You can create a lot of activities for your studio by getting just one music staff dry-erase board. Here is how I use this in my studio. The post Activities with a Music Staff Dry-Erase Board appeared first on Piano with Lauren.
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I enjoy using games and activities in my piano lessons. Just try saying “Let’s play a game!” and see how your student responds.
I have about three big drawers of games at my studio. However, I don’t think you need a lot of games or supplies to be able to create activities for students. If you have just one music staff dry-erase board, you can create a lot of activities from just that one item.
The activities with a music staff dry-erase board can be tailored to the age of the student. I have found that all students enjoy drawing on the board! Younger students often feel like a teacher when they get to draw on the board. I know children love drawing on the board at school. Purchase more than one board and you will be able to do these activities in a group setting.
This particular board has both a side with staves and a side that is totally blank. I recommend you have:
- Music Staff Dry-Erase Board
- Dry-Erase Markers
- An Eraser (a paper towel or cloth works just fine too)
Here are some ideas for using your music staff dry-erase board:
#1 – Practice the Musical Alphabet
- Have the student write out The Musical Alphabet going up or down on the board.
- Draw one letter on the board, and ask the student to write a step up from that letter. Continue writing a letter on the board and ask the student to draw a step up, step down, skip up, or skip down from that letter.
#2 – Practice Drawing Notes or Symbols
- Show students how to draw line notes and space notes correctly on the staff.
- Practice drawing rests and clefs in the correct place on the staff.
- Advanced students can practice drawing quarter notes with steps up or down on the staff. Show students that stems go down starting at the third line on the staff.
- Draw a note and ask the student to add a sharp, flat, or natural to the note. Practice drawing accidentals very neatly as they should go on the staff.
#3 – Note Names
- Draw notes on either clef and ask the student to write the letter name.
- Write a letter and ask the student to draw that note on the treble and the bass clef.
- Make this activity a game by creating words for the student to name. Some words you can create with note names include: FACE, EGG, ACE, ADD, AGE, BAD, BEAD, CAGE, DAD, etc.
- Practice ledger line notes.
#4 – Intervals
- Draw a note on the staff and ask the student to draw up a second from that note. You can practice any interval by doing this and any direction.
- Draw intervals and label them. Ask the student to check your work. Students love marking things that are wrong! It’s like being the teacher.
#5 – Practice Drawing Scales or Chords
- For beginning students, write the letter names of a scale. Ask them to add any sharps or flats if needed.
- Older students can draw a scale one octave on the staff in whole notes.
- Write a letter and ask the student to draw that chord.
- Advance chord drawing by asking the student to draw root position, first inversion, or second inversion chords.
#6 – Practice Key Signatures
- Draw a key signature and ask the student to write the letter name.
- Write the name of the key and ask the student to draw the key signature.
- Do this with major or minor keys.
#7 – Rhythm Practice
- Draw a rhythm and ask the student to write the time signature.
- Draw a rhythm with a time signature but leave some measures incomplete. Ask the student to complete the measure with one note. Repeat the exercise using rests.
#8 – Fun with Terms
- Demonstrate a term on the piano. For example, play something loud. Ask the student to draw the symbol for what you are doing. A student should draw the symbol for forte.
- Make it even more fun by having the student draw their own term and tell you to demonstrate it. If the student needs help, give them a word bank to choose from.
- This can be down with dynamic symbols, articulation, or even tempo.
Did you think of something to do with your music staff dry-erase board? Feel free to leave a comment and share it with me!
The post Activities with a Music Staff Dry-Erase Board appeared first on Piano with Lauren.
