Kids love LEGOs. So do a lot of adults.
Not only are they a hit with pretty much everyone, but they are also one of the best and most versatile teaching aids for your music studio.
If you’re looking for a note reading game to play with your students, keep reading!
Whether you’re teaching visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, this review game will help them remember the names of the piano keys and identify notes on the staff.
Plus, it’s a lot of fun, and who doesn’t love that?
Before you get started, you’ll need these three things:
Note Reading Game Supplies
-Eight LEGO bricks (make sure they’re small enough to fit on a piano key)
-A blank piece of manuscript paper OR a dry erase board and marker
-Sheet music appropriate for the student’s level
Mark the Keys
Pick one white key/natural note to review (F, A, E, etc.). Have the student place one LEGO brick on each F, A, or E key on the piano.
Listen to the Notes
Have your student close their eyes while you play each of the marked keys from lowest to highest (or from highest to lowest, or both if that sounds like more fun). While the student’s eyes are still closed, remove the LEGOs from the keys.
Play the Notes
Have the student open their eyes and play the keys you just played (the same ones they had previously marked with LEGOs).
Draw the Notes
Have the student draw an F, A, E, or whatever note you’re reviewing on a piece of manuscript paper. If you’re using a whiteboard, draw a blank staff and have them add the correct note. For best results, review both treble and bass clef notes.
Find the Notes
Put the manuscript paper or dry erase board away and bring out the sheet music. Have your student identify the notes you’re reviewing on the page. Have them look for one in the treble clef and one in the bass. Once they have spotted the notes they’re looking for, they can play those keys on the piano again.
Repeat
Try again with a different note. You can also review the black keys – just make sure you have some LEGOs that are small enough to fit on top of them!
Why This Note-Reading Game is Good for All Learning Styles
This game is great for learners of every kind because it incorporates the sense of sight, hearing, and touch.
Marking the keys with LEGOs helps them stand out from the other white keys, which is good for visual learners; so is drawing the notes on the staff and then pointing them out in a song.
Auditory learners will be able to focus on the sound of the notes by closing their eyes while you play each marked key. That will help them be able to match the sound when it’s their turn to play the notes.
Playing the keys and learning how they feel is a good exercise for kinesthetic learners, who need to be actively, physically involved in the learning process.
By combining all of these steps, you’re sure to help your student no matter which learning style (or combination of styles) he or she leans toward.
What is your favorite note reading game? Have you ever used LEGOs? Leave a comment and let us know!