Christmas and Seasonal Printables

It’s time for the yearly roundup of  Christmas and seasonal printables from my website.  If you can’t find the directions to some of these games,  do a search or ask in the comment section. To print, click on the picture, which will take you to my website. From there, click on “download” and you will be able to download and print the file.

Snowmen and Reindeer Notes

Snowmen and Reindeer Rhythm

The Snowmen and Reindeer theme  was a new set of Christmas games I designed last year.  My students loved the colorful design. There are cards for the games on my website.

Snowmen and Reindeer Intervals

Ornament Bingo

This is a game for beginners who are learning the names of piano keys.

  Christmas Note Bingo

This year I revised this fast, easy, bingo game. It is easier to read and uses less ink.

Christmas Composing Train

Beginning students write finger numbers or letter names to write their first song.

Christmas Worksheet

Christmas Notes in Random Order

Color the Chanukah Gift

Golden Menorah composing activity

Peppermint Notes

Students can use peppermints as notes or to construct key signatures.

Ornament Notes

This is a black and white printable for students to color the names of notes.

Draw the Ornaments

Students write notes on the grand staff on this printable. To save ink, place it inside a sheet protector or laminate it,  and  use a dry erase or a wet erase pen.

Gingerboy Keys

Light up the Tree

This is a (mostly) black and white printable for students to color notes on a Christmas tree according to the names of notes on the staff. It is similar to Ornament Notes, but different so siblings won’t have the same printable.

Christmas Musical Symbols Vocabulary

Students match music vocabulary to the correct answer.

Christmas Tree Vocabulary Words

This is a quick printable that is fun for group lessons.Students try to find all the music words.

Christmas Tune Challenge

Students love “name that tune” games. I find it very helpful to have a list of carols in plain view that they can choose from. You can list your carols on this printable.

Cards for Silly Sentences

This is a different kind of game for older students at group lessons. My high school students had fun and reviewed some music terms. Be sure to download the sentences found here, and use the easier cards for younger students.

If you are looking for easy Christmas piano music, go here, and scroll way down past all the Halloween music. I have posted many carols in pre-reading notation. Have fun!

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Nine Keys – a Key Signature Board Game

Nine Keys

If your students take a standardized theory test like mine do, you know how hard it is for some students to learn key signatures. My fifth grade students need to know nine key signatures for the TMTA theory test, so I created a fun board game that they enjoy.

I find that if I make something colorful and kind of silly, they all want to play. And as they play, they learn, even if I have to help them at first. Like we all do, I teach students how to figure out key signatures by themselves using the circle of 5ths. But  it is a good idea to learn to identify them quickly, because it gives students confidence. As time goes by, they realize the benefits of knowing key signatures quickly, just as knowing multiplication tables quickly gives them confidence in math.

How To Print

Read this section before you print all 4 pages. To download, click the link under the image above. This printable PDF includes 4 pages.The first page is the game board. The next two pages are the calling cards. I made the calling cards to fit on business card templates that are perforated for easy separation so that I don’t have to cut them. If you don’t have business card templates, there are some hash marks for you to draw a few lines to help you cut out the cards. The last page is the optional back to the cards.

Under the Pages to Print instructions in the pop-up box, select “Pages”, and then type 1-3.  In order to print on the back, insert pages 2 and 3 into your printer and type 4  in the Pages selection box. You will need to know which side of the paper your printer prints on, so test that out before you waste paper.

Materials

• Nine Keys, the free printable game board from my website
• The cards, cut or separated, and (optional) printed on the back
• Two game tokens, such as old car keys or key charms from a craft store

Directions

• Students should have a basic understand of key signatures in order to play. They might need help with the answers at first, and that is how they will learn.
• Student and teacher take turns drawing a calling card and moving to the correct key signature or following the directions on the card. The player who lands on the last key wins. My students really love the card that says, “If you know the definition of Key Signature, move up 8 spaces. If you are the teacher, lose a turn.” Every time I draw that card I moan and groan, saying, “Who made the rules to this game, anyway?” and my students love it!

Objectives

• To learn to quickly identify the major key signatures of C, G, D, A, E, F, B flat, E flat, and A flat.

Ages

• Elementary to early middle school

Why I like this activity

• I used business card templates for the cards, so there is nothing to cut out!
• It is colorful and students like color.
• Students had fun when they played the game. They love it when I lose and I make sure I lose a lot!

Please let me know if you can use more key signature games or worksheets.

Firefighter Finger Numbers

Firefighter Finger Numbers

This is an activity for those of us who teach young children or for parents who want to give their children a head start in learning piano.

I made this for a 4-year-old who loves anything related to firemen. I wanted an activity he would enjoy that would be a good way to reinforce finger numbers. Thanks to this game, his confidence has soared because it is now easy for him.

In addition to finger numbers, this activity helps children learn the meaning of the symbols RH and LH as well as to learn to distinguish their right and left hands.

I printed my cards on  magnetic printer sheets but you can also use card stock. The magnetic sheets are kind of pricey, so shop around and see if you can use a coupon. Mine came in a sample pack, so I wanted to try them out. You might want to try printing them on card stock and using magnetic strips you can buy at craft stores. Disclaimer: My magnetic cards are a little difficult for young students to use until they get used to how thin they are. I remove them from the cookie sheet and hand them to the children until they learn how. Standing them up on the sides of the cookie sheet helps.

Material

• The free Firefighter Finger Numbers printable, printed on card stock or magnetic printer sheets
• Cookie tin or magnetic surface, optional

Directions

• Print out both pages of Firefighter Finger Numbers and cut them into individual squares.
• The student will match the finger with a dot on the “glove” with the correct number on the firefighter “hat.”
• Place all the cards in view, so that the young child can see them and select the correct card.
• The student will learn faster if he says the finger number out loud as he works.
• If the student is capable, (older) play a memory game with the cards. If you do this activity, do not use all the cards,  because otherwise it is too difficult for the intended age group.

Objectives

• To visually match a finger number to the correct finger on the left or right hand
• To recognize the printer symbols LH and RH as right hand and left hand
• To identify a picture of a hand as a left or right hand.

Ages

• Early childhood, age 4 to first grade

If you need more material for learning right and left hands and finger numbers, check out Colorful Hands, Finger Numbers for Beginners,  and Colorful Fingers.

I am working on a Bingo Game of some sort for finger numbers as well as some other early childhood printables. Sign up for email updates of my blog so you won’t have to keep checking. Your email will remain anonymous. Click Follow Susan’s Blog by Email at the top right of the page.

Whole Step Half Step Game

 

Whole Step Half Step Game

This is the time of year when students learn about whole and half steps so they can construct scales, which is a requirement for many theory tests.

If you have ever used little tokens or figures on the keyboard to construct scales and noticed it was confusing to some students, I think you will find placing the W’s and H’s behind the keys is a big help.

This has turned out to be a great success for my “hands on” learners, as well as students who have trouble understanding the entire concept of scales. Students who were very frustrated with  theory worksheets quickly caught on using manipulatives and these cards I designed to be placed behind the keys.

I made many sizes and styles of cards before I settled on this design. I wanted the cards to be big enough for children to handle, but small enough to see the W and H when placed behind the piano keys.

I am so happy to report how much it has helped my students who were confused. My philosophy is that if they don’t understand what you are teaching, change the way you teach. The student is not going to change!

You can use these cards in a game or simply as a way to visually show scale patterns. Be sure to use sturdy card stock and laminate the cards so they will stand up behind the keys. For major scales, consider using the sentence “We Were Happy When We Were Home.” I’ve noticed my students and I say this continually as we play. All the W’s and H’s are hard to remember, especially for some students.

The inexpensive, colorful pencil erasers in the photo above can be bought in bulk this time of year. Go look now while all the school supply material is on sale.  I bought a large pack years ago and  I use them all the time, especially with an older child who who might be insulted with all the cute toys I have collected. They are also good for the easily distracted child, or the child who takes 5 minutes to decide if they want a kitty or a puppy.

I am posting some of the ways I use these cards, but I would like to emphasize that after you have tried them, adapt the activities to fit your needs. If you have a better idea, please leave a comment. My students have really enjoyed learning scales this way, and I hope yours do too!

Material

• Whole Step Half Step free printable from my website, cut into individual cards
• Pencil erasers to use as game tokens
• Piano keyboard
• Optional: W W H W W W H written on a chart for student reference

Directions for playing as a game with two players

• There are two color backgrounds, making it easy to separate the cards for two players. Each player receives 8 cards of one color. However, when I play against a student, I often do not give myself a “wild card” because students really enjoy winning and love to beat me.
• Place the cards on the piano book stand, with the blank side up.
• Decide which scale you are going to construct. C major is  good because the half steps are so easy to see.
• Both players put an eraser (or token) on the first note of the scale.
• Player one draws a card. If it is a “W”, place it behind the D on the piano keyboard, because that is the first whole step. The student also places a token on the D key. The first whole step has been completed.
• If the player draws an “H”, the player discards the card by putting it in the back of his stack on the piano stand. No token is placed on the piano.
• If a “Wildcard” is drawn, the student can place it aside to use later and draw again, or he can use the wild card immediately. The wild card can be turned upside down to be either a “half” or “whole” step.
• The second player then draws and plays in the same manner as above.
• Play continues between the players. The game is over when one player completes a major scale.
• An alternate version for younger students is to let the student (but not the teacher) draw again if they draw the wrong card. Obviously the objective is to learn how to construct the scale, not for the teacher to win.

Directions for other ways to use the cards

• With one player, the student draws all the cards, continuing until a scale is completed. This is a good way to explain how to construct scales to beginners.
• The cards can also be used to simply explain whole and half steps, placing the cards and erasers randomly on the piano keyboard and not constructing a scale.
• In a group lesson, 3 or more players can play. You will need to print out more cards.
• Younger children love to use my collectible erasers of cute animals instead of the erasers in the picture above.

Objectives

• To learn how to construct major or natural minor scales.
• To learn half and whole steps on the piano keyboard.

Ages

• Elementary to middle school, depending on the scale and the student’s abilities.

Why I like this activity

• There is only one page to cut out!
• It is colorful and students like color.
• Students like the games and activities we use with these cards.
• Students tell me the WWHWWWH cards really help to understand how to write scales.
• When we get to natural minor scales, a light bulb comes on as they change the order of whole and half steps.
• It really works.

I wish

• I wish I had room on the printable to add a  “step+half step” card to construct harmonic minor scales.
• I wish I had made a matching WWHWWWH chart.
• I wish I could remember the sentence for the natural minor scale pattern! Can anyone help me?

Interval Bingo Game

Interval Bingo Game

If I haven’t said it recently, thank you so much for your emails and comments. For those of us who like to share our material, your feedback is greatly appreciated. And to those of you who support my blog, thank you so very much!

I like material that can be used more than one way, so that is how I designed this interval bingo game. Worksheets and theory books are useful, but students enjoy games more and retain concepts better when playing a game or some other hands-on activity. Well, at least that has been my experience! You can play the short version of this game in less than 5 minutes.

There are 4 pages in this printable, two pages of bingo cards and 2 pages of calling cards. Print all the pages in landscape orientation. If you do not want to use the calling cards, print only the first 2 pages.

I had a lot of fun designing the graphics for this game. I hope your students enjoy it!

Material

• Interval Bingo Game printable cards, cut in half
• Calling cards, cut up
• Bingo chips or tokens to cover the squares (magnetic wands are fun!)

Directions

• For a quick game In a private lesson, the student and teacher alternate selecting calling cards from the stack and covering the correct interval with a bingo chip. The goal is to cover three squares in a row in any direction.

• At a group lesson, play “blackout” where students cover all the squares on their card. When the calling cards are used up, shuffle and re-use.
• For ear training, the teacher can play the intervals and the students put a bingo chip on the correct interval.
• Students can sing the intervals.

Objectives

• To learn to quickly Identify diatonic intervals on the grand staff

Ages

• Late elementary students

Ladybug Board Game

Ladybug Board Game

Every year I have a different “theme” for summer activities. This is the year of the ladybug. Besides, I have some cute ladybug and dragonfly erasers that I want to use as game tokens!

The Game Board

Print the one page game board in landscape orientation. I printed my game board on very inexpensive photo paper from Dollar Tree and then laminated it. Children love how vibrant the colors look and really want to play. To download, click the heading under the picture above.

The Game Cards

The game cards are in portrait orientation, so remember to change the setting. There are 5 pages to this game card file. The cards with notes on the staff are on pages 1-3. The keyboard cards are page 4. The optional backs to the game cards are on page 5. Do not print page 5 when you are printing pages 1-4.  If you want to print on the backs of pages 1-4, print out those pages first and then re-insert (according to your printer’s instructions) and select page 5 only.  As a friendly reminder, If you don’t want the backs, don’t print page 5.

Game cards for Ladybug Board Game

The above graphic shows the optional back. It really makes the cards look good and makes the game “happier”.

Directions

This game can be played with students or teacher and student. The players take turns drawing cards and moving to the correct alphabet name. There are some instruction cards to make the game more fun. The optional card that says “move up 3 skips” is a quick way to teach alphabet skips, or to play a more speedy game. The game is over when someone draws a card after G at the end of the path. It is such a quick game you can play more than once. If you are playing with beginners using the keyboard cards, be sure to have the student say the alphabet letters out loud. This really helps them learn the music alphabet. There are so many games you can play with this game board. For example, you can start and G and move backwards. Use your own ideas and I hope you have fun!

Objectives

• To learn the music alphabet
• To learn to recognize notes on the grand staff or keys on a piano keyboard
• To learn the meaning of a skip in the music alphabet
• To play a fast (under 3 minutes) music board game

Ages

• Early childhood to grade 2 or 3

 I’m not going to be posting very much this summer, but if I make anything I think other teachers might enjoy, I’ll post it. At the top of the page you can subscribe to receive an email when I post something new. It is completely anonymous and you can easily unsubscribe.

Fun Ways to Learn Keys

I want to share with new teachers a way to make sure your young students never forget the names of the piano keys! Over the years I’ve collected a lot of tiny toys that fit on the keys. These little guys are erasers, but I have all kind of trinkets in my collection. First we learn C, then F, and over several lessons we gradually work up to all the keys. In this photo, my little student picked any item out of my collection that started with the same letter as the key. So that students won’t just count up from C, we let our little animals hop around to all the C’s, all the F’s, etc. I mix up the order, and the time it takes to learn all the keys depends on the age and ability of the student.

We also play the Keyboard Note Race games that I have posted with several different graphics on my website. This week we’re playing the one with the shamrocks. Click on the link below the photo to print it out. For older beginners I don’t use toys, but we play the keyboard race games. Older beginners are notorious about trying to play the piano before they learn the names of the keys, maybe because we move faster and they don’t have as much time for it to sink in. This game helps with that.

Shamrock Keyboard Race

In this game you and your student sit on each end of the piano, draw cards, and try to be the first one who passes either Middle C or Middle E. The original blog post is here, and I even have a version for German teachers! I guarantee you students will quickly learn their keys with this game. I’ve made it with pumpkins, snowflakes, hearts, and I can’t even remember what else, to make it more fun for students. Colored pencil erasers make good tokens for older students.

Valentine “Card” Hunt

It’s Valentine’s Week, and if you’re looking for a last-minute quick and easy activity for young students, here is a Valentine’s Day game  you still have time to print  and use today! There is not much planning, the rules are simple, and all you need is a few minutes to cut out the cards . This activity is a re-post from January in case you are a new reader, or didn’t see it the first time I posted it, and I’m posting it here today as a reminder. Also some teachers wanted to see a photo of the folded cards. If you are a parent, this a fun game to play with your children to introduce rhythm names.

The printable cards look like this:

Valentine Card Hunt

Click on the link under the picture above. That will take you to my website where you can download the free printable. Print the pages on sturdy card stock and cut them out. Do not laminate the cards. Fold in the middle so the heart is on one side and the notes on the other. (Cardstock is easier to fold if you score it lightly using a ruler and a dull point, such as a dull butter knife. Leave a comment if you need more directions.) After folding, the cards sit up like a tent. Hide them around the room with the Valentine heart facing out. Do not hide too well, or students will not find them and next Christmas you will still be finding Valentine cards in little hidey-holes in your studio!

Directions

Tell your student that you have hidden little Valentine “cards” all over the room. The cards have different rhythm values on the back. The student’s job is to find and collect the ones with half notes (or whatever note you want to work on) as fast as possible.  Depending on how much time you have, you can play again, collecting different rhythms.

This is also an excellent activity to introduce a new rhythm to beginning students.

Objective

• To quickly learn to recognize rhythm note names
• To learn that stems can go up or down
• To introduce rhythm names to beginners
• To play a fast (under 3 minutes) Valentine’s Day game

Ages

• Early childhood to grade 2 or 3

This is a variation of a game idea from Cecilly called Quarter Note Hunt, and it has been a long time favorite in my studio.

Hearts and Clubs – Intervals

Hearts and Clubs Interval Game

I really meant to post this earlier but it is a busy time of the year. This is an interval game using my Hearts and Clubs theme. The hearts make it a good game for Valentine’s, but it can also be played any time of the year. This is another fast learning game that will not take up very much lesson time.

Objective

•  learn to identify intervals quickly by sight
• review intervals if the student already knows them
• quickly identify intervals under pressure

Ages

• Suitable for elementary and older students who have learned intervals up to octaves
• Some younger children can play if given lots of time

Materials Needed

• Printed game board with the interval flash cards
• Sand timer or stop watch
• Bingo chips

Directions

Give the student a set of interval flash cards. Set the timer. The student quickly draws a flash card and places a bingo chip on the corresponding interval degree.  The object is to cover all the interval degrees on the game board in the fastest time possible. Beginning students might enjoy a non-timed game better.

This game can also be played with student and teacher or at a group lesson.

Student and teacher: One player uses the hearts on the game board and the other uses the clubs. Players take turns drawing flash cards and covering the corresponding interval with chips on their game board. The first person who covers all their hearts or clubs wins.

In a group: Each player has a game board and bingo chips or you can put two students on each card. Students take turns drawing flash cards and covering the corresponding interval with bingo chips. Place discarded flash cards back in the deck or print extra if you have a large group.

Hearts and Clubs – Keyboards

Hearts and Clubs – Keyboards

A few readers wondered if I had some keyboard cards to use with the Hearts and Club Note game I posted last week. As a matter of fact, I did, but I was having a problem with what to do with the extra space on the page. I just hate to leave a space blank!

Jennifer Fox suggested I use an empty keyboard, similar to the Fly Keyboard cards, so that is what I did. You can either use it as a wild card, or take a red marker and make it whatever key you wish. Or use it for your student to draw the letters on the keys.If it is laminated, you can use it reuse it next year.

In order to play this game, you will have to use the game board for the Hearts and Club Note game. You will also find the rules for the game on that post. All you need to do is modify the game for use with the keyboard cards. You can also use these cards as flash cards, if you don’t want to play the game. And don’t forget the famous “run up to the piano and play this card as fast as you can” game!

Valentine Rhythm Hunt

Valentine Rhythm Hunt

I made this last year, using a variation of a game idea from Cecilly. All of my younger students played it at their private lesson the week of Valentine’s. They liked it so much we also played it at our performance class.

Students should be familiar with the rhythm names of notes. If they are beginners and are not secure in the names yet, use the game as a way to teach rhythm identification. It is a fast way to learn the names of notes.

Objective

• review rhythm note names by sight
• quickly identify rhythms under pressure
• play a fun, seasonal game in less than 3 minutes

Ages

• Younger children, ages 5-8

Materials Needed

• Printed Valentine rhythm cards, cut and folded, but not laminated
• stop watch or mobile phone timer

Directions

Print and cut out these Valentine rhythm cards and fold to make a tent card. Before your student arrives, place the cards around the room with the heart side facing out. Call out a rhythm value, such as “quarter note,” and start the timer. Have your student quickly find all the notes of that value. If you have time, your students can hunt for other note values. Depending on the age of the students, don’t hide them too carefully or they will not be able to find them! It is so much fun to watch them quickly run around the room looking for notes!

Children love this game. It can be used at an individual lesson or with a group. For a non-seasonal version of the same game, see Cecilly’s game, Quarter Note Hunt.

Hearts and Clubs – Notes

Hearts and Clubs

This is the first in a set of “Hearts and Clubs” activities that do not take up much valuable lesson time. I am posting this note identification printable in time for Valentine fun, but I made it generic enough so that it can be played all year long. The game board is just a starting place for all the different ways it can be used. Have fun coming up with new ideas!

There are 3 pages of flash cards included in this PDF document. If you wish, you can use your own flash cards. To keep from printing the flash cards, set your printer to print page one only.

Objective

• learn to identify notes on a grand staff  by sight
• quickly identify the notes on the grand staff
• use flash cards in a fun way

Ages

• Suitable for elementary and older piano students

Materials Needed

• Printed game board
• Note flash cards included in the download (or use your own), shuffled well
• Bingo chips

Directions

There are several ways to play this learning activity.

1. Individually: Put the flash cards you want the student to review in a stack face down. Using an hourglass sand timer, the student quickly draws a flash card and places a bingo chip on the corresponding note name. The object is to cover all the note names on the  game board before the hourglass runs out.  An alternate version is to use a stopwatch instead of a sand timer.

2. Two players, such as student and teacher or two students:  One player uses the hearts on the game board and the other uses the clubs. Players take turns drawing flash cards and covering the corresponding note names with chips on their game board. The first person who covers all their hearts or clubs wins.

3. In a group: Each player has a game board and bingo chips or you can put two students on each card. Students take turns drawing flash cards and covering the corresponding note names with bingo chips. Place discarded flash cards back in the deck or print extra if you have a large group. If the group has different levels, give the beginners the easier flash cards.

Snowmen and Reindeer Game-Notes

Student playing the game with Bastien flash cards, sand timer, and a magnetic wand

I’ve had a lot of fun playing my new games with my students. But more importantly, it has been such a good way to evaluate what my younger students remember, and how quickly they know the answer.

Reading music is more than just knowing note names. However, students have to learn notes or how can they do theory or move their hands around the keyboard?

As I evaluated my younger students, I noticed some  were  counting up the staff or saying sentences (All Cows Eat Grass and so on.) All my careful teaching of guide notes seemed to be a flop. I want students to know notes instantly. But it takes  time, maybe more than 4 years (gasp!) for many students to be able to remember from week to week the  notes on the staff. So new teachers, if you are frustrated that your students cannot identify notes quickly, or knows them at one lesson and forgets the next, don’t give up on them. Keep at it, don’t push too hard, and eventually it will happen.

As a matter of fact, I have decided that I need to work more on guide notes, so after Christmas I’m going to get out my 3 C’s activity, (a free download that you tape together) plus make a game just for guide notes. Does anyone think that guide notes are not as great for learning notes as maybe they first thought? I’m starting to wonder.

Snowmen and Reindeer Games

Well, that was a long introduction to get us to this last game in my series of Snowmen and Reindeer Games. I like this game because I am able to choose just the 7 cards I want to work on. You can throw in ledger lines if your student is far enough along. I even have a beginner who used keyboard flashcards since he hasn’t learned notes yet.

I don’t have flash cards made to go with this game because I have posted so many flash cards already, and besides, what teacher doesn’t have flash cards. If you have commercial flash cards, use them face up, since the answers are on the back of the cards!

Snowmen and Reindeer Games – Notes

Objective

• learn to identify notes on a grand staff quickly by sight
• practice fine motor speed and coordination
• develop confidence by knowing note names
• quickly identify notes under pressure
• play a fun seasonal game in less than 3 minutes at an individual music lesson

Ages

• Children, ages 6-10  who like cartoon graphics

Materials Needed

• Printed game board
• 7 flash note cards,  A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, in any clef
• Sand timer or stop watch
• Bingo chips

Directions

Give the student a set of  flash cards, placed face up if the answer is on the back. Let the student turn over the sand timer, as they think it’s fun.  The student quickly draws a flash card and places a bingo chip on the corresponding note name.   The object is to cover all the note names on the  game board in the fastest time possible. Repeat if you have time.

Free metronome app

Metronome Plus, the very nice metronome iPhone app for music teachers (because it is simple and well designed,) is FREE through this weekend in the Apple app store.  Joe, the designer, sent me this info and asked me to share. Now’s a great time to try it out. [Ed: this offer has expired, but check out the app anyway if you're looking for a metronome.]]

Snowmen and Reindeer Games – Intervals

Here is the second game in a set of 3 Christmas games. This one is a review of intervals, thanks to a suggestion from another teacher.

Snowmen and Reindeer Interval Game

You will need at least 7 interval flash cards for this game. Below is the set I use,  but you can make your own set if you want to modify the game. Many commercial flash card sets include intervals, so check and see if you already have some.

Snowman and  Reindeer Interval Game Flash Cards

Students should be familiar with intervals from seconds to octaves or know how to count up the lines and spaces to identify intervals. The best way to learn intervals is to recognize the patterns of lines to spaces.  However, young children often forget this so I let them count the more difficult intervals until they can remember the patterns.

Sometimes I use this rhyme for 3rds: Line to line,  everything is fine. Space to space, everything is in its place.

Objective

•  learn to identify intervals quickly by sight
• review intervals from 2nds to octaves if the student already knows them
• learn how to count lines and spaces to identify intervals
• practice fine motor speed and coordination
• quickly identify intervals under pressure
• play a fun seasonal game in less than 3 minutes at an individual music lesson

Ages

• Children, ages 7-10  who like cartoon graphics
• Some younger children can play if given lots of time

Materials Needed

• Printed game board
• Interval flash cards from 2nd to octave.
• Sand timer or stop watch
• Bingo chips

Directions

Give the student a set of interval flash cards. Set the timer.  The student quickly draws a flash card and places a bingo chip on the corresponding interval degree.  The object is to cover all the interval degrees on the game board in the fastest time possible. Beginning students might enjoy a non-timed game better.

Tomorrow I will post the note version of this game.

I have a large set of interval flash cards (3 pages) that I made some years back. I was going to leave a link for these cards, but I discovered that I have never posted them! So I  made this smaller file instead.

Snowmen and Reindeer Games – Rhythm

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Every Christmas WordPress lets a little snow fall on their blogs. Hover over the picture at the top of the slide show and you will see snow begin to fall.

I designed these 3 Christmas games as timed games because students like to play against the clock and I haven’t done that lately.  Today I am posting the rhythm version of this set.

Students should be familiar with the rhythm values of notes and rests. Be sure to mention these are the values in 4/4 time.

Snowmen and Reindeer Rhythm Game

I have tested these games with students in grades 1-4 and they have liked them. As a matter of fact, we test  every game before I post it!

I have an inexpensive 1 minute sand timer  that I bought from a school supply store, but I also have been using the stop watch timer on my phone. Most of the time  we  use both,  because they love the novelty factor of the sand timer. In fact, I think that’s one reason they like this game so much!

You will need at least 7 rhythm flash cards for this game. I am posting the set I use, but you can make your own set if you want to modify the game.

Cards for Snowmen and Reindeer Rhythm Game

Students should be familiar with the rhythm values of notes and rests. Since note valued change depending on the meter, be sure to mention these are the values in 4/4 time.

Objective

•  review rhythm values in 4/4 time
• practice fine motor speed and coordination
• quickly identify rhythm values under pressure
• to play a fun seasonal game in less than 3 minutes at an individual music lesson

Ages

• Younger children, ages 5-9  who like cartoon graphics

Materials Needed

• Printed game board
• Flash cards with individual rhythm values to match the numbers on the game board
• Sand timer or stop watch
• Bingo chips

Directions

Give the student a set of rhythm flash cards. Set the timer.  The student quickly draws a flash card and places a bingo chip on the corresponding number of beats the note gets in 4/4 meter. The object is to cover all the numbers on the game board in the fastest time possible. Using a stop watch, let the student try 3 times to increase their speed.

The game is more challenging if there are more flash cards than there are spaces on the board. I’ve tried it both ways and for the younger children  I settled on 7 cards, enough cards to cover the board. My students wanted to play it several times as I timed them on my phone stopwatch. One of my students said he liked it because it was “different.” Sometimes my older students see my games and want to play, too, especially in a private lesson when they don’t have to act older than they are. I try to think of ways to make the game harder for them.

Tomorrow I will post the interval version of this game.

As a music educator, I know how important it is to know the objectives of educational games and activities. That is why I am going to try to post the objectives of each game from now on, if I have time. If you find this useful, please leave some feedback in the comment section.

Cards for Christmas Note Bingo

Cards for Christmas Note Bingo

Here are the cards I promised yesterday that you can use with Christmas Note Bingo.  (To help out teachers in the country that gave us Bach and Beethoven, I included an H, which they use instead of B.)

When you play Christmas Note Bingo, if you wish, the red cards can be treble notes and the blue cards can be bass notes. For fun, students can take turns deciding if the green cards are treble, bass, or both. Use your imagination. The wild card can also be used any way you wish. [Honestly, I added the wild card because I had a blank space to fill.] There is no right or wrong way to use my games. Well, that’s not quite true. The right way is to adjust a game so the students win more than they lose, and to make it light-hearted and fun. If you find the game is a struggle, change gears and help them out. Of course, you know that.  I’m preachin’ to the choir!

By the way, yesterday’s printable was in landscape mode, and today’s post is portrait, so be sure and change the mode if you are printing both. My printer does not do this for me, and I am always forgetting.

Other Ways to Use These Cards

Here are some suggestions to use these cards in other ways than the bingo game.

Beginners can learn the music alphabet by stringing the cards out on a table. These cards are small enough to use on the piano bench, unlike some cards, which are so big they have to be put on the floor. I don’t mind getting on the floor. It’s the getting up that’s the problem! Be sure to remove the H so they won’t get confused. (Unless you’re in Germany!)

For a Christmas piano party with young students, print out enough cards for 8 octaves. Divide the cards between the students. Tell them they have to make a string of cards on the floor that are the exact letter names on the piano. They will keep running over to the piano to count the keys and it is a good game for the group to work together.

Give a set to a beginning student and tell him you think you made a mistake. Ask if he can pick out the cards that do not belong.

If you’re like me and don’t know what to do with the H card, try using it as a wild card and call it the “Help” card. We all need a little help now and then. Plus it makes the game go faster.

I love it when teachers think of other ways to use material I post, so please feel free to leave a comment if you made up a fun game for your students.

Christmas Note Bingo

Christmas Note Bingo

Just in time for your holiday piano parties, I am posting a Christmas bingo game. This game features a snowman, so you can play it after Christmas, too. I like note bingo games with only 9 notes on a card because the game goes faster. In a group situation the game can be played more than once, so more students can win.

I made this game for students who know all the notes on the grand staff. One way to play it with beginning students is to give them a chart of the notes they have not learned yet so they can play along with the others. There is usually a chart in method books that we all have on hand. Or you can print out one of the many staves I have on my website and label the notes for the student to use.

There are 4 PDF pages with 2 boards on each page, supplying enough game boards for 8 students to have a different one.  Print the number of pages you need on card stock and cut in half. Laminate or cover the boards with clear contact paper to protect them.

Directions:

Give each student a game board and some bingo chips. Randomly call out notes from the music alphabet, such as “treble A”. (My next post will be a page of matching alphabet letters for teachers who want calling cards, or to play variations on the game.) If the student has that note on their board, they cover it with a bingo chip. I use magnetic wands and plastic chips, but it might be fun to use white chocolate candy chips as bingo chips and call it “snow.”  The game is over when the first person covers all the notes on their board.

Variations

1. For quick games, students only need to cover 3 notes, either diagonally or in a row up or down. This is great for students with short attention spans.

2. This game can also be played with the student and teacher. Place alphabet cards in a bowl and take turns drawing and covering the notes.

3. Students who know their notes really well like to play 2 cards at a time.

4. For an older student who needs to review ledger lines, play a different game.  Instead of using alphabet letters, place a stack of ledger line flash cards in front of the student.  After drawing a flash card, they put a chip on a corresponding note on their game board that is a different octave.

When the game is over, use your magnetic wand as the “snow plow” to swoop up their chips!

If you like this game and want to play it at other times of the year, there is a regular version on my website.

Save the Turkey-intermediate set

Save the Turkey Intermediate Level

If you have been following my blog lately, you know that I’ve been playing this game with my students. If you missed it, here are the instructions, found in the post with the first set.  That post also includes how to add the back of the cards. Set two is found here.

When I make a game for beginners, my older students want to play, too. So this time I made some cards for them. Included in this set are a few ledger line notes and all the key signatures. If students don’t constantly review these concepts, they forget them. A game is a great way to review!

You can mix and match these cards to suit yourself. Remove the ones you don’t want to use and save them for another day. You can also add some of these cards to set one or two. You can even use cards from the Memory Game found on my website (there are 6 sets) because they are the same size.

One thing I have discovered as I play this game with students, is that the more skip a turn cards the better, so you might want to add some from the previous levels. They also love it when I make a “mistake” and lose a turn.

Be sure to email me if you can’t figure out how to play. I really have trouble following game instructions, so I don’t mind helping. But first, read through my instructions in Set 1 so you can ask me specific questions! This is a fast game and you can easily play it in less than 5 minutes.

Here is a little guy playing with the first set. I think he liked the turkey!

Save the Turkey Game – Set 2

Save the Turkey set 2

In my last post I mentioned that I would post more  cards for the Save the Turkey Game. This set has a few more notes to identify and some more terms. My students have been enjoying this game. It is so easy to set up and play and doesn’t take much lesson time.

For directions to play please see read my previous post. You can find it here. I did not include the back of the cards in this PDF. If you want to print backs to these cards, set your PDF printing setting to Page 2 when you print the back. If you don’t want to print backs, I suggest you use some cute stickers on the back of the cards.

Hint: I printed this set on a different color of card stock than the first set so I can keep the levels separate. Or, you could combine the two sets.

Does anyone want another level? I have one but I don’t know if it’s too late to post this year.

Enjoy!

Save the Turkey

Save the Turkey

Save the Turkey is a fast and easy turn-over-the-card game. It only takes a few minutes of lesson time. It is a great game for teacher and student, but it can also be modified for groups. We have a few more weeks before Thanksgiving and I hope someone can use it.

The purpose of this game is to review music symbols and guide notes, so it is perfect for beginning students. Later I will add cards for more advanced students.

How to play

I tell students that whoever draws the turkey will save it from being turned into Thanksgiving dinner!

Shuffle the cards and put them in a stack on the table. Be sure the Turkey card is not near the top. The Skip a Turn cards should be evenly distributed. Player one draws a card and identifies the symbol.  As long as they answer the card correctly, they continue to draw until they draw a Skip a Turn card. Then the teacher (player 2) does the same thing. Whoever draws the Turkey card has “saved the turkey” and is the winner. The game is short, so the cards can be shuffled and played again.

For a variation,  I tell the student that if I make a mistake or “forget” the correct answer and they correct me, they take my turn. That keeps the student on his toes and it helps to keep the teacher from answering all the questions. I love to hold up the bass clef card, pretend to think really hard, and call it a treble clef. They giggle and bounce up and down and generally have fun. Feel free to make up your own rules and post them in a comment here.

I like the fact that even a beginner can win. All they have to do is draw the turkey card! However, along the way, they will be learning or reviewing important musical concepts. Let your younger children win most of the time.  They love it and it really helps make lessons more fun.

How to print

Download the PDF. In the PDF printer setting, set Print Range to  page 1. You do not want to print 2 pages right away because page 2 is the back of the cards. Set Page Scaling to None.

Print the first page on sturdy card stock. I used yellow card stock and below you can see how it looks.  Re-insert the page back into the printer (so you can print the reverse side) and set Print Range to page 2. If the front and back do not line up correctly, you either do not have page scaling set to “none” or you are not using 8.5″ x 11″ paper.

Alternately, if you don’t want to print on the back, put some cute Thanksgiving stickers on the backs of the cards.

After printing, cut the cards out along the dotted lines.

Please make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader. If your printed copy has odd black lines or boxes, or if some parts are missing, it is probably because you are using an old version of Adobe Reader.