When I’m teaching major triads to my piano students, I want them to see the visual patterns. Noticing this pattern of white and black keys is what will help them to memorise and internalise the chords as quickly as possible. These chord sheets aid that process, and give students an easy way to drill chords … Read more
These quick little exercises improve your student’s musical ears – without taking a stressful amount of the lesson away. Perfect for a busy piano curriculum. How to Use Singing wall warm-ups: Stick the solfa posters on a wall or the back of a door. Review the scale by pointing to each note ascending and descending. … Read more
This is a chance for personal growth for your students. Thinking carefully about practice habits, practice quality, attitude and concentration is a great way to round off a year or semester. Use this simple self-evaluation form to help your students think about what went well for the last year, what they want to achieve next … Read more
When it comes to the modes, it’s very helpful to associate different moods, personalities or themes with each, in order to distinguish them from each other. This activity takes a quasi “memory palace” approach to the modes using poems about each mode and asking students to complete the stories and put their own spin on … Read more
In Don’t Minor My Major students not only get practice with naming major and minor root position chords (on the staff) but also reinforce the relationship between the major and minor chords by flattening and “unflattening” each other’s chords. This game has that competitive edge that makes it a hoot! Get your students addicted to this … Read more
Inversion Diversions is the crazy, zig-zaggy game you need to drill major chords and their inversions. Students move across the board in different patterns while identifying chords either on the staff or on the keyboard (your choice). This one is challenging but super fun – especially for those intermediate tweens and teens. How to Play Choose … Read more
These listening sheets challenge intermediate students to pay attention for intricate details in the music. What’s the form? Was there a perfect cadence? This bingo game is a great jumping off point for many discussions in group and private lessons. How to Play Give each player one bingo card and a pen/marker. Choose a suitable … Read more
Have you ever wished you had a game that mixed levels of students could play together on an equal footing? Symbol Splash is the answer. There are four levels which can be used simultaneously on the one game board – so your little beginner can play alongside the tween prepping for her grade 3 theory … Read more
The idea of Rhythm Vocab cards is to gradually build up a rhythm vocabulary with our students. When students have this vocabulary they won’t need to decipher and analyse each rhythm – it will instinctively come to mind. There are many ways to use these cards in your lessons and make them part of your … Read more
In Ghost Quest, students need to collect as many ghosts as they can by naming or explaining a variety of intermediate music theory terms and symbols. Use this game at your halloween group lessons or special halloween lessons for tons of spooky fun. How to Play Place a game token for each player on the … Read more