It can be very frustrating when students keep skipping over rests, disrupting the overall flow and breaking the beat of the piece. Using these Rest Savers make rests the best part of the music by giving students fun and silly actions which draw their attention to the rests. How to Use Put all the cards … Read more
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
A halloween theme adds the perfect pumpkin spice to practicing beginner note names. Use this game in individual or partner lessons to create note name ninjas before they head off trick or treating. How to Play Solo version Lay out all the cards face down. Turn over one pair at a time. If they match, … Read more
This is one of the best tools in my kit for when a student doesn’t grasp the concrete relationship between the grand staff and the keyboard – that it is a direct representation, not a series of random notes. By placing the notes on the keys themselves, we make this more clear over time which … Read more
Younger beginners will need extra review of the piano key names in order to be successful going forward. This simple game for one or two players splits the piano keys into the groups of two and three black keys for better clarity and quick learning. How to Play Solo version Choose either the green or … Read more
For beginners, it’s not obvious that the grand staff relates directly to the piano keys. This game aims to make that association clear with matching sets for the staff, keys and letter names. If you want to buy a printed version of Lions, Tigers and Bears, you can find it in the Colourful Keys store, … Read more
What better way to kick off lessons with a new student than with Finger Twister?! This game is perfect for the beginning lessons and is adaptable to younger and older students. How to Play Each player in turn should spin the spinner and place the correct finger on the board. If working with young children, … Read more
This note name twist on the classic memory game can be played with one or two players to review the notes in middle C position. The emoji theme makes this extra fun – ask your students to imitate the faces whenever they turn a card over for extra giggles. How to Play Solo version Lay … Read more
Important note: You can find links to download either the Dogs and Frogs or Dogs and Gates versions of the cards at the bottom of the page. Which one you prefer is entirely up to you and whether you prefer the “G and A inside the gate” or the “F beside the frog” reference points. Dogs … Read more
