Game: Music Matching / Music Bingo
Age: 4+
Directions: Make a chart with different music symbols in a word program. Print this page as the students "board piece."
Cut other sheets to make pieces of single symbol squares. Have the students try and match the cut shapes to their board. You can also hold up an enlarged picture of the symbol if the child is old enough. This is the easiest game for very young children and helps them recognize/match musical symbols.
Modify: For older children, you can demonstrate these symbols. For example, if you have a fermata as a picture on the chart, you can play a familiar tune and demonstrate a fermata. The student will mark off that symbol and the first one to get "bingo" wins.
Goal: Memory, recognition.
Game: Happy or Sad?
Age: 6+
Directions: Draw three lines on the board long enough for the students to draw a picture. Number each space 1-3. Explain to the student that you will be playing chords, and to draw a happy face or a sad face on the board. Play the chord in root position, and arpeggiate as well. Have the student play the chord with you.
Modify: For older children, you can have them name qualities of the chords, the full progression, a type of cadence, or have them play it back to you.
Goal: Ear training.
Game: Music Memory
Age: 8+
Directions: Choose a song that is one page in length. Play through the song and have the student follow along. Have the student play through the song on his/her own. Collect the handout, and give the student the same song cut in small pieces. Have the student put the pieces back together so it is the same as the original handout. You can also put your students in teams, and the team to finish first replicating the piece correctly wins.
Modify:If the child is very young, you can have them look at the original while they are doing the "puzzle," rather than memory.
Goal: Close attention to song form, memory.
Game: Rhythm
Age: 8+
Directions: This game is for a group lesson/classroom setting. Assign each student different rhythms and different starting times. For example, assign the first student quarter notes playing the note "C." Assign the next student half notes playing the note "E." Assign the the next student whole notes with the note "G." Point at each student when you want them to start.
Modify: You can make this game as easy or as difficult as you like. For more advanced students, you could give more difficult rhythms, assign them a different rhythm in each hand at once, etc.
Goal: To improve rhythm, and get a sense of harmony.
Game: Where did I stop?
Age: 12+
Directions: Pass out a song about one page in length to the student(s). Have them follow along as you play. Stop at a sudden point in the song and ask your student(s) what note, measure, chord, etc. you stopped on.
Modify: For younger children, you might want to use a very simple piece and be more obvious with your stopping points.
Goal: Follow the music & pay attention.
Game: Improvisation
Age: 14+
Directions: Start out playing a phrase using a particular scale. Have each student take turns playing a phrase using the scale. Explain the idea of question and answer musically. You can also have the student repeat the passage you played back to you.
Modify: You can make this game more difficult by having the student incorporate the minor form of this scale as well. You can also increase the types of scales used, and have them play a chord accompaniment in their left hand.
Goal: Improvisation, call and response, ear training.
Game: Chance Piece
Age: 14+
Directions: Pass out a "chance piece" either from a method book or your own creation. If you are not familiar with such pieces, I will explain the basic idea. Compose about two measures of music. Compose about six to eight different ones so you can fit them on the page. When your students play the music on the paper, they will each choose an exercise to play through. They will take turns and must not repeat one that has already been played. They must also keep the same timing throughout playing. This is an incredibly difficult exercise, because the student has to remember which ones have been played and keep the time consistent. Also, the pieces are not meant to be played in order, but in random places on the paper.
Modify: To make the exercise easier, you can compose your own chance pieces with only about 2-4 notes clearly only in treble or bass. You can also make the tempo very slow to give the student enough time to mentally prepare.
* "Game of Hypnosis," by Stephen Chatman from "Celebration Series- The Piano Odyssey" is a very good but advanced chance piece.
* I will have a composed piece for download soon.
Goal: Memory, time consistency, group playing, pay VERY close attention.
Game: Your own!
Age: Any
Directions: I encourage you to be very creative with your own games. After all, you know your students best and know what they might need reinforcement on and what kind of things they enjoy.
I put a game together that practices theory, musicianship, and music history. I have 3 different stacks of colored cards. Each color stands for one of the three topics. Each card has a letter on it from A to G. When the student pulls a card, for example, an "orange - B," I prepard a question sheet for the color orange (musicianship). The question I choose might say "Sing through this major chord." Since they chose the letter "B," I would give them the tonic note "B" on the piano and they would solfege through the triad. This same idea applies through all the topics.
Candy is a great reward :-)