Cupcake Note Values

Cupcakes!  

This looked like a fun way to practice note values - the students simply match up the correct pieces together!  I printed them on regular paper and laminated them.  You should be able to click on the picture and print!

Steps and Skips

I wanted to come up with a fun way to review steps verses skips with my beginning students and since they all seem to like the Lego Movie it seemed like a perfect set-up!  

They draw a card and identify if it is a step or a skip AND if it goes up or down.  If it is a step they move one square if it is a skip then they can skip a lego block.  Some lego movie characters would be a lot of fun as the markers!  This could be with one student at the end of a lesson or with a partner at a theory party.  If you laminate them then regular paper should work just fine.  You should be able to click on the pictures and print!

Learning notes and keys

One of my first creations was a way to call out keyboard letters.  I had some thick foam shapes that I wrote each of the letters of the musical alphabet on.  You could use these mini dominoes, which I also use for teaching chords, and write the letters on the back.  Each letter is used 3 times.  I use these in lots of different ways!  One of my favorite is to call out a letter and the student puts a fun toy on the keyboard.

I have all sorts of random toys I like to use to go on the piano keys.  I try to pick toys that won't scratch the keys.  These rubbery frogs work well....

Several students like these sports erasers that I found.  You can use these from Amazon.com

Here are some other random toys that I use!  Squinkies (small rubbery animals - the girls favorites!!), army men (a favorite with the boys), rubber animals...there are lots of fun options to create a Party at the Piano!!

I will also use the foam letters at the top of the page to call out a letter and the student has to swat the correct note/flashcard.  I love these fly flashcards that Susan Paradis created!  You can find the ways I use them here.

Tips for Getting Started

I like to do some sort of theory game at the end of most lessons.  These games are also useful for those times that a student may not have practiced much or they left a book at home!  I occasionally will do group theory parties and my students love to play these games together!!!

There are so many printable games on the internet!  You will use a lot of ink if you're not careful!  I tried to list here my favorites to start with that I use the most with my students.  It is worth it to laminate most of the games that you print.  This can get expensive and time consuming so choose your games carefully!  When I started I did three sessions where I printed up several games, cut them out, had them laminated, cut them out and then organized them.  I did this 2 -3 times - it took a few hours each time but was TOTALLY worth it!!!  I try really hard to print on fun colored paper!!!   This helps me keep different games organized and it makes it fun!  I found that usually if I'm going to laminate them then I don't have to use cardstock.  It is hard to see the ink on the dark colors.

I also found that there were a lot of useful supplies/toys especially at the dollar store and the dollar sections of Target/Walmart.  It is especially fun to find seasonal items there.  I would start with a trip and look for:

• Fun markers to mark their place on game boards.  I've used little sports erasers, squinkies, green army men, etc.  Anything to make it fun!  These markers can also be used to mark a note on the piano (show them a flashcard and have them put an army man on the piano key)
• Mini anything you write on like mini dominoes that wrote chords on. Other mini markers can be used as canons, or fit on a big staff or cover up spots for bingo).  
• Anything they can make noise with to practice rhythms - my students favorites include jingle bells, wood blocks, egg shakers, castanets and boomwhackers.  

Reviewing Notes:
I use my note review games more than anything else.  It is worth it to have a little variety!  Flashcards are super effective but boring - if you look under the "notes" label on the side of the blog you will find several games to help review notes many of them using flash cards.  


I HIGHLY recommend printing off a set of flashcards.  I use these flashcards by Susan Paradis the most.  I love that she has beginning notes on the first page and then adds more.

I print extra copies of the first two pages to send home with students to practice.  

I also send students home with these character card friends to make their flashcard practice fun   :)   You can find them here to print along with a few other characters.  

                   

My other favorite is the racetracks.  Again I use the flashcards.  I often have them name the note AND find it on the piano before they can move their marker.  There is another racetrack and instructions here.

Rhythm
I also use a lot of different ways to teach and review rhythm.  For beginners my favorite is this track by Susan Paradis found here.  I added a twist using legos that my students love you can read about that here under rhythm review. 

Another one worth printing if you're getting started are rhythm cards.  I use these great ones from Layton Music you can find here.  I use for them to practice counting outloud while playing the rhythm.  Check out my Rhythm Cards page for more links to other rhythm cards and instruments.  

My students all time favorite way to practice rhythm values is with the game of WAR!  You can find the links and my twists on the war instructions.

I know there are a lot of rhythm ones but MY all time favorite is where they have to build their own rhythm.  They have to know their rhythm values and they learn a lot building their own rhythms and then playing it.  You can find links and how I use the printables here under Build a Rhythm.

Intervals
My students favorite way to review intervals is with my soccer intervals game - just print, laminate and cut and you're ready to review intervals!

Musical Terms:
I like this Bingo game by Susan Paradis to help you review lots of different musical terms!  You can read my post on how I do it on my Musical Terms page.  

As you look around my blog you will see lots of other games especially for more advanced levels.  I listed here a few favorites that I use the most with beginners although I use them as review for all levels.   If I was just starting I would print the ones listed here.  Once you have some basic games read check out my "Favorites" label on the right to see which ones my students and I like the most.  Then check out the other labels as you find students struggling with different concepts to see if there is a game that you can use to teach while you have a PARTY AT THE PIANO!!!!

Notes Flashcard Fun!

I wanted to make flashcards a bit more fun so I came up with these!  My students love anything that they can manipulate with their hands so I made character cards for them to match with their note flashcards.  

I cut the characters up and lay each character card out.  I give the student a set of flashcards (I love these flashcards by Susan Paradis) and they match it up with the correct character.  I will actually send a set of these home with students to practice as well for a few weeks when they are first learning.  These are well worth laminating!  Enjoy!

 Yes, I know there are two letter "D's" my girls prefer Daisy my boys prefer Donkey Kong!   :)

My daughters are obsessed with the new Lego Friends series we looove them!!!!

Pirate Blast!

I saw this post at Sing a New Song where they used pirate ships as part of their theory!  I loved it but they didn't a printable so I made one!    There are so many uses for this game but I use it most as a note review.  I hold up a flashcard (I use Susan Paradis cards) and if they get the note right they get to place a "canon" onto a ship of their choice.  Once they have three canons on a ship they have sunk the ship!  Very easy and basic but something about sinking pirate ships makes it a lot more fun!  You could do the same thing with identifying key signatures, intervals, musical terms, etc!  

You should be able to click on the picture to print.

I found mini checkers at the dollar store that I use as the canons.  You can also use these mini connect four pieces (which also work for the bingo game)

I love using the small flashcards from Susan Paradis.  I print them on colored cardstock...I actually have a couple of sets printed since I sometimes send them home with students to practice so each set has it's own color.

Note review

It seems like my students can never get enough note practice!  I love this track by Susan Paradis and use it all the time!  We use any of the toys in the Learning Notes and Keys post, especially the squinkies!

I use Susan Paradis basic flashcards that you can find here.  I use these flashcards allll the time for all sorts of games!!!  These are well worth printing on a colored paper to make it fun and then laminating them.  I also laminated the track.

But I have a lot of boy students so I thought of another track that I could use for them!  

This was the first game that I have made so it's not the best (any ideas on a good program to use so I can make this better?!) but my kids love it!  You should be able to click on the picture to print!  

I happened to find these mario characters several years ago which the students use as markers to go through the game but anything will work!.  I found these mario characters in cars which are the right size on amazon and is fun since there is a girl character included. 

We usually get to the end of the game and then turn around and go back if we have time.  This also works great at group theory parties!