Familiarizing Students with the Concept of Naming Piano Keys
A few years back, I was teaching Music Mind Games at a music camp for string students. As some of them were unfamiliar with the keyboard, I made up this game using magic notes and paper pianos. The games I happened to be teaching that day were DS-6 "Daily Do" with Paper Pianos and SK-5 Ho Ho Laugh – C Major Scale.
First, I taught them how to find all the C's (do) on their paper pianos. Please see game SK-1 Wiggling Black Keys.
Then we played the game:
- "Everyone, please place one red magic note on top of your head."
- "Lean forward slightly so the magic note falls off your head and onto your paper piano."
- *Plop, plop, plop, plop* (the sound of magic notes falling)
- "If it lands on C (do), call out 'C!' If it's not on C, pick it up, put it back on your head, and repeat."
- "Carry on!"
Another version of this game
Drop a handful of magic notes on the paper piano
Identify all the red magic notes that landed on a C (do)
Remove magic notes, leaving only the magic notes on C (do)
Identifying all the notes on the paper piano
The pink magic note on A (la) is a stand-in for the two magic notes (blue on top of purple) that represent indigo.
