Hear See and Feel the Fun- Music Games and Activities

I put together this handout full of fun game ideas for a Round Table presentation I did at a UVMTA event for the music teachers in my area.  With so many fun game and activity resources, it was difficult to choose which ones to highlight.  But fortunately, the links at the bottom can take you to my organized games list so you can pick your favorites for yourself or add a note in the comments to share your favorite off the bench activities!

Why Games and Activities?

·         Engage – Games appeal to visual, tactile auditory and kinesthetic learning styles.

·         Solidify – Repetition with appealing adaptations solidifies learning without boredom.

·         Assess Mastery – Games provide a non-threatening avenue to “test” skills without the fear of failure.

·         Isolate Concepts – Gradually introducing isolated ideas prepares for mastery without frustration and is a useful tool in tuning up trouble spots.

Sample Music Games & Activities

	Hear	See	Feel	Mastery
Note Reading	Magnet Dictation	Notey Noteheads Trick or Treat Music Candyland	GBDFA- Head Shoulders… backwards	Flashnote Derby App Piano Maestro
Rhythm	Dead Bug Slug Clapbacks Rhythm Tag Rhythm Magnet Corner	Bed Bug Hotel w/ legos/putty/snacks Rhythm Monsters	Rhythm Aerobics Rhythm Cups Rhythm Telephone Race	Rhythm Swing App
Scales/Chords	Pattern Bingo Autoharp App-Zootopia Tune Train	Minute to Win it-Speedy Scales Whole Half Step Game Collect a Chord Go Fish Triads	Caterpillar Crawl-Thumb Tucks Finger Trampoline	Incredible Scales Dragon Scales App
Tempo/Articulation	In the Manner of the Music Term	Music Theory Posters	Caterpillar Crawl- Form, Technique Motions	Quizlet Terms and Signs
Intervals	Candy Listening Bingo	Toss a Note Over the Edge	Blind Intervals	Music theory.net Interval ID, Ear Training
Multi-Concept	Music Cranium,  Bang, Jenga, Minute to Win it, Don’t Eat Pete

Offer Choices – Would you rather play Swipe a Sharp or Crazy Keys? Dance or use Rhythm cups? Candyland or Don’t Eat Pete?

Adapt for Multiple Levels –

·         Collect a Chord Beginning– Skips in the Alphabet, Int.- Build a Chord,  Adv. – Identify major minor or diminished chords

·         Jenga- use a different color pen for each level of terms

Top 10 iPad Apps

Note Reading – Note Rush, Flashnote Derby

Sightreading – Piano Maestro

Rhythm – Rhythm Swing, Rhythm Cat

Ear Training/Solfege – Bubble Tones

Scales/Chords – Musiclock,  Autoharp

Composition/Improv – Tune Train, Garage Band

  

Related Posts- heidispianonotes.blogspot.com

Piano Game Resource List – Links to my favorite music games organized by concept and level

Piano Lab – Online music activity links organized by level including Quizlet Terms, Listening Lab Activities and Games

Spicing up Piano Lessons – Fun Lesson Starters, Theory through Games, Technique and Rhythm the Fun Way, Teaching, Practice Incentives, Group Music Party Ideas

Creative Activities for Beginning Level Piano Lessons – Mason Jar Melodies, Composer Fruit Basket, Bass Clef Pop and Drop etc.

The Value of Singing at Music Lessons – A Series of posts on how song activities reinforce Theory, Rhythm Ear Training, etc.