12 Bar Blues Activities

Choose a 12 Bar Blues Activity to complete below.

Chord Progression Improvisation Videos with Inversions

Chords often provide the framework or building blocks of music pieces. 

If you change the order of the chord notes by moving the bottom root to the top it is called an inversion. When playing piano chord progressions this often makes it easier to play because you don't have to leap your hand as far to change chords.

 

Explore the sample piano improvisation videos by Forrest Kinney below that show how to create music based on repetitive chord progression patterns. Then choose your favorite style and improvise or compose your own short piece based on the same pattern.

Chord Progression Improvisation Videos in Root Position

Chord Progressions often provide the framework or building blocks of music pieces. 

You can start with the notes of a simple repetitive chord progression, and by combining the notes in different ways create an endless variety of sounds.

Explore the sample piano improvisation videos below that show how to create music based on repetitive chord progression patterns. Then choose your favorite style and improvise or compose your own short piece based on the same pattern.

Root Position Chords

Create First Heart and Soul Blues:  I-vi-IV-V

In this example, the left-hand stays in the root position. Choose any combination of notes from the C scale + E-flat to create a bluesy jazz piece. Imitate the syncopated jazzy rhythms.

Pianonote Improvise Beautiful Melodies: vi-IV-V-iii

This reflective, calm example uses repeating root chords in the left hand with roots, broken chords, arpeggios, or scale passages in the right hand.

Create First Ocean Without a Shore: vi-V-IV-iii then IV-iii-ii-I

Listen to how the broken chords played across the entire range of the piano in this example create the feeling of soothing flowing water in contrast to the energy of the blocked chord patterns.

Create First A Song Someday: vi-IV-V-vi then I-V-ii-I

This example uses almost every root chord of the scale. It's easier if you move your hand in a "cookie cutter" way keeping the same shape and fingering  (left hand 531,  right hand 135).

Create First Roots in the Sky  : I-iii-IV-ii-iii-IV-vi-V

Can you hear how the V-I (authentic cadence) ending helps the piece to sound finished? Most songs end on the tonic or I chord that feels like returning back home.

Wynn Ann Rossi Composing Tips Videos

I love to inspire creativity during piano lessons on a regular basis. These videos by Wynn-Ann show quick tips to help get creative juices flowing in a variety of musical styles.

Wynn-Ann Rossi Composing Tips

Creature Sounds

Watch the video to learn how to improvise with "creature sounds."
Then choose an animal and create your own music to represent their sounds.

Blues/Jazz

Watch the video to learn more about the blues.  Then improvise your own bluesy song. Tips: Use Swing Rhythms, "Cherry Pie" & Triplets "Blueberry" Barrelhouse Bass- Alternate 5ths and 6ths Blues Scale Notes: C, E♭,E, F♯, G, B♭, 

Making Melodies from Scales

Watch the video to learn how to make melodies using the whole tone scale (all whole steps).

Musical Limitations

Watch the video to learn about musical patterns in composing (falling leaf or snowflake).

Portraying Emotions

Watch the video to learn more about creating music that shows emotions like happiness, sadness or curiosity.  Then try improvising or composing different emotional sounds on the keyboard. 

Rhythmic Signatures

Watch the video to learn how to create your own music with fun repeating Latin rhythms (3+3+2).

Theta Ear Training Games Organized by Concept and Level

Ear Training Online Games

Click the colored links below to play ear training games on Theta Music Trainer and sharpen your abilities to play by ear, and dictate melodies and rhythms.

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5

Scales/Interval Ear Training

Click the links to access Theta Ear Training games that help you practice identifying scale notes Do(1), Re(2), Mi(3).

Paddle Tones- What scale note did you hear? Do(1), Re(2), Mi(3) etc.

Tone Drops- What scale note did you hear? Do(1), Re(2), Mi(3) etc.

Three Tones- Can you play the melodic pattern you heard (3 notes)?

Melodic Drops- Hear notes played separately. Identify the interval.

Parrot Phrases - Can you play the melodic pattern you heard from a 1-octave scale?

Tonal Recall - Can you match the pitches in the sound memory game? Hint: Watch the squares as the scale is played at the beginning to try and remember where scale pitches are like Do(1), Re(2), Mi(3) etc.

Harmonic Balloons- Hear notes played at the same time. Identify the interval.

Number Blaster - Practice identifying scale tones and chord symbols. Tip: scale tones are labeled with numbers (1,2,3,4,5, etc.) and chords are labeled with Roman numerals (I, ii, iii, IV, V, etc.).

Chords Ear Training

Flash Cadences - Click the link to play a game to review cadences. Hint: Perfect Authentic Cadences end with the tonic (1st note of the scale) in the melody and as the root of the bass.

Speaker Chords - Identify which chord you hear in the progressions (I, IV, & V Chord ).

Rhythmic Dictation

Flash Rhythms - Practice identifying the matching rhythm pattern that you hear.

Rhythm Puzzles - Click the link to play Rhythm Puzzles and select the matching rhythm measure that you hear. Hint: You'll hear the metronome click on the rests. 

Free Printable Music Jeopardy and Timeline- 4 Musical Eras

4 Musical Eras of Keyboard Music.

As you watch the video below, draw pictures on your music era timeline to represent unique facts about the music in each of the 4 musical eras. 

Musical Eras and Characteristics

Medevial:

Renaissance: 1:30 What is polyphony?

Baroque: 2:34 What is counterpoint?

Classical:4:00  What is homophonic?

Romantic: 5:00 How is Romantic music different from classical?

Contemporary/Modern: 6:04  What is dissonance?

Music Jeopardy: Music History Eras

Review the music era facts you have learned by playing this Free Music Jeopardy Printable Game with a group.

Musical Things Baroque Period

Baroque Era Music

 Choose a video below to learn more about the Baroque Era of Music.
Musical Things Baroque

Classic FM About Baroque

Fill out your musical timeline including 3 composers and 3 facts about Baroque music.

Additional Resources About Baroque Music
Leila Viss Get Inspired: Go Baroque! - Videos, Games

Chrissy Ricker Baroque Period - Biographies, Listening Activities, Sheet Music