There are quite a few places you can download and print free music note-naming flashcards. Anne Crosby’s website and Susan Paradis’ website come to mind, for example. However, I recently realized that I wanted a set of jumbo-sized cards, to use with my Piano Readiness classes. I can hold up these jumbo-sized cards during class and my [...]
Pinterest is wonderful, isn’t it? :) While browsing Pinterest, I was inspired by this picture by the blogger Becki Lewis. Becki’s Finger Number Beanbag Game is a simple but very effective game for young beginner piano students. Students stand in front of the mat and drop the beanbag. Then, they name the finger the beanbag [...]
I’ve added a new sign to the pdf pack called “Signs for Beginner Piano,” which I originally posted in September. This new sign shows the 2 mnemonics I use when I teach piano: You can find the whole pdf on the Printables > Other Resources page, and scroll down to the S’s for “Signs for [...]
I’m back! I took a long blogging break over the holidays, but I’m super excited to be back and I have lots of things to share in the upcoming weeks! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years’. Today, I am excited to share with you about a fun game I came [...]
Remember last February when I created this DIY floor staff? I thought I’d share a little activity that shows how I used it recently with my Piano Readiness Class. (Don’t mind my cat, Coda, who totally photo-bombed this photo. :) The two students I was working with have already learned to identify high and low sounds when [...]
A new free Printable has been added to the Printables page: These cards are a great manipulative to use with young beginners when you are first introducing them to the keyboard. Students can use the cards to build a keyboard on the floor, alternating the groups of 2 and 3 black keys. Or, students can [...]
Thanks to Pinterest, I recently came across a blogger who designed some charming little finger puppets to go along with a few fingerplay songs she enjoys singing with her son! Her name is Kate, from the picklebums.com blog, and she generously offers each of the printables pictured below for free. I assembled a set of [...]
With my music homeschool class, we have been studying the instruments of the orchestra. We started this endeaver a long time ago, starting with completing the Musical Instruments Workbook. We have also used Robert Levine’s book: The Story of the Orchestra, and frequently played this review game for remembering the names/families of the instruments. When I found this “stand-up [...]
Over the last few months, I’ve created a collection of signs to use with my Piano Readiness and Homeschool Music classes: I use them during class when I am teaching or reviewing concepts. They can be useful for games too. For example, I like to have students hold up or point to the correct symbol [...]
Here’s a new worksheet I just added to the Printables page: To teach my beginner students how to draw and recognize the treble and bass clef, I created this pair of dot-to-dot worksheets for the treble and bass clefs. The dots and numbers are nice and big for little eyes to see! To download, visit [...]
I had a wonderful extended weekend in Michigan, giving my presentations and spending time with my family! Now I’m busy back at work, playing catch-up. :) However, I do have a little game I’d like to share with you today. I am not the original inventor of this game, I’m sure — but in case [...]
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
