Materials
1. Printed game board and flashcards (cut up flashcards)
2. A place marker for each player (such as a coin)
Instructions
1. Use all the flashcards or select the ones that are at your students’ level
2. Start at the top of the board with your game pieces. Pick a flashcard and identify the note, move your game piece to the letter name on the board.
Download Help The Dolphin Get Home
Supplies:
1. Print-outs of “Toss a Penny” treble and bass clef sheets (see below)
2. 8 pennies
Instructions:
Have your student toss pennies onto the paper and name the note it lands on. If they get the note correct they can put the penny on one of the faces below the staff. Play until all eight faces are filled up!
Download JWY Toss A Penny! (Treble and Bass Clef)
To play this game of tic-tac-toe the student must first count and play the rhythm in the space they want to use. You can also make your own board using with rhythms from songs you are working on.
Download PDF of Rhythmic Tic-Tac-Toe
I have found that describing dotted quarter notes in mathematical terms can cause confusion with younger students, and was so pleased to come across this great method for demonstrating them with silly putty. The game starts with only 8th notes and quarter notes, you then stretch the silly putty over to demonstrate the value of a dotted quarter note. Please view the entire blog from Pianimation here: Sensory Spotlight: Dotted Quarter Rhythms.
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Speech & Language Pathologist, Alisha Sanchez (who has a background in working with kids with autism spectrum disorders, including PDD-NOS and Aspergers disorder) about the best ways to teach kids on the autism spectrum. Below are some of her recommendations for setting up successful lesson plans for students on the spectrum. Always defer to the parents’ proposed strategy for teaching as every child is unique.
Schedule– Having a visual schedule can be extremely helpful. Make sure your student knows what the goals are at the beginning of the lesson by writing the 3-4 things you will do on a schedule (i.e., a small whiteboard). Stick to the schedule and cross off each event as it’s finished.
Predictability– Maintaining the same lesson structure is important. It’s important to stick to the structure and not make promises you can’t keep. Give direct and consistent instructions.
What They Love– Find out what your student loves and base the lesson around that theme. If they love dinosaurs, play a song about dinosaurs or use dinosaur toys on the keyboard, etc.
Reward System– Set up a reward system for positive behavior. Positive reinforcement is more effective than negative reinforcement (i.e., “If you try this 5 times, you’ll get a sticker,” etc.). As time goes on you can start rewarding for bigger actions over smaller actions.
Choices– Narrow down choices to give you student a sense of ownership and responsibility (i.e., “You can choose to play your song first or play a rhythm game”).
Breakdowns– If a child on the spectrum has a breakdown, less is more when it comes to your reaction. Do not try to negotiate. Presenting clear and calm directions (i.e., “I’m going to set a timer for two minutes, and when it’s up, we’ll continue with the lesson”) is more effective than a lot of language. A timer can be very helpful in these situations.
Below are tips on handling certain etiquette situations during lessons. The most helpful aspect in maintaining great relationships with families is keeping the lines of communication open with parents. If you’re not sure, it never hurts to ask.
1. Student Behavior– It’s hard to know what to do if a student is uncooperative with you while you’re in their home. Often times it can simply be that the student is confused with the music or (especially for younger students) and needs to get up off the instrument for a minute. For students 5 yrs. and under it’s helpful to take a minute in the middle of the lesson to play upbeat music for them to jump around to. Also consider splitting up the lesson with games that reinforce concepts you’re teaching.
If it is a continuing problem, kindly speak with the parents about how this behavior is impacting the lesson – most times they want to know and may have some great suggestions.
2. Phone – Many of us use our phones to check the time during lessons or play MP3’s. Let parents know beforehand if you plan to have your phone, iPad, or computer out for lesson purposes. This way they don’t have to wonder when they walk through the room and you’re using it. It can be tempting to read a text/email that pops up, but remember that even if it seems like just a second to look at, it’s precious time you are taking your attention away from your student and also unprofessional.
3. Song Material– Sometimes parents or students will request to learn a song that is well above their skill level. If at all possible, find an “easy version” of the song, or transcribe it in a way that’s at the student’s level. If the student isn’t at the level to play any version of the song, show them what they need to work on to get to that song. This way they can remain excited about the piece of music and have more reason to work towards it.
4. Saying Goodbye– It’s important to say goodbye to parents not only to be polite and fill them in on the lesson, but also to make sure the child is under supervision when you leave.
5. Timeliness– We all know it’s not a perfect science traveling between lessons, and lateness can occur. Whenever possible give yourself extra time to get to lessons. Be sure to have the parents’ cell on hand in case you are running late. If you are running a few minutes behind it’s always courteous (and appreciated) to give a call or text. Even if you think they won’t mind, it’s professional to give a quick call. If you are chronically running late to a lesson due to travel time be sure to speak with your point of contact about re-arranging your schedule.
6. Chatting After Lesson– Sometimes parents want to keep chatting after a lesson and may not realize you are on a tight schedule in between lessons. If a parent is keeping you from a lesson by wanting to keep chatting, you can politely say that you’d love to stay longer but have got another lesson. You could then offer to email/call the next day if they have any further questions about the lesson.
7. Shoes – It seems like a small thing but especially in the winter months be weary of tracking mud into homes. As a general rule of thumb it’s courteous to take shoes off unless told it’s fine to leave them on.
8. Stopping with a Family– If you are taking a leave of absence or moving on from a family make sure they have plenty of notice. It’s always nice to schedule an official goodbye lesson and make sure they are set up with a new teacher before you stop.
Click Here to Download Rainbow Robber PDF
Players: Materials: 2 players one laminated game board, six coins, two dice, 18 playing cards
Musical Objective: To reinforce recognition of note values in 4/4 time
Game Objective: To steal coins from an opponent’s pot of gold
Setting It Up: Players should sit beside one another with the deck of cards placed between. Each player should have a die. Three coins should be placed over the squirrel image and three coins should be placed over the leprechaun image.
Playing The Game:
1) To begin, one player removes the top card from the deck and flips it over to reveal an image of a note value.
2) At this point, the game becomes a race. Step 3 below, while explained for Player 1 only, will be performed by both players simultaneously.
3) As soon as the note value in Step 1 is revealed, Player 1 determines the number of beats the note value receives in 4/4 time and then attempts to roll the corresponding number on her die.
4) The first player to roll the corresponding number on her die wins the round. If the winner is the student, a coin is taken from the leprechaun’s pot of gold and placed on the squirrel’s pot of gold. If the winner is the teacher, a coin is taken from the squirrel’s pot of gold and placed on the leprechaun’s pot of gold.
5) Players repeat Steps 1 to 4 until all of the coins have been removed from one pot of gold (the player who has lost all of her coins loses) or all cards are removed from the deck (the player with the most coins wins).
*To speed this game up I give my students 3 rolls with the dice to try to match the note value, and myself one try (they usually win quickly!). No dice? No problem! My students have been obsessed with this free virtual dice from the app store.
Instructions:
1. Teach your student the Rhythm 1, if they get it quickly teach Rhythm 2 as well.
2. Play the piece while your student performs the rhythm
3. If the piece is an appropriate level for your student, teach them to play the piece while you perform the rhythmic parts.
4. Leave them a copy of the rhythms so that they can perform with family and friends.
Download A Hero Returns
Yes, that’s right. The sentence above is Greek or maybe just Greek to some of us. One would be able to read and understand it if he only knew how to read Greek. It says that “in this department students are taught all modern styles of music.” One might ask, how is this related to music reading?
Well! When students struggle how to read music, they feel the same way, lost and helpless. Everything they see on the paper is Greek to them. Very often they will find any excuse possible not to practice and after lots of battles with the parents there comes a point where they hit a wall and quit, and unfortunately it is not their fault. It is the teacher’s fault for failing to teach them how to read properly from day one. Great music teachers around the world teach notes very early regardless of the level. In my own experience one of the most important key elements of retaining students and keeping them excited is their ability to read music. Since I teach piano I am going to be a little more specific with some tips on how to teach piano players how to develop good reading skills quickly. Good reading skills not only keep students excited at all times but also help them develop great technique if combined with the right exercises that include the notes that students are learning. However, these techniques can be applied to the teaching of other instruments as well.
Here are a few steps:
Flash cards
Start by having students memorize treble clef flash cards and focus only from C4 (middle C) to G4 for the left hand, and from C5 to G5 for the right hand. This can be done with all students even the very young beginners regardless their level of playing, motor skills and their hand position. Make sure that eventually a two-octave treble clef range is mastered before bass clef is introduced. This is what great piano teachers/masters like Clementi, Czerny and Beyer did and always produced great players.
Using the same notes, create your own 4 measure exercises first for one hand at a time or use the book “Beyer opus 101.” Teaching the student to practice one hand at a time is very important. It will help students to play with confidence and accuracy at all times.
Technology
Since students are surrounded by technology nowadays, use iPads (of course with the permission of parents). There are many apps and even free websites such as musictheory.net that can be used during lessons or as weekly assignments. However, I would strongly recommend using the flash cards first to memorize the notes. The apps should be used only as supplementary practice tools.
Solfege
When Rhythmic and Melodic Solfege become a part of the lesson from the very beginning it helps students read rhythm and notes with confidence.
Sightreading
Unprepared exercises boost the confidence and the self-esteem of students if done regularly. Exercises should always be much easier than the exercises students practice during the week and don’t always have to be for both hands.
These are my tips for this week my dear colleagues. Don’t forget we’re responsible to give students a great learning experience by always making sure that students understand music as a language. If they don’t understand it, it will always end up becoming a battle and will only result in student quitting music.
I made this game for any student who desperately wants a puppy (or just needs help with rhythmic values :-)).
Game Materials:
1. Game board for each player (or just race the clock with one board)
2. Rhythm cards (cut up)
3. 18 pennies for each game board
4. Optional cut out of “prize dog”
Instructions: Take turns drawing rhythm cards and select the number of pennies for that value (i.e a dotted half note gets 3 pennies), place pennies on gameboard. See who fills up their board first. You can cut out big sized dogs to give to winning players 🙂
Download How Much Is That Doggie Gameboard (1 for each player)
Download Doggie Rhythm Cards
Download “Prize Puppies” Cutouts
