Music Theory Beginner A Overview
Music Theory Beginner A Overview
When a child learns to read, they also learn how to write. So, when a child learns to play an instrument by reading the music, they also must learn how to write the music!
The Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Workbook is for beginner students of all ages and instruments.
The Music Theory Beginner A Blog Series will take you through each of the 12 Lessons in this Workbook, providing you with Tips, Tricks and Games to incorporate Music Theory into your Student's lesson time.
In this Music Theory Beginner A Overview Blog, we will look at the common questions that I have been asked:
- What age are these Workbooks for?
- When do I start the Student in the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook?
- How many pages do I assign each week?
- How much time at each lesson should I plan on spending to teach the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook?
Ready? Let's go!
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - Question #1 - What Age?
My name is Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren and I am the co-author, editor and examiner for Ultimate Music Theory. I've been teaching for 50 years (I started when I was 12). I grew up with undiagnosed learning challenges and when I first discovered the Ultimate Music Theory Courses, I knew that I had found that light at the end of the tunnel for my students and especially for myself. (After years of teaching modes by stating "I don't understand this...", I cried when I completed Glory St. Germain's Chapter on modes in the Advanced Rudiments Workbook and I finally understood what a Mode was). When Glory and I wrote the Music Theory Beginner A, B, C Series, we wanted to create a series that would inspire, encourage and make it possible for any student to learn Music Theory.
Many Teachers have a preference for the "perfect age" to start students in Music. For me, my youngest students are 4 (and my oldest is currently a Senior Citizen). No matter WHAT their age, they start their Musical Journey using the Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Workbook.
My "go to rule" for starting music lessons is that the Student must be able to write their Musical Alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) Letters and they must be able to write their numbers from 1 to 4.
In the Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Workbook, the instructions are written in a simple structure. For young children who are not able to read sentences, I ask that a parent read the sentences and instructions to the child, and that the child completes the writing work.
Older students can easily read and follow the instructions on each page all by themselves.
BONUS - a parent does not need to "understand" or play music - they simply need to ensure that their young child hears them read the instructions (when they are unable to do so together). I have had so many non-musical parents share their "AHA" moments with me - those moments where they realized or understood a musical concept because they were reading the instructions to their child.
Remember - every Teacher is different. If you are not comfortable teaching 4 & 5 year old children, then don't accept that age group in your studio. One of the joys of being a self-employed Music Teacher is that you can choose what age YOU would like a child to be when they start their Music and Theory Lessons with you.
Personal Note: I feel disappointed when I hear of Teachers who do not use any Method or Theory Books when starting new students. In my opinion, teaching by "ear" is different from teaching the piano. Teaching by ear is a method of teaching that does not teach a child how to actually read and write the music.
When you are teaching a child how to read music, you need to use the appropriate music material, and that includes the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook (which will not only teach them theory concepts, but will give you lots of ideas for Ear Training, Sight Reading, Composing and Games).
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - When to start?
The main instruments that I teach are Piano and Voice. When I organize books for my new beginner students (in either Piano or Voice), the students purchase the Ultimate Music Theory Beginner A Workbook along with the method books that I use.
No matter what age you teach or what "Method Books" you use to teach the fundamentals of playing your instrument, the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook will help support the Student in learning how to read, write, and play their music.
I start the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook at the very first lesson. Lesson #1 (Pages 4 to 9) introduces finger numbers and pitch (going from low to high/high to low, going up to the right, going down to the left, etc.). No matter what instrument you are teaching, the student needs to understand Pitch and Direction!
The Music Theory Beginner A Workbook can also be used by School Teachers for Classroom Music Instruction. Students do not need to have individual keyboards. I have taught this Workbook using the one piano in the classroom, and having each student use an Ultimate Music Theory Student Whiteboard.
Personal Note: I respect copyright and I feel frustrated when I see Teachers who provide their students with photocopies of music or theory. When a piece of music or page of theory has a copyright, that means that someone has put their time and effort into writing, publishing and marketing their work. If you photocopy something from a published piece of work (that has a copyright), you are stealing from that author/composer.
We, as Teachers, have the opportunity here to teach students about the law, and the law says that it is illegal to steal. (You wouldn't walk into a grocery store, eat all the fruit and vegetables that you want to eat and then leave. ) So don't illegally photocopy music or theory!
I often hear Teachers complain that the Parent doesn't want to spend the money to buy appropriate learning material for their child. Well, guess what - if that kid signed up for Hockey, the coach wouldn't even let them on the ice without a full set of hockey gear. And believe me, Parents shell out the money to buy it. Why should learning Music be any different? In my studio, learning Music and Theory without a "full set of gear" is not an option.
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - How Many Pages to Assign
As a rule, I start by assigning 1 - 4 pages in the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook each week, with another 2 - 4 pages as "BONUS" work (which I will explain later).
My younger students (who typically work at a slower learning pace, and usually learn1 - 3 songs each week from their various Method and Fun Books) will usually be assigned 1 - 2 pages. I find that older beginner students often want to learn more songs each week and are thus capable of completing more pages of theory each week.
In order to challenge my students to choose to complete more work each week, I assign BONUS work. Bonus Pages in Theory are pages that the student can choose to do this week. They are "extra" pages.
As you can see from the picture of Nicholas with his Music Theory Beginner A Workbook, he has blue tabs sticking out of his book. Those are for his assigned theory pages. The pink tabs are his Bonus Pages - the extra pages that he can choose to do if he wants.
I am dyslexic and if I add a Fibromyalgia Brain Fog to my day, it makes it difficult for me to write numbers correctly. So, I use sticky tabs on the pages of work that the student is assigned. I also write their assignment in their Dictation Book, but I tell my students that if there is a discrepancy between what I wrote and what they THINK they are to practice based on their "Flags", they are to do what they think I meant. Why? Because I am the Queen of Boo-Boos! I will make mistakes (and we will laugh together at the silly mistakes that my mixed up brain wiring creates).
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - Bonus Tip - The Stop Sign
Have you ever had a student come in with a sad face because they got "carried away" and did a lot of extra pages in their Theory Workbook and they thought that you'd be mad? It has happened to me and I LOVE IT!!
I now place a "Stop Sign" in the Student's Workbooks so that they know where they can work to before I want them to stop.
As my 5 year old Student Flossie said, "Doing Theory is SO MUCH FUN! I want to do MORE and MORE!". (Don't you just love students like that!)
Another joy of using the Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks is that Students can easily do extra "Yo-Yo" work. "Yo-Yo" is "You're On Your Own". When a student loves to do extra work (even more than the Bonus Pages), they can do it in their Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks.
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - How much time is spent at the lesson
Each Ultimate Music Theory Workbook has 12 lessons. Each lesson has a "Lesson Review". In the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook, most Lesson Reviews end with a Game that is to be played at the lesson.
When I assign an instructional page (pages without a Teacher/Student Game), I will either:
1 - Read each Concept Note (in the black boxes on each page). I will often have the Student play the concept.
OR
2 - Simply write their assignment in their Dictation Book!
With younger Students like Flossie (pictured here), it is important to quickly read and review any new concepts. With older Students, I find that they seldom need me to read and review the concepts with them. They are able to "get it" all by themself.
In my lessons, I like to start off every lesson by marking their Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks while they are getting settled at the piano. (It is very easy to mark the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook pages while taking a minute to let the Student tell you about their week.)
So how long do I spend at each lesson doing Theory? Usually between 1 to 5 minutes. That's it!
At the end of each Lesson is a Review Page and often a game that the Teacher plays with the Student. These Ear Training Games are designed to be completed in about a minute.
Now, if we have extra time, I like to have the Student "Be the Teacher" and go over the game again with the Student doing the playing (as if they are the Teacher) while I give them the answers (as if I am the Student). These moments are so much fun!
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - Bonus Tip - Clipped Corners
Each of my Students has their very own "Clipped Corner Jar" at my studio. (Just a little Dollar Store plastic container that we write their name on.)
When a Student finishes a page of Theory (front and back), I clip the bottom corner of the page and the Student puts it in their Clipped Corner Jar.
I am one of those Teachers who uses "bribery/candy" to help motivate students. (My Dollar Store "treats" are considered a Studio Expense on my Income Taxes). My Clipped Corner Challenge is that if a Student clips at least 10 corners by the end of the Teaching Year, they earn a prize from the Prize Box.
At the end of the year, we count all the Clipped Corners. Last year, my Studio had over 2,500 Clipped Corners.
My tradition is to burn all the Clipped Corners when I go camping in the Summer. My Students are fascinated with seeing pictures of all the Clipped Corners being burned up. (I post pictures on our Studio Facebook Page.)
Music Theory Beginner A Overview - Bonus Tip - Bonus Bingo
In my studio, each of my Students has a "Bingo Chart" with their name on it. When they earn 25 Stickers (a full card Bingo), they get to select a treat from the Prize Box. (Then they start a new Bingo Chart. These are easy to print from any Bingo Template that you find online.)
My Students earn Bingo Stickers for:
- Completing their assigned Theory Pages each week.
- Completing any Bonus Pages in their Theory Workbook.
- Memorizing a concept.
- Performing for someone at home (or at a Friends home).
- Completing their practicing.
- Memorizing a piece of music.
My Students seem to really enjoy earning Bingo Stickers and it most definitely motivates them to do their Bonus Work!
I hope that this Blog has given you an Overview of how to add the Music Theory Beginner A Workbook to your lessons, and that you have some new ideas to make teaching Theory fun.
In this Music Theory Beginner A Workbook Blog Series, I will be reviewing Tips and Tricks to teaching each Lesson. Enjoy!
With a Smile and a Song,
Shelagh McKibbon-U'Ren
Learn Music Faster - Proven Step-by-Step System!
UMT’s Time Saving Accelerated Learning Techniques - Music Theory Workbooks & Answers, Exams, Games and More!
Get the Ultimate Music Theory matching flashcards!
Ultimate Music Teachers Membership
♪ LEARN ♪ PLAN ♪ TEACH ♪ GROW
The One & ONLY Ultimate Music Teachers Membership
To Become A UMT PRO!
Your Success Path Starts Here - Go To TeachUMT.com Today!
