Due to several issues with downloading products I have made a few updates within the store. In particular, the process for downloading purchased games should be much smoother now! I have also made a few layout updates to the store.
While upgrading the store front, it came to my attention that there was an error in the Keys Value Pack on one of the game boards. If you purchased this value pack before 10/5/2014 please let me know the name on the card or paypal account that you used for purchase and if possible the approximate date of purchase and I can send you a new file. If you purchased a different game or just an individual keys signature game, your game should be correct.
Check back soon because in the coming months I have a few new games and blog posts coming! In particular, you can expect to see some interval games soon. In the meantime I hope you enjoy the new store front layout and let me know what you think.
As of recently the blog has been very quite. Blogging has been a new adventure for me this year and I am still learning to balance teaching, life, and posting regularly. In addition, not only did I double my studio the spring but my husband and I also recently moved. Now that all the boxes are unpacked and things have fallen into a bit of a routine I feel I can finally start devoting more time to the blog. I have some great posts coming in the next few weeks I hope you will enjoy and a regular posting schedule!
Around the holidays I often enjoyed incorporating holiday themed games for the concepts my students are working on. For Easter I was specifically looking for a simple game idea to use with my preschool piano students. A few weeks ago I picked up some plastic Easter eggs knowing that somehow I could use them with my students. I knew I needed something simple to prepare and I wanted to provide students with an opportunity to review what we have been learning. I decided to send my preschool students on a simple egg hunt. Inside each egg is either an activity, a song, or name of a key they are learning on the piano.
For example, my preschool students are working on naming the white keys and finding two or three groups of black keys. I cut several index cards in half and either put a song they are working on, a letter from the musical alphabet, or a picture of two or three black keys. I placed the index cards in about eight eggs with a surprise sticker or temporary tattoo in one egg. I am planning to start each lesson with the review game, by having them find all the eggs and then go through each egg completing each assignment.
I am looking forward to trying this game with my young preschool beginners this week. For older students working on note recognition I have put note flashcards in each egg. I will be having these students name the note and play the correct key on the piano. There are endless options for using Easter eggs in lessons this week by putting different cards in each egg. You could review songs in preparation for recital time, practice rhythm, sight reading and much more. If you need a quick inexpensive way to add some fun to lessons this week I hope this gives you some ideas.
To play mitten match up print and cut out the resources. Place the cut out mittens in a pile. Players take turns drawing mittens and matching them to the correct mitten on their board. The player to match all their mittens first wins.
This weeks game give students practice naming treble clef note from middle C to the low G. Students match the correct bird to the birdhouse. The first student to make all their matches first wins. The game intentionally includes and bird with the letters A and B even though those are not not names they are practicing. I like to include these unnecessary letters so that students are required to think more. I tell them they are trick “questions”. I hope your students enjoy the game. It takes 5 minutes or less to play so it as easy activity to add at the end of lessons. You can download the game for free here.
I would love to hear if you are finding the weekly game posts helpful. Are there any games on specific topics you would like to see? Leave a comment on what your looking for and I can post a game in the coming weeks.
Following in last weeks theme I have another princess game board you can use with your little girls. Simply download and print the game board. Gather a dice and two playing pieces and your favorite set of flash cards. For each time a student draws and correctly answers the flash card they may then roll the dice and move the corresponding spaces. The first player to help the princess find her way home wins.
