While I've been using online piano activities during lab time with my students for years I've been visiting my list of piano online activities organized by concept and level a lot more this week as I adapt my piano lessons temporarily to a more remote learning model due to the corona virus. The online piano activity list includes a variety of links to online games, listening activities, theory/technique videos, but I just wanted to highlight some of my favorite options for piano students to expand their learning at home if they choose not to have face to face lessons during the corona virus craze.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Online Piano Learning Activities Organized by Concept and Level for the Corona Virus Concerned
While I've been using online piano activities during lab time with my students for years I've been visiting my list of piano online activities organized by concept and level a lot more this week as I adapt my piano lessons temporarily to a more remote learning model due to the corona virus. The online piano activity list includes a variety of links to online games, listening activities, theory/technique videos, but I just wanted to highlight some of my favorite options for piano students to expand their learning at home if they choose not to have face to face lessons during the corona virus craze.
Labels:
composing,
Ear Training,
Free Resources,
Games,
Improvisation,
Lesson Plans,
Movement,
Notereading,
Piano Lab Activities,
Rote Piano Teaching,
Scales,
Teaching,
Technique,
Theory
AIM Piano Keyboard Skills Videos Levels 1-5
Scales, chords, and arpeggios are the key ingredients used to make music. Although I encourage my students to learn to play their keyboard skills in all keys on their scale level charts, these videos provide a demonstration in just a few keys that students can play to pass off to move up levels on the leader board for "Advancement in Music." For more fun try playing your scales along with a fun backing tracking from Bensound.com. Click here for a list of tracks to choose from in the key in of your scale.
AIM Level 1 Keyboard Skills- Pentascale + Chord in C, G, D, A and E Major
For more details see this post.
Related Posts:
AIM Level 1 Keyboard Skills- Pentascale + Chord in C, G, D, A and E Major
For more details see this post.
AIM Level 2 Keyboard Skills- Pentascale, Chord, Hand over Hand Arpeggios
AIM Level 3 Keyboard Skills One Octave Scales, I-V-I Chord, Hand over Hand Arpeggios
AIM Level 4 Keyboard Skills One Octave Scale, I-IV-I-V7-I Chords, 1 Octave Arpeggio + Inversions
AIM Level 5 Keyboard Skills 1 Octave Scales, I-IV-I-V7-I Chords, 1 Octave Arpeggio, Primary Inversions, V7-I6/4
Piano Technique Warmups Caterpillar Crawl Video
How do you prepare beginning piano students to play with proper technique?

Teaching proper piano technique is not a "one and done" activity, but instead something that requires repetition and frequent reminders to master. I posted this unique piano warm-up exercise a few years ago that introduces the various movements necessary to play the piano with proper technique as students listen to excerpts from a Mozart favorite, Rondo alla Turca. Written directions and lyrics are included on this post, and the video also includes lyrics . I have used it periodically at group lessons, but with this new video, students can also warm up regularly at home as they follow along with the motions demonstrated in the video. Frequent repetition prepares students to use the motions with automaticity early on as the brain pathways are already paved before they actually encounter frequent scale thumb tucks, phrase end float-offs and other technical motions in their music. After a brief explanation the exercise begins at 1:06.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Split Second Music Theory Game
One of my favorite things to browse at the thrift store is the games. I'm always on the lookout for game that I can tweak for my music instruction purposes and this game of Split Second is a real winner!
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Theory Choice Challenge
Theory Challenge Options
This month my piano studio focus is music theory. Students can select from the following challenges to earn a prize at their lesson for each challenge they complete. Winners of the Tonic Tutor Aim High (highest overall game scores) and Overachiever (most extra achievements earned after finishing lesson) contests will be announced at next month's group lesson
- Complete a written theory test and pass with at least 90% during piano lab.
- Complete a written terms and signs test with at least 90% during piano lab.
- Choose at least 3 music terms or signs and draw a poster to help teach others what it means in a memorable way. Click Here to See Sample Posters
- Watch a Thinking Theory Playlist on YouTube and draw and label at least 10 of the music signs/terms that you learned about as you watched.
Written Music Theory Test Prep Activities
You can practice your skills by clicking on the Compose Create Web Rewards Link for your level and complete online games/printable worksheets to sharpen your skills.
Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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Level 5
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The number of beats for quarter notes and rests, half and whole notes
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The number of beats for Quarter, Half, Dotted Half and Whole Notes & Rests
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Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 w/ level 3 rhythms
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Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 w/ level 4 rhythms
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Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 w/ level 5 rhythms
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Treble and bass clefs, forte and piano symbols
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Write in the counting for rhythm examples in 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4
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Identify ties and slurs
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Define, pp, p, mp, mf, f ,f, accent, 8va & D.C. al Fine
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Write the order of sharps and flats
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The direction of notes on the staff: up, down or repeating
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Recognize and/or define forte, piano, legato and staccato symbols
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Recognize and/or define piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte
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Write the meaning of numbers in a time signature
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Write the major key signatures
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Steps and skips up and down on the staff and keyboard+
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Identify white or black keys on a pictured keyboard
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Explain the meaning of numbers in the time signature
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Identify distance only of white keys 2nds-octaves on keyboard and staff
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Identify distance and quality of white key intervals 2nds-octaves on the staff
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Whole and half steps on the keyboard
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Draw a sharp, flat and natural sign
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Draw stems for notes on the staff in the proper direction
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Write the pattern of whole and half steps for major and harmonic minor scales
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Identify white key major or minor triads on a keyboard
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Letter names of white keys on a keyboard
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Identify 2nds, 3rd, 4ths, 5ths on a pictured keyboard and staff, white keys only
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Draw sharp, flat and natural symbols on the staff in proper placement
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Draw sharp, flat and natural symbols on the staff in proper placement
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Identify white key major or minor triads on a staff
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Letter names of notes on the staff from Bass F to Treble G
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Letter names of notes on the staff from Bass C to Treble C
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Letter names of notes on the staff from Bass G to Treble F (all lines and spaces)
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Letter names of notes on the staff from 2 ledger lines above and below the staff
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Add accidentals to form major, natural minor or harmonic minor white key scales
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Identify 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, 5ths and 6ths by distance only on a keyboard and staff
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Complete white key major triads by marking the middle note with an x
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Identify whole and half steps on the staff
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Music Terms and Signs
Can you identify and/or define these music terms and signs?
Review the terms and signs on quizlet.com by clicking the link to your level below. Then select the way you want to review them.
- Flashcard- Flip the virtual note cards to learn/check your answers.
- Learn- Answer multiple choice/fill in the blank prompts to help your master your terms.
- Write- Type the precise definition of the term.
- Spell- Type the word you hear. It's definition appears below.
- Test- Written, matching, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions
- Match(Memory)- Drag and drop the term on top of its definition.
- Gravity - Type the precise definition of the term before it hits the asteroid hits ground.
Terms and Signs by Level (Free Printable)
Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Level 4
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Level 5
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Quarter Rest
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Whole Rest
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Eighth Note
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Eight Rest
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Sixteenth Note
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Half Rest
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Decrescendo
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Whole Step
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Major scale pattern
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Sixteenth Rest
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Quarter Note
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Crescendo
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Half Step
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Downbeat
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Motive
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Half Note
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pp
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2/4 Time Signature
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Triplet
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Sequence
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Dotted Half Note
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ff
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Loco
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Intervals of 6,7,8
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Diminished Triad
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Whole Note
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Phrase
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Tonic
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⅜ Time Signature
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Augmented Triad
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p
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Slur
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Dominant
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Cut Time
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Primary Triad
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mp
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Accidentals
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D.S. al Fine
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Common Time
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Secondary Triad
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mf
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Leger lines
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D.S. al Coda
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Allegretto
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Grace Note
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f
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Legato
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Pedal sign
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Con moto
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Root Position
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Bass Clef
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Staccato
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Improvisation
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Diminuendo
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1st inversion
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Treble Clef
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Sharp
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Transposition
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Subdominant
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2nd inversion
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Grand Staff
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Flat
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Parallel Key
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Etude
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Chromatic Scale
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Bar Lines
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Natural
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Upbeat
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Moderato
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Accelerando
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Measure
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Tempo
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15 ma
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Presto
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Dolce
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¾ Time Signature
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Fermata
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Major Triad
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Tenuto
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Grazioso
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4/4 Time Signature
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Phrase
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Minor Triad
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Vivace
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Leggiero
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Brace
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Slur
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Poco
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6/8 Time Signature
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Marcato
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Repeat Sign
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Ritard
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15ma
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1st/2nd Ending
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Morendo
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Accent
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Blues
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Baroque
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Pesante
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Intervals 2,3,4,5
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Key Signature
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Classical
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Poco a Poco
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5 Finger Pattern
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Arpeggio
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Romantic
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Sforzando
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Contemporary
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Portato
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Pitch
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Subito
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Scherzando
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