Ear Bingo

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

Take a “Rest”

Take a rest music theory game

Take a “Rest” is a board game that reinforces two key concepts (that can be tricky to explain). Firstly, the small stepping stones serve as half moves and students move there if they get a quaver (eighth note) card. Secondly as the name suggests, players sit out a turn if they receive a rest card. … Read more

Star Seekers

Star seekers music theory game

Star Seekers could be played at the first lesson with an older newbie, or in the first few months for younger students. In this game students must give the time name or number of beats of basic note values to progress around the board and be victorious. How to Play Each player places a counter … Read more

Silliness Siestas

Silliness siestas music theory game

Young students need to move in order to really focus. Draw a Silliness Siesta card every time your student’s attention starts to drift – take the 2-3 minute break – and then get back to business at the piano. How to Use Use these cards whenever you feel your student’s energy and focus is starting … Read more

Silent Lingo

Silent lingo music theory game

Drilling Italian music terms is not what most kids would call fun. But jumping around and trying to convey “Giocoso” to other students without words? Now that sounds like a hoot! How to Play Put all the cards in a hat or bag. Choose the first performer and ask them to draw a card from … Read more

Rhythm Vocab: Level 4

Rhythm Vocab 4 music theory game

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

Rhythm Vocab: Level 3

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

Rhythm Vocab: Level 2

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

Rhythm Vocab: Level 1

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

Relative Rhythms

Relative rhythms music theory game

Relative Rhythm cards are one my favourite tools for students of all ages. The idea is really very simple: all the note values are represented in relative size to each other. So, a crotchet (quarter note) is half the width of a minim (half note) and double the width of a quaver (eighth note). Use … Read more