Student Achievements Record

This printable is designed for the teacher to keep records of each students’ achievements, including the completion of music books, the completion of notable pieces of repertoire, the performance of a piece for an audience, and other achievements.  Keeping such a record is helpful for the teacher to track and evaluate student progress and participation from year to year.

Suggested use: print a page for each student and keep the pages in alphabetical order in a 3-ring binder.

Enjoy!

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Just added to the Printables > Worksheets page:

Scales & Primary Chords 4 (DbC#GbF#) Worksheet

This worksheet is a continuation of set of worksheets that practice writing out scales and primary chords on the staff (click here to view the first one which is for the keys C, G, D, and F, click here to view the second one which is for D, A, E, and Bb, or click here to view the third one which is for Bb, Eb, Ab, and B).

Ideally, this worksheet is designed for the intermediate+ student who is already familiar with the scales and primary chords for the keys of Db, C#, Gb, and F# major, and perhaps could use some review in writing them out on the staff.  However, this worksheet could also be used during a group lesson while introducing these ideas for the first time.

Terms/concepts covered in the worksheet:

• An understanding of key signatures for Db, C#, Gb, and F# major.
• Practice writing out scales.
• Practice writing out primary chords.

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 3 (BbEbAbB)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines #2
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines Worksheet #1

Just added to the Printables > Worksheets page:

Scales & Primary Chords 3 (BbEbAbB) Worksheet

This worksheet is a continuation of set of worksheets that practice writing out scales and primary chords on the staff (click here to view the first one, which is for the keys C, G, D, and F, or click here to view the second one, which is for D, A, E, and Bb).

Ideally, this worksheet is designed for the intermediate+ student who is already familiar with the scales and primary chords for the keys of Bb, Eb, Ab, and B major, and perhaps could use some review in writing them out on the staff.  However, this worksheet could also be used during a group lesson while introducing these ideas for the first time.

Terms/concepts covered in the worksheet:

• An understanding of key signatures for Bb, Eb, Ab, and B major.
• Practice writing out scales.
• Practice writing out primary chords.

One more worksheet in this set is on the way!

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 4 (DbC#GbF#)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines #2
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines Worksheet #1

Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet

This worksheet is a continuation of set of worksheets that practice writing out scales and primary chords on the staff (click here to view the first one, which is for the keys C, G, D, and F).

Ideally, this worksheet is designed for the intermediate+ student who is already familiar with the scales and primary chords for the keys of D, A, E, and Bb major, and perhaps could use some review in writing them out on the staff.  However, this worksheet could also be used during a group lesson while introducing these ideas for the first time.

Terms/concepts covered in the worksheet:

• An understanding of key signatures for D, A, E, and Bb major.
• Practice writing out scales.
• Practice writing out primary chords.

Two more worksheets in this set are on the way!

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just added: Performing at the Piano Worksheet
• Just Added: Navigating at the Keyboard Worksheet
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines #2
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines Worksheet #1

“Listen & Sign” Game Printable

This printable corresponds to the game originally described in this post – a game I used in a Piano Mini-Camp held about a month ago.

This game is a nice and quiet game – but still loads of fun! – for students to play.  This game may be best for small groups of students (3-5), simply because you need to print and assemble enough signs so that each student has their own pair of signs (one Different/Same sign, and one Major/Minor sign).

Directions for playing the game follow the assembling instructions below.

Game Objective:

• To develop the students’ aural skills for discriminating “different” and “same” musical examples as well as “major” and “minor” musical examples.  

Instructions for assembly:

• Print the pdf file.
• Cut out each sign.  Be careful not to cut on the line the long vertical line on the page – that is the folding line!  Only cut along the line that separates the Major/Minor sign from the Same/Different sign.  (See photo at the right to see correct cut-out of the Major/Minor sign.)  Laminating the signs at this step is recommended.
• Using large wooden sticks, create handles using craft glue or super glue.  If you find wooden sticks that are large enough (sometimes called “puppet sticks”), all you will need to do is glue each stick inside the fold of the sign.  Because I was unable to find large enough wooden sticks to do this, I had to get creative.  =/  To get a better idea of how I created my handles, take a look at the collage picture below.  To create each handle, I used three-and-a-half wooden sticks, layered in the manner pictured in order to increase durability.  It’s not ideal, but it works.

Click to enlarge.

“Listen & Sign” Game Directions:

These directions might seem rather complicated, but actual gameplay is pretty easy:

1. Give each student a two-sided sign that read, “Same” and “Different.”
2. At the piano, play two examples of a melody, rhythm, or succession of chords.
3. Instruct the students to identify whether the two examples were the same or different by holding up their sign with the correct side facing you.
4. Continue playing pairs of examples for the students.  Sometimes play the examples the same, and sometimes make them different in some way.  Instead of always making the examples different by changing the notes you play, you may also variate the examples in other ways, such as: forte vs. piano; staccato vs. legato; high vs. low register on the piano; etc.  After the students correctly identify each example as same or different using their signs, you may wish to ask the students to explain how the examples they heard were different.
5. After 5-7 minutes, swap out the Same/Different signs for the Major/Minor signs.
6. As described in steps 2 and 4, play musical examples on the piano for the students – but this time, students only have to identify whether they are major or minor.  Examples can be melodies, chords, five-finger patterns, scales, arpeggios, etc.

I hope you enjoy the game!

Related Posts:

• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (2/3)
• Just added: Performing at the Piano Worksheet
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (3/3)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)

Rhythm Dictation Game

This rhythm dictation game by Natalie was a real hit with the students!  I printed off two sets of cards and put the students into groups of two so that they could work together.  Here’s how the game works:

• Instruct the students to sort/spread out the cards on the floor so they can see the different rhythmic value options.
• Clap a rhythm for the students.  Instruct them to listen and be able to clap it back to you before beginning to dictate the rhythm using the cards.  This may take a few listens before they can clap it back accurately.
• Tell students to work together within their team to dictate the rhythm using the cards.

I tried to clap rhythms according to the approximate level of the groups of students I was teaching, and increased the difficulty of each rhythm as they became accustomed to the process.  I also tried to vary the time signatures between 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4.  I kept the rhythms to just 2 measures long, unless we were in 2/4 time or unless the students were more advanced.

I think it’s important to have the students be able to clap the rhythm back in its entirety before beginning to dictate it using the cards, because it helps increase their musical memory.  Otherwise, they will dictate only 1 or 2 beats at a time, and constantly be asking you to “do it again!”  If they can remember it themselves, they can then re-clap it to themselves as needed as they work on dictating it.

On the last of day of camp, the students had just made their own egg shakers during the opening fifteen minutes of camp – so I had them “shake” their rhythm instead of clapping.

In retrospect, I recommend removing all the rhythm value cards that the students won’t be using.  The beginner students were sometimes distracted and confused by the dotted quarter notes and single eighth notes (which they have not learned yet).  Simpler is better when it comes to beginners!

The students absolutely LOVED playing this game, and I think it was very valuable for them because it not only builds their inner musical ear/musical memory, but also builds their understanding of how rhythms and time signatures work.  (Thanks Natalie!)

With the older students on the last day of camp, I had them dictate rhythms on paper using Natalie’s Rhythm Dictation worksheet instead of using the cards from the game.  It was a great way to build upon what they had been doing the past two days.

Listen & Sign Game

This game is one I created myself: a Listen & Sign game (for lack of a better title.  Ideas, anyone?).

This game was a welcome relief from the previous activities because it was much quieter!  The students tended to get excited and a little bit loud with the last game (which I didn’t mind very much because they were learning and having fun).  However, it was also really nice (for me) to have a quiet game too!

Each student was given a two-sided sign that read, “Same” and “Different.”  At the piano, I played two examples of a melody, rhythm, or succession of chords and the students were instructed to identify whether the two examples were the same or different.

This game was a great way to pull together the various activities we did over the three days and review them in a different format.   I played 5FPs and scales, varying them by making one major and one minor, in order to pull from / build on the gem notes on staff & keyboard activity we did earlier in the day.  And the rhythmic examples related to the rhythm dictation game we played.  I also varied the examples using forte versus piano, high versus low register, legato versus staccato, etc.  After holding up their signs to identify whether the examples were the same or different, I asked them to tell me how the examples were different.

I also created signs that read “Major” and “Minor” which we tried out after using the “Same” and “Different” ones.  Again, I played 5FPs and scales, but mostly I played little melodies/ditties.  The students loved it when I played the opening four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth.  =)

This game moves pretty quickly – I wouldn’t recommend doing it for more than 5-7 minutes otherwise you may lose the students attention.

Coming soon: a new printable and a short tutorial with pictures explaining how to create your own set of signs for the Listen & Sign game!

Related Posts:

• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (2/3)
• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (1/3)
• Just Added: “Listen & Sign” Game Printable
• Opening Piano Mini-Camp Activities
• Group Piano Class Ideas

Music Adventures Board Game

In my music theory classes, one of my goals was to cover as many areas within the broad scope of “music theory” as I could.  The gem stones activity covered 5FPs/scales/key signatures; the rhythm dictation game covered rhythm and ear training, and the Hear & Sign game covered more ear training.  This game, called “Music Adventures,” focuses mostly on music terminology, but also on note reading and identifying intervals.

You may recognize this game from the picture on the right: I created this piano-bench-sized board game earlier this year, and it is available for download on the Printables > Other Resources page.

To prepare for this game, we first quickly reviewed some music terms on the chalkboard.  Then I set the students loose in teams of 2 to play this music board game.  You can vary the length of this game by using either one die or two dice.  I had lots of things I wanted to do in my 30-minute classes, so I gave each team two dice.  We played this game one time, on the second day of camp.

Susan Paradis’ Music Bingo

I used Susan’s Music Bingo game at a group lesson about a year ago and it was a huge hit, and I thought this was a good opportunity to use it again!  I used this game on the last day of camp, and it was quite a fun way to end the day.

To cover the spaces on the Bingo sheet, instead of using the red markers picture on the right we used the same colored glass stones that we used for the gem notes on keyboard & staff activity.  One less thing to haul along from home with me to camp.  =)

Stay tuned – there is one more post about our music theory activities coming soon!

Related Posts:

• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (3/3)
• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (1/3)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Just Added: “Listen & Sign” Game Printable
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)

Piano Lessons Flyer Template (.doc)

Advertise for new piano students by filling in this free Piano Lessons Flyer Template!  Just edit and print in Microsoft Word (.doc) and you’ll be ready to post your flyers all over town.

Directions

1. Download the Piano Lessons Flyer Template from the Printables > Studio Business page.
2. Open the file in Microsoft Word and edit the file so that your own information is entered.
3. Print the file.  Using a pair of scissors, cut vertical lines from the bottom of the page (as marked) so that interested students/parents can rip off a tab with your name and contact information.
4. You are ready to post your flyers all over town!

View the flyer template large below:

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Music Theory at our Piano Mini-Camp (2/3)
• Just Added: Lesson & Payment Record Chart
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just added: Piano Recital Program Template #1 (.doc)

Lesson & Payment Record Chart 2010-2011 (3 page pdf; click to view)

Summertime is a great time to do some planning for the next academic year of teaching!  As you can see, I’ve been keeping busy…..  This chart is designed for the 2010-2011 year in mind, starting in September.

What this chart records:

This chart provides a simple way to track student attendance/absences for lessons and tuition payments.

How to use this chart:

In the first column, enter your students’ names.  At each lesson, enter the lesson date (e.g., 9/14) corresponding with that week of lessons.  If the student misses a lesson for some reason, that box may be marked with a slash, or left blank so that the make-up lesson date may be later written in.  Any lessons that are paid for should be marked with a checkmark in each little circle.  Please see the up-close picture below for an example.

The 3 pages of this chart can be easily 3-hole punched and placed in a 3 ring binder, for maximum convenience when teaching.

I hope some of you find my chart useful!

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)
• Just added: Piano Recital Program Template #1 (.doc)
• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• Just added: Performing at the Piano Worksheet
• Just Added: Navigating at the Keyboard Worksheet

>  Scales & Primary Chords Worksheet 1 (CGDF)

Ideally, this worksheet is designed for the intermediate+ student who is already familiar with the scales and primary chords for the keys of C, G, D, and F major, and perhaps could use some review in writing them out on the staff.  However, this worksheet could also be used during a group lesson while introducing these ideas for the first time.

Terms/concepts covered in the worksheet:

• An understanding of key signatures for C, G, D, and F major.
• Practice writing out scales.
• Practice writing out primary chords.

Watch for the next worksheet coming soon, covering D, A, E, and Bb major!

Related Posts:

• Just Added: Scales & Primary Chords 2 (DAEBb) Worksheet
• NEW Printables Added: Review Tests A-J plus a Guide
• Just added: Performing at the Piano Worksheet
• Just Added: Navigating at the Keyboard Worksheet
• Just Added: Write In The Barlines #2