphic on the back so I can keep the levels sorted correctly. The levels contains the vocabulary and symbols on the Texas State Theory Test. However, I could not fit all the words on level 4 because I only had 8 spaces. 

If this game looks familiar, it is the same game I posted in April, but I have changed the back sides. This time I promise to add the other 3 levels in my next posts. Last spring I was busy with recital plans and dropped the ball on the other levels.

Even if your students don’t take a special theory test, every piano student needs to learn these terms.  What better way to learn them than by playing a memory game? The student turns over two cards, trying to match the symbol with the definition. It is fun to play it with a partner, and the one who collects the most pairs wins. If there is only one student, I am the other player. The student can also play alone if you have the time.  I’ve noticed students who are good at sight reading are also good at this game, so a good memory helps with that skill.

If you would like to see how I set up and store music memory games, check out this post.  I am going to post a grid for this game to make it easier to play, so check back.

Hey, Mr. Mummy

Hey, Mr. Mummy

I don’t know how these little ditties come in my head, but my students like them and I hope some of yours will, too. If so, let me know. All I have to go by are your emails and comments, and I really appreciate those! Some of you have sent pictures, and that is so much fun for me!

This one was especially challenging because I had never attempted to draw a mummy before. I’ve done frogs, ducks, pumpkins, turkeys, but never a mummy. Except for a few older things still on my website that I keep forgetting to update, I don’t use clip art because I want a consistent look, and also I’m not quite sure about the copyright issues.

I  added a real simple teacher duet to this piece, so you will not have to improvise one.

Last year a student performed this,  and we made it longer by repeating it an octave higher. If you are having a Halloween recital, you might want to try that with this one or some of the pieces I posted earlier.

Halloween Pieces for Beginners

Every year I write new Halloween pieces for my beginning students. For those of you who are new to my website, here is a list of what I have posted in the past. Check back for some new ones for this year.

Halloween is Almost Here (PreReading)

Halloween is Almost Here (on the staff)

Halloween, Halloween (PreReading)

(Halloween Halloween on the staff)

Once A year On Halloween (PreReading)

Once a Year On Halloween (on the staff)

Spooky Spiders (on the staff)

Five Little Pumpkins (PreReading)

Five Little Pumpkins (on the staff)

Sneaky Sneakers (Level 1)

Key Signature Cards with colorful backs

Reverse Side of Key Signature Flash Cards with Key Names

Today I am posting some handy key signature cards that can be used both as flash cards and playing card games. You can even print them both ways!

Above is  the reverse side, which has the major and minor keys printed on the cards.  I worked on these over the summer when I had some spare time.  I wanted a design that would appeal to older students and also be appropriate for  card games.  This is what I finally came up with.

When you get ready to print and the PDF print box pops up, check the setting for “page scaling.” It should be set to “none.” If not, your front and back might not line up properly.

Reverse Side of Key Signature Cards without the printed answers

I also wanted a reverse side that I could use for a rummy type card game. Obviously, the answers could not be on the back of the cards, so I drew a colorful piano graphic. For card games, you will need to print out several sets of cards.

Posted below are the key signature cards. There are 2 pages, one for flats and one for sharps.  I put in two C Major cards because of a Circle of 5ths activity we do.  These are black and white, so if you don’t want or can’t print the colorful backs, print only the following PDF. You can always use a pen and label the backs yourself or ask students to color the backs.

Key Signature Flash Cards

I have decided I do not like to laminate card games because they are too stiff and  don’t shuffle well.  Instead  I have been spraying my cards with clear acrylic matte coating. A can of spray costs about $5.00,  lasts a long time and really works. If I use this spray, the ink from my ink jet printer will not run when it gets wet. If you use an ink jet printer  and want students to handle these cards, you should put some sort of clear coating on the cards, either by laminating,  spraying, or a clear self-adhesive book cover material. Otherwise when you play in warm weather you will have a smeary mess. 

If you print on both sides, I suggest you test out one page first using plain paper and an economy setting. I don’t want you to waste your good paper and ink. If you print on both sides, use the colorful side to cut out the cards, cutting on the thin yellow line in the middle. That way the back of your cards will have an even border.  This was a big project for me, requiring a lot of drawing and placing by hand.  I hope that you will find it helpful.