Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Teaching Piano Keyboard Skills Creatively

Teaching Piano Keyboard Skills Creatively, #Piano Teaching Scales
For this month keyboard skills is the focus in my music studio so I've rounded up a lot of games and activities relating to chords and scales to share in this post.
Keyboard skill patterns including scales and chords are the ingredients that make music function. At group lessons and throughout the month piano students will be trying out some of these games to sharpen skills and help them see the application of keyboard skills in their music.
When we learn to identify these repeating patterns in music we can read new music more quickly, improvise and also play familiar songs by ear more easily.  For example, the beginning of Joy to the World" is recognized as a descending major scale, and "Heart and Soul" is simply of series of roots with chords played in an energetic rhythm style.

HEAR: Scales and Chords Ear Training Games

Theta Music.com has a newer feature including basic online courses with lessons and games for scales, chords, intervals and progressions. You can choose a course and follow it step by step, or click "show full course list" and browse a variety of games that fit your level. Many of the games like Paddle Pitch and Chord Drops can be played individually in piano lab or round robin style in a small group setting.  The games cover various concepts including matching scale pitches, identifying I IV and V patterns, identifying the tonic and recognizing chord qualities.

SEE: Scales and Chords Visual Identification Games

Many of these resources are free and you can view more resources relating to other concepts on my Piano Game Resource Page.  They make engaging lesson starters or group lesson activities!

Do you have any favorites to add to the list?

FEEL: Scales and Chords Application

Once you can easily hear and see scales and chords in your music, the real fun begins as students experiment with different scale and chord patterns using some of these activities.


Related Posts:
4 Types of Scales Video and Free Printable
CK 7 Ways to Practice Scales
CK The Most Fun You'll Ever Have Teaching Piano Scales
Scaling the Chords - Bradley Sowash
Get Inspired: Leila Viss Episode 19 Pop Song Chords
Teaching Piano with Chord Colors
Minor Scale Teaching Poster


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