Games for Music Lessons

Music Note Flashcards

• Music Note Flashcards test a student's music note recognition. Each card contains a note or a rest. The teacher flashes the card and the student identifies the note or rest.

  Sets that include bass clef and treble clef notes are good for piano students because they must learn both. Other sets might include either bass clef or treble clef. In that case, the set you use would depend on the student's instrument. Instruments that use the treble clef include flute and saxophone. Instruments that use the bass clef include trombones and cello.

  Sheetmusicplus.com has a large selection of music note flashcards. The cards are approprite for ages 5 years and up.

Sight Reading

• Sight Reading tests a student's ability to read music. Give your student a piece of sheet music, ideally, one she has never heard or played. Give her a minute or two to review the music, then have her play as much of the music as she can without any help from you.

  Sight reading works well in group settings when you split the class into teams. It can also be fun to play during private lessons. Sight reading games are played after a student has a firm understanding of how to read music. If the student hasn't learned to read music, she cannot sight read.

Audible Note Recognition

• Note Recognition is an ear-training game. Play a note from a recording or a live instrument. Afterwards, the student identifies the note he heard. An alternative is to play an entire scale. In the case of a scale, the student names the scale, tells if it's major or minor, and names the notes. This game is appropriate for child and adult students learning major and minor scales. Students should have a grasp of major and minor scales by their second year in music lessons.

Name That Tune

• Name That Tune requires the student to identify a piece of music. It's usually played during group lessons, but also works in private lessons. The student says how many notes he needs to name the tune. For instance, he might say he can name the tune in two notes. You then play the first two notes of the song and if the student recognizes the tune, he wins. Name that Tune is appropriate for students 10 years and older.

Find the Sound

• Find the Sound reinforces listening skills. A blindfolded student sits in the center of the room. The teacher goes aside and plays an instrument. The student then walks around the room trying to find the location of the sound.

  For safety, clear any items from the floor. The student's arms should also be outstretched.

  When the student locates the sound, she must identify the instrument. If she gets it right, the blindfold comes off and she plays an instrument for the next student. Find the Sound is appropriate for ages 5 years and up.