I love to start piano lessons with short games to introduce or review theory concepts. I find there are a lot of free piano games for beginners but not as many options that review intermediate level concepts.
Since I could not find a game covering the concept of identifying 7th chords and different chord qualities, I designed this Chord Match Memory Game on canva.com and created free printable flashcards.
This quick game helps intermediate piano students to learn about triads and 7th chords with visual reminders of the intervals used to build various chord qualities
A few tips can help students quickly identify various chord qualities
Practicing chords doesn't have to be boring. I love to pair chord practice with pop songs since the majority of pop songs are limited to just 3 or 4 chords.
Although pop songs can have some pretty complicated rhythms for beginning piano students, they can enjoy accompanying YouTube videos with an understanding of chord symbols. Or they can sing along as they play the accompaniment. Choosing songs that they are familiar with really ups their ambition to practice and helps with audiation.
With so many different elements to teach in music lessons, it can be challenging to fit it all in. This year I've invited my piano students to complete a challenge each month that goes along with our monthly group lesson focus.
Although these concepts are woven into lessons throughout the year, having a focus theme and deadline makes it more likely for them to boost their skills. And it makes lesson planning simpler as the teacher!
If they successfully complete at least 10 challenges a year from this Piano Challenge Chart they get a surprise reward at the last Spring Group Lesson.
Monthly Piano Challenge Focus Topics
Notenaming/Interval ID
Pass off a new level for the One Minute Club Challenge by naming and playing notes quickly.
Bronze: Bass F-Treble G
Silver: Bass C- Treble C
Gold: Bass G- Treble F
Master: Grand Staff + Ledger Lines
Susan Paradis Notes in the Fast Lane Sheets are gradually leveled and easier than flipping flashcards for this activity.
The Expert Ears Challenge Free Printable includes links to activities students can try at home or during piano lab to prepare for their listening tests.
This Free Printable Terms and Signs Study Sheets includes terms and signs definitions and symbols for various levels.
Scales/Chords and Chord Progressions
I love to use the scale level charts from Colourful Keys that help students track their progress of playing chord progressions and scales in various keys throughout the year.
This Keyboard Skills Challenge Free Printable includes a variety of options to boost students chord and scale skills including some fun creative improv examples.
Rhythm
Complete the next level of Rhythm Boss on the Rhythm Swing app or
When I discovered this energetic new music video from the Truman Brothers this morning I had the itch to play along on the piano. While I don't have the music, I found it perfect as a "backing track" for a little A-flat improvisation. It could even be used for scale practice although I find improvising much more exciting!
Steps for Pop Song Style Piano Improvisation
Identify the Key.
This often can be done by matching the first or last pitch of the song on the piano. "Higher"is in A-flat. To improvise, start simply by creating melodies using the notes from the Aflat pentascale (A flat, Bflat, C, Dflat, Eflat). Later expand to include any note from the 1 octave scale.
Listen for repetitive elements in the song that you can incorporate in your own music.
I love the frequent bass IV-I Pattern from this song played in the intro. The simplicity of primary chords (I, IV, and V) with an occasional vi chord is common for pop style songs. You could simply play a Db followed by Ab in the bass or play octaves for a richer sound. Add in a few V chords or octaves for variety. To create a pop or rock feel, play repetitive measure quarter notes in the left hand.
For example. Ab-Ab-Ab-Ab then Db Db Db Db or Eb Eb Eb Eb.
Match the mood.
This pop style song has a steady drumming pulse that can be imitated by repetitive I, IV or V notes in the bass line with syncopated rhythms in the melody line. Choose a few of your favorite rhythm patterns in the song and imitate them as you improvise.
In the key of A flat the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of scale are all you need in the bass line.
I-Aflat
IV=Dflat
V= Eflat
Here's my brief unrehearsed piano improv in A flat Major... still in my pjs! Improvisation doesn't have to be perfect, but it can definitely be fun!
Susan Paradis Steal-a-Heart- I downloaded this game years ago and keep coming back to it every Valentine's Season because its a student favorite at piano group lessons. They love the "steal-a-heart" cards! It's a great game to review notes on the staff. I add colored stars to the back of my cards so I can easily separate them into levels. That way students of varying levels can play together and review the notes they need. To speed things up a bit I have everyone pick a card at the same time, flip it, name it to a partner for fast paced fun.
Love Somebody Chords, Dictation and Ear Training Anytime piano students can find the fun in playing chords through practical application is a win for me! The lyric sheet with chord symbols and solfa versions facilitates easier transposition. The ear training activities are ideal for either group or private piano teaching settings.
Love Somebody Solfa Ear Training Tutorial This piano teaching video tutorial includes solfa, dictation and would make a great take home or lab activity for students to try independently.
TPT No Rest for Cupid This beginner level Free Printable Rest Value Game from Teach Piano Today is a simple lesson starter to review quarter and half rests. I love how their various version of coin uncover games provide a quick and effective no review that takes the pressure off because it's disguised in a game.
Pianimation Heart Beat Dictation I actually use these heart beat boards all through the year for rhythm activities. Since Valentine's season is full of hearts, this year I thought a focus on beat and tempo would pair perfectly for February group lessons.
Love One Another Hymns Made Easy - This version of Love One Another in the Key of G in 6/8 Time requires some finger substitution, expansion and contraction, but the slow pace and relatively easy left hand
Perfect by Ed Sheeran Chords- For the teen or student choosing a pop song and having them play the chords using Ultimate Guitar Tabs can really solidify their keyboard skills. So many pop songs have a love theme, but this is one of my favorites and the repetitive I-vi- IV-V chord progressions makes it easy to play. For a challenge transpose it to the key of the original song (A-flat Major) and play along with youtube using variations of the chords. It works great with 1 octave arpeggios!
Practice
Strive for Five Piano Practice Free Printable - This adaptable piano practice incentive includes a free printable poster and post-it note heart practice trackers and could really be used any time of year, because who doesn't love to see their students practice?
A picture is worth a thousand words... at least if you are a visual learner like me! This poster for teaching chord qualities in my music studio makes the differences between chords stand out a bit more.
We've been playing several games this past month to review the half step patterns in chords. At first glance when students see 3 skipping notes on the piano, it may look like the notes are the same distance apart, but counting the half steps between the keys helps them determine the chord quality.
Major (4+3),
Minor (3+4),
Diminished (3+3)
Augmented (4+4).
Hearing Chord Qualities
Chords have a distinct sound or mood.
Major sounds Happy
Minor sounds Sad or Spooky
Diminished sounds Creepy because of the "devil's interval" or tritone
Augmented sounds Tense or Suspenseful
Ear Training Activity: Snowman Interval
Listen to the root chord played by your teacher (or on teoria) and strike a pose for the chord you heard.
Major=Stand Up Happily
Minor-Crouch Down with a Sad Face
Diminished - Melt to the Ground
Augmented - Stand on Your Tippy Toes with a Crazy Face
More Online Chord ID Practice
For more practice hearing and identifying chords choose from the following activities on teoria.com
V7 chords can be a bit tricky for students because they are often introduced in many different ways. Most method books start with an easier first inversion of V7 chords that omits a few chord tones for easier playing.
This 7th chord poster makes it easier to spot the roots and intervals to identify 7th chords and their inversions.
Quick Tips for Identifying V7 Chords
Look for the interval of the 2nd. My teacher always called these the "bumps" because one note is bumped to the side. The top "bump" is the letter name or root of the chord.
To identify the inversion, imagine the notes are running a race to the top of the staff.
In first inversion the "root bump" is in 1st place.
For 2nd inversion the "bump" falls to 2nd place.
For 3rd inversion the "bump" is in 3rd place.
V7 chords are often followed by a I chord in music. The interval of a 2nd in the V7 chord provides the tension and I chord feels like you are returning home to peace.
V7-Root Position 7th Chord
7th chords can also be identified by the intervals of the "bump notes."
7th chords in root position are easy to spot because they look like a tall snowman with four snowballs instead of the three you see stacked up in a triad. The root is on the bottom and with the highest note a 7th above it.
V6/5-1st Inversion 7th Chord
The root jumps up to the top of the chord in first inversion.
The resulting intervals are a 3rd, 5th and 6th.
The abbreviated chord symbol is V6/5
V4/3-2nd Inversion 7th Chord
Intervals above the lowest note include a 3rd, 4th and 6th.
The abbreviated chord symbol is V4/3
V2-3rd Inversion 7th Chord
Intervals above the lowest note include a 2nd, 4th and 6th
The abbreviated chord symbol is V2
Additional Resources for Learning About 7th chords
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