Category Archives: music theory

Just Added: Musical Flashcard Sorting game

By joy (admin) | Published: 16 December 2011

This is a simple game to play with groups of students that makes note-naming flashcards a bit more interesting.   It involves sorting the flashcards onto alphabet letter signs on the floor, as pictured on the right (the “A” flashcards would go in the blank space on the right side of the page). The game [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, games, other resources, piano camps, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just Added: Large Staff for Simple Compositions

By joy (admin) | Published: 4 November 2011

With my Piano Readiness Class, we’ve been learning about staff notation.  Last week, each student composed a mini-composition on the piano and then we together notated the piece.  We used colorful markers to label the notes (A, B, C, etc) and also wrote in finger numbers, so they can continue playing their compositions at home. [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, composition, other resources | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Purchases: Scale Blocks & A Technique Monkey

By joy (admin) | Published: 3 November 2011

I don’t know about you, but I’m always on the lookout for creative and inexpensive items for my teaching.  The dollar store is one of my favorite places to go! In the craft aisle at Dollar Tree right now, there are packages of foam cubes, as shown in the picture.  I’ve always wanted to make [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, games, private lessons, resources / links, settings:, studio class / group lessons, technique, what I'm up to | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Just Added: Musical Alphabet Cards

By joy (admin) | Published: 28 October 2011

There are others who have shared alphabet card printables similar to what I’m posting today, but I’m adding mine to the mix anyway.  :)  I wanted some that would work well to print onto colored cardstock paper.  Since I don’t have a color printer, this is an easy way I can still get colorful things [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, early childhood music, games, group keyboard classes, other resources, piano camps, printables, private lessons, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Updated: Scale & Arpeggio Fingering (2 Octaves) Reference Sheet

By joy (admin) | Published: 24 June 2011

Some of you may remember the Scale & Arpeggio Fingering reference sheet I posted in December of 2010. About a month ago, a friendly reader made some very helpful suggestions for improvement, and so I spent quite a bit of time revising the printable. It’s called “Scale and Arpeggio Fingering for Piano (2 Octaves)” and [...]

Also posted in adult students, advanced level, intermediate level, other resources, practicing, printables, private lessons, technique | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Added: Introduction To The Staff Worksheet

By joy (admin) | Published: 4 April 2011

A new worksheet has just been added to the Printables > Worksheets page called: Introduction To The Staff Worksheet This worksheet is appropriate for beginners who are ready to be introduced to staff notation.  It is appropriate for use in both private and group settings. Terms used in this worksheet: line notes space notes treble [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, printables, private lessons, studio class / group lessons, worksheets | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Q&A Forum | Do your students undergo standardized testing?

By joy (admin) | Published: 22 February 2011

Last week we had some great replies to the question about what level of recital music to assign. Here’s our new forum question for this week!  I have really enjoyed hearing you responses the last few weeks.  Keep it up! Do your students undergo standardized testing?  Why or why not?  If you do, which testing(s) do [...]

Also posted in Forum Q&A's, recitals / performances | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Musical Jenga!

By joy (admin) | Published: 31 January 2011

I did it!  I created my own Musical Jenga game. I got the inspiration from the Sing A New Song blog, who in turn got the idea from someone on the Faber Piano Adventures forums. (To view a list of other favorite games with musical spins, click here.) I found an off-brand version of the Jenga game [...]

Also posted in beginners / elementary Level, games | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Free Lead Sheets: Wikifonia.org

By joy (admin) | Published: 29 November 2010

NOTE TO VISITORS: I am not the owner of wikifonia.org.  Like you, I am simply a fan of wikifonia.  When wikifonia.org is down, please do not leave comments or send me emails asking me when it will be back up.  I don’t know any more about it than you do. Thanks! I came across an [...]

Also posted in by student's level, intermediate level, repertoire/methods, resources / links | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

DIY: Musical AlphaGems

By joy (admin) | Published: 8 November 2010

I recently have made what I have decided to call “Musical AlphaGems.”  These fun little gems have many uses: they fit well on my DIY Silent Mini Keyboards and also work well on paper printed of the staff (such as this one by Susan Paradis, which is pictured in the second photo below). I got [...]

Also posted in games, other resources, piano camps, settings:, studio class / group lessons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
Rss Feed Tweeter button Facebook button Technorati button Linkedin button Webonews button Delicious button Digg button Stumbleupon button Newsvine button Youtube button