How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2
Welcome to the How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Workbook Series - Lesson 2.
The Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A, B and C Workbook Series is the perfect theory supplement for Beginner Students (ALL ages, ANY instrument). The UMT Beginner A, B, C Series works with every Method Series and with every Learning Style.
In this Blog, we will look at how to teach the concepts in the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook Lesson 2.
Remember to read the first 2 Blogs in this Music Theory Beginner A Blog series:
Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Overview
Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 1
Join me as we explore tips and tricks to incorporate theory, ear training, sight reading and games into every lesson. Let's dive in.
How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2 - The Difference Between 2 and 3 Black Keys
It took me a long time to realize that I cannot assume that my students understand concepts that I think are obvious. For example, I used to assume that my students understood the difference between a 2 Black Key group and a 3 Black Key group. Well, not every Student will "see" that when they look at the Keyboard!
On page 10 in the Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Workbook, we start with a picture of the Black Key Groups.
Not every student will understand how to identify the Black Key Groups! So, how can we make this easy for our students?
I start with my little tub of mini-erasers. If you go to the Dollar Store, you should be able to find a package of little pencil erasers. I like the animal shaped ones. These erasers are able to be placed on the Keyboard without damaging or scratching the surface of the keys and they fit on top of a single white key (which is important for other games I like to play in the Music Theory Beginner A Series).
Before I have my students start writing the answers on Page 10, we head to the Keyboard with our little bucket of erasers and we explore how a group of Black Keys is created.
- Look at how there is a larger space (with 2 white keys) in between some of the Black Keys. This space (these 2 White Keys that are stuck together with no Black Key in the middle of them) separates the Black Keys into groups.
- Take an eraser and put it directly on each group of 2 White Keys that separate the groups of Black Keys. Be certain to place the eraser directly on top of those 2 White Keys that do not have a Black Key in between them.
- Have the student start at the bottom left of the keyboard and play the 2 White Keys that are in between each group of black keys as you go up the piano keyboard. (Remind them that "up" is a movement that goes up to the right.) I like to have the student sing "2 White Keys Together" as they play the white keys. Use fingers 2 and 3.
- Talk about what you observe. For example:
- There is a pattern of 2 Black Keys, then an eraser, then 3 Black Keys, then an eraser, then 2 Black Keys, etc.
- There is a pattern of sound when played. We start low (on the left) and our sound gets higher and higher as we go up to the right (playing the "2 White Keys Together" that are in between the groups of black keys).
How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2 - Counting the 2 and 3 Black Keys
Now that your Student sees how the Groups of 2 and 3 Black Keys are created (with the "2 White Key Space"), lets count those keys.
It is important to always count from the bottom left up to the top right!
I like to sing along with my Student as they count the Black Keys. My singing voice is definitely not going to get me on to American Idol. We just have a lot of fun seeing how low and how high we can sing as we count those Black Keys. (Do not worry about singing at the exact pitch.)
Remember that we are singing the number of Black Keys in the group, so sing "1 - 2" as you count the 2 Black Keys and sing "1 - 2 - 3" as you count the 3 Black Keys.
How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2 - "Find the Black Keys with your Eyes Closed" Challenge
Next, I like to Challenge my Students to find the groups of Black Keys with their eyes shut. It is not as easy as it sounds.
- With their eyes open, have the Student start by placing their Left Hand on the 2 Black Key Group at the very bottom left of the Keyboard. (Discuss that a full size Keyboard always starts with a single Black Key so that the lowest White Key on the piano is "A".)
- Then have the Student close their eyes, moving their fingers up to the next group of 3 Black Keys. Play that group, singing "3 Black Keys".
- Move up to the next group of Black Keys. Play and sing "2 Black Keys".
- Continue up the piano, switching to the Right Hand when they reach the middle of the keyboard.
How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2 - Pages 10 & 11 - "Try to Trick the Teacher" Game
Another fun activity to do to ensure that your Student understands the difference between the 2 Black Keys and the 3 Black Keys is to play yet another game. (I really do find that if I say "Do you want to play a game?", my Students are excited to learn.)
In the above picture, 5-year old Elodie and "Max the Turtle" (you can use any small stuffed animal) are playing "Try to Trick the Teacher".
- The Teacher turns away from the Keyboard (or closes their eyes).
- The Student and the Stuffed Animal "play" a group of 2 Black Keys or a group of 3 Black Keys (playing the keys together - at the same time).
- The Teacher has to listen and identify whether the Student and Stuffy played a group of 2 Black Keys or a group of 3 Black Keys.
- If they "Trick the Teacher", and the Teacher cannot hear whether it is 2 or 3 Black Keys, then the student has to give the Teacher a hint by playing the Black Keys separately - one at a time. Always start from the bottom left and play up to the top right. (Did you notice that we are pre-teaching Harmonic and Melodic Sounds!)
Now I do like to get a wee bit silly and I will sometimes "struggle" to hear the difference so the Student has to think about having to play the Black Keys separately. (I'm really not struggling, but I want the Student to have to think about how they can help me hear the difference.)
How to Teach Music Theory Beginner A Lesson 2 - Paged 12 & 13 - Low and High
Have you ever noticed that some Students seem to associate "Low" sounds with "Loud" sounds, and "High" sounds with "Soft" sounds?
To help them understand that Pitch (high or low) and Dynamics (loud or soft) are different concepts, I like to have them play each example 3 times.
- Using a soft sound (like our whispering voice).
- Using a medium sound (like our talking voice).
- Using a loud sound (like our yelling voice).
Before you play this activity, remind your Student that our loud sound is not a "SMASH". We never ever want to hurt the piano keyboard! Practice saying the words "soft", "medium" and "loud" using the voice that matches the sound.
To check whether the Student understands this concept, play the "Try to Trick the Teacher" game. (You will discover that I use this game a lot.)
- The Student (and the Stuffy if they want to use one) play a Low or a High group of 2 Black Keys.
- The Teacher has to "guess" whether the sound (the Pitch) is Low or High.
- Repeat with a group of 3 Black Keys.
I like to talk it out loud so that my Student "hears" what is going on in my head. This might sound like: "Hmmmm, when I sing that sound, I use a low rumbly voice like a lion, so this must be a low group of 2 Black Keys" or "When I sing that sound, I use a high squeaky voice like a mouse, so this must be a high group of 2 Black Keys".
Workbook Flashcards Game for Lesson 2
Riley's favorite Flashcard Game is Slap!
By Lesson 2, I have cut out the Flashcards on Pages 93, 94 and 95. These Flashcards are kept in a Ziploc Baggie (with Riley's name on it) at the Studio. (I leave them at the Studio to use during a lesson if books have been forgotten at home.)
Select a set of Flashcards with a matching theme. For example, for this game, I selected the Left Hand Finger Number Flashcards. We mix them up and spread them on our table. Then Riley gets to pick his slapper (I keep "Designated Slapper" Fly Swatters at each studio - these are ones that are not used to slap flies - only Flashcards).
I call out a Finger Number, and Riley has to "Slap" the correct Flashcard. You can also make this game harder and put out the Right Hand Finger Number Flashcards AND the Left Hand Finger Number Flashcards. Then call out a Hand (Left or Right) and a Finger Number. (Tip - you may need to have the student lay these Flashcards out on the floor if you do not have a table large enough for all the Flashcards.)
In the Ultimate Music Theory Flashcards System, use the UMT for Kids (1) Beginner A Flashcards and open up the Deck for Lesson 2 - Black Keys on the Keyboard. There are 100 Flashcards in this deck. For some Students, I do a "timed challenge" at the beginning of their lesson - I set my Timer for 1 minute and see how many Flashcards they can answer correctly. (I then use this minute to get their lesson materials organized.)
For some Students, this is a "Reward Game" at the end of our lesson. If they have listened respectfully during the lesson, we will have time to play our Minute Challenge at the end of our lesson. (If I have to repeatedly refocus the Student at the lesson, then we might not have time to play the Game.)
Get started here: Ultimate Music Theory Flashcards System Your partner in music theory success!
ICE - Imagine, Compose, Explore!
My Students absolutely love the ICE activity on Page 15. ICE stands for Imagine, Compose, Explore.
Have you ever seen those examples on YouTube where they show a scene from a movie without the background music, and then the same clip with the background music? (Search for Star Wars Throne Scene with and without music to see what a difference the music makes.)
When my Students get to their ICE Activity, I tell them that they are to create a short story (or song) and use the piano as their music. Their song does not have to be written down. It does not have to be long. It does not have to be complicated.
I give my example: So-La and Ti-Do jump on the Teeter Totter (RH plays 3 black keys up high; LH plays 3 black keys down low). They go up (play RH) and down (play LH) and up (play RH) and down (play LH). Then Ti-Do falls off (both hands play the 3 black keys) and they run home to their mommy (play all the black keys going down the piano).
See? Easy! Encourage your students to be creative. There is no "right or wrong" song/story here!
With a Smile and a Song,
Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren
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Keep on Learning... With a Smile and a Song!
Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren
