Need for Speed Tempo Term Videos

 I love to start out every lesson with a quick game. To review tempo terms  we play the game "The Need for Speed" from Colourful Keys to introduce or review tempo terms. Since students encounter these in a different order in their lesson books, I like to pair some songs with the game to speed up the learning.

What is Tempo?

Define tempo as students clap or choose various motions to follow along with as you sing and watch this video. 

PR Tempo - animated video defining tempo 

Then as you play the game, instead of just saying "Largo is slow" make the learning more memorable with a song. The first time students choose a particular tempo card that pairs with the songs below, sing and move to the video below

Largo (Start at 1:15 seconds)

PR Presto Largo- animated video illustrating tempo terms Presto and Largo

Adagio Play Slow

Sing Adagio to the tune of Edwin McClean's "Ghost Waltz" (from FJH Federation Favorites Book 2).

Andante Walking Pace

Sing "Andante" to the tune of "The Ants Go Marching."

Allegretto and Moderato

CK Tempo Marks - brief definitions and memory aids for Allegro, Allegretto, Moderato, Andante

Allegro

Sing the "Allegro's quick" lyrics to the tune of Three Blind Mice.

Presto (Start at 50 seconds)

PR Presto Largo- animated video illustrating tempo terms Presto and Largo

Music Terms Rap and Games

This month our piano studio focus is theory, terms and signs. I love finding fun ways to teach music terms to piano students!

I have used many engaging activities like Quizlet matching games, music theory art, Musical Headbandz and Split Second, and Piano Cranium. 

Music Dictionary Rap

But this month I'm starting out one of my group lessons  with this Music Dictionary Rap from Piano Adventures Gold Star.

Music Flashcard Game Variation

Typically my students start out lessons with a quick game like music term memory match. Instead of playing this typical memory style with cards face down, to introduce relatively new terms and signs I first play a face up version. I like how this variation combines both skill and an element of chance so that any player can win. If the teacher is playing with the student, I even the playing field a bit by saying the teacher doesn't get to "steal on sixes" because they have an unfair advantage of already knowing all the answers. 

Divide the cards into 2 piles, one pile for the term or symbol and one pile for the matching answer.

Shuffle the cards and place them face up. 

Students then roll a die to determine how many cards they get to collect by guessing the sets of cards that are a match. 

If they roll an odd number (1,3, or 5) they guess just one match. 

If they roll an even number (2 or 4) they guess two matches. 

If they roll a 6 they get to steal a match from the opponent of their choice. 

The winner is the player with the most card matches at the end.

Related Posts

Split Second Music Theory Game

Musical Cranium

Musical Cadences

Cadences are like the punctuation marks in music. Pairing chords in a certain order can create a feeling of tension, questioning, surprise or peaceful resolution. 

Watch this Short-ish Explanation of Cadences to learn more.

Click Teoria.com Cadences to listen to the samples of different types of cadences.

Perfect Authentic: V-I Sounds like the end.

Imperfect Authentic: V-I + inversion Sounds like the end...but less final than perfect.

Teaching Tempo Terms with Songs

Several years ago, I posted some free printables and songs that I use to really help my students remember their tempo terms. Today, I revisited that tempo terms post to prepare for our group lesson on sightreading tips and added one more Lento tempo term poster to the mix. 

Sometimes it's so tempting to jump into new music at a fast pace, but practicing at the speed of no mistakes is super important so that muscle memory is paved in your brain with correct notes instead of errors. 

Let's Play Music Bridge #26: Sharp Key Signatures and Modern Music Era

This post includes piano lab activities that correlate with Let's Play Music Bridge Lesson 26.

Music Theory: Sharp Key Signatures

 Watch the PianoAnne Circle of 5ths Video to learn more about sharp key signatures.

Let's Play Music Bridge #25 Hey Ho Nobody Home, E Minor and Cadences

This post includes piano lab activities that correlate with Let's Play Music Bridge Lesson 25. 

Music Sample:

Listen to the Round version of Hey Ho Nobody Home.

Music Theory: Cadences

Cadences in music are usually the two chords at the end of a phrase.
You can compare them to punctuation marks in sentences. 
Some phrases leave you feeling like the song isn't finished. What comes next?
Other cadences sound final like you are finally at the end of the song!

Introducing 5 Types of Cadences

Click Teoria.com Cadences to listen to the samples of different types of cadences.

Perfect Authentic: V-I Sounds like the end.

Imperfect Authentic: V-I + inversion Sounds like the end...but less final than perfect.

Piano Pronto Movement 3: #17 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Presto/Accelerando

This post includes piano activities for "Hungarian Rhapsody #2"  in Piano Pronto Movement 3.

 Music Samples and History

Listen to part of either video to hear different variations of Hungarian Rhapsody.

Hungarian Rhapsody Cartoons

Piano Pronto Movement 3: #9 Chopin Etude/Nocturne and Cadences

This post includes piano activities for Chopin's "Etude and Nocturne" in Piano Pronto Movement 3.

 

 Music Samples and History

Listen to part of the original versions of Chopin's songs. Can you hear the expressive rubato (stretching of rhythm)? Romantic music often includes a more flexible tempo.  Linger a little longer on the notes at the end of phrases as you practice these pieces.

Piano Pronto Movement 3: #5 Thursday Blues and Diminished Triads

This post includes piano activities for "Thursday Blues" in Piano Pronto Movement 3.

 

Snowman Chords Poster

Piano Pronto Movement 3: #3 Bourree, Baroque Style and A Minor Scale

This post includes piano activities for "Bouree" in Piano Pronto Movement 3.

 

 

Music Samples and History

Listen to the Classics for Kids Podcast About Bach.

Optional: Color Bach Online as you listen.

Music Scale Degree Names and Free Printable Games

Degrees of C and G Major Scales

 Chords can be built on each note or degree of a scale.

Piano Pronto Movement 1 Lesson Plans and Activities

Piano Pronto Movement 1 Supplementary Activities

Choose the link below for lesson plans and activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 1.

The theory, improvisation, and music and movement activities can be done in private lessons, group lessons, piano lab, or assigned for at-home practice.

 #1 Clementine and Upbeat/Swing Style

 #2 Mexican Hand Clapping and Staccato/2 Note Slurs

 #3 Love Somebody and Parallel/Contrary Motion

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #26 Trumpet Voluntary and D.C. al Fine

  This lesson plan includes activities for Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music and Movement

Listen to the audio of a video of your choice below as you march a steady beat with your feet and clap the rhythm of the melody.
This song is sometimes called “Prince of Denmark’s March.”

Prince of Denmark's March- Orchestra 

Trumpet Voluntary Piano Cover Joseph Martin

Trumpet Voluntary Organ

Listen to Classics .for Kids Marches Not Written for Bands or Parades to hear a trumpet variation and more march music.

Theory

Color the I, IV and V7 left hand chord pieces.

Watch the  D.C. al Fine Video and color the D.C. Al Fine sign Green (keep going) and Fine sign red (stop the second time).

Watch this video about perfect and major intervals if needed to help you complete #26 Power Pages.

Related Posts

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #23 F Scale Stomp and F 1 Octave Major Scale

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #24 Ode to Joy and F Major Key Signature

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #25 Simple Gifts and Key Signatures

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #27 Theme from Symphony No.1 and Scale Review

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #28 Fur Elise and Syncopated Pedaling

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #25 Simple Gifts and F Major Primary Chords

  This lesson plan includes activities for "Simple Gifts" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.    

Music Samples and History

Choose a variation of "Simple Gifts" to listen to below or listen to the podcast Classics for Kids About Aaron Copland and listen for the “Simple Gifts” melody.

Simple Gifts Cello Yo-Yo Ma and Vocalist

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #19 O, My Dear Augustin and Key Signatures

 This lesson plan includes activities for "O, My Dear Augustin" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.  

Music and Movement

Tap the rhythm with your left and right hand as you listen to O, My Dear Augustin Piano.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #14 Non Piu Andrai and Perfect Intervals/Sequences

 This lesson plan includes activities for Non Piu Andrai in Piano Pronto Movement 1. 

 Music History

Watch the first part of the Opera/Orchestra version of Non Piu Andrai by Mozart. The title means "You won't go anymore!"

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #13 Can Can and Tempo Terms

This lesson plan includes activities for "Can Can" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Music Samples 

Choose a Can Can video to watch below. How many Descending 1 Octave Scales can you hear?

Can Can Line Video

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #10 Little Sonatina in C and Crescendo/Diminuendo

This lesson plan includes activities for "Little Sonatina in C" in Piano Pronto Movement 1.

Music Samples and History

Listen to the expressive dynamics in Clementi Sonatina in C Original Form played by Lang Lang.

Piano Pronto Movement 1: #1 Clementine and Upbeats/Swing Style

This lesson plan has supplementary activities that correlate with Piano Pronto Movement 1 Clementine.

Music Sample

Clementine Swing Style

Listen for the long-short eighth note pairs in the video. 
Clap the beat with the backing track or video (Down, Up Up or Partner, Lap, Clap) or conduct the song in ¾ time. 

Remember to start with an upbeat motion on beat 3.
After learning Clementine, try to play it "swing style" for a more country feel.  

Elementary Piano Teaching Videos for Flipped Learning

After teaching piano lessons for over 15 years I've compiled a list of my favorite short videos for introducing beginning music concepts to piano students.

These brief videos are a great way to introduce or review musical concepts during piano lab and at group lessons.

To make the concepts stick even more, I invite students to engage by doing motions, creating artwork or singing along as appropriate. This multi-sensory approach reinforces the ideas more deeply.