The idea of this activity is to develop pupils’ understanding and confidence with keyboard geography. I use my laser pointer to point at the grid squares and ask them to play the notes shown without looking at their hands (they wear an apron for fun!).
There are different levels of difficulty and I cross off the squares they’ve achieved or cover them with small sticky notes.
Use this simple game to test your pupils’ understanding of stepwise movement on the stave along with key Landmark Notes. Pupils take turns with their teacher to throw the die and move from Low F to High G, but if they land on a Landmark Note then there will be a consequence!
If laminated or printed onto card you could play it while sitting with the pupil at the piano - all you’ll need is a die and Blue Tac stuck to buttons.
Use these chord prompts to help piano pupils learn the structure of major and minor chords. They can be placed behind any starting note and are best either printed onto card or laminated.
Print and cut out these pentascale prompts to help piano pupils learn the structure of major and minor pentascales. Best printed onto card or laminated, they can be placed behind any starting note.
I use these for extra reinforcement with my pupils as they begin to understand the mechanics of scales. They’re also really useful to aid discussion and to practise the patterns on the fallboard.
I use these games as a quick fun activity to help reinforce key concepts. Best laminated and each sheet printed four or five times. Then played as a typical game of ‘snap’ and as quickly as possible!
I use this with my beginner pupils to help reinforce finger numbers and hand/finger shape. The idea is that they follow the activities in order, creatively improvising thinking about the badger’s activity and the graphic symbols shown. I encourage them to use the whole piano and to vary their tempo and dynamics.
Use these sheets to help pupils develop their skills in intervallic note reading. They can be used in any clef and I usually ask pupils just to use the 2nd finger of their left/right hand (if playing the piano!)
This cute worksheet is to help pupils recognise their intervals (unison, 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths). Something cute is hiding in the grid and pupils will need to use the correct colours to find out what it is!
I use these with my beginner students to allow them to learn and appreciate celebrated piano music by key composers. I’ve included some basic facts and a very simple accompaniment that they can play along with. Useful for reinforcing and practising note/key finding along with keeping a steady beat.
I print out this wheel and stick it in pupils’ technique books. Once a pentscale has been mastered (major or minor), they are allowed to colour in either the circle (for the major keys) or the segment (for the minor keys). They can then see their progress and aim to ‘collect the set’.
It could also be used for them to demonstrate mastery of full scales, chords, arpeggios etc.
Use this colourful picture to help inspire pupils with their improvisations. The suggsted rhythmic patterns could be used along with the tempo and dynamics, or pupils could adapt as they wish. Lots of opportunity for musical conversation and revision of key techniques and terms.
This cute sheet can be used in a number of ways to guide pupils in their improvisations. It includes suggested rhythm patterns, dynamics and articulation, and will encourage good discussion between teacher and pupil as well as a chance to focus on technique too.
Use this snakes and ladders-inspired game to help pupils practise recognising their intervals. Instead of using a die, ask them to pick up a card and recognise the interval. If correct they move that number of spaces, if incorrect they stay where they are.
If they land on a square with a cable car they can move up. Landing on an icy path means they move down!
For an alternative idea they could also play the intervals on the piano in either the bass or treble clefs.