Games to Play on the Piano - Mozart’s Monthly Memo-Volume 35
November 1, 2023
Games to Play on the Piano
This Memo includes
Feature Article: Games to Play on the Piano
Student Hall of Fame
Practice Tip
Parents Ask Pam - What is your availability for online lessons?
Feature Article - Games to Play on the Piano
By Pamela Cornell
Knowing the names of the keys on the piano is such an important part of learning the piano. Here are some tips and activities to help you or your child learn these names easily.
First, start with the white keys. In the United States, they are named after the first 7 letters of the alphabet, A, B, C, D, E, F, G. On an acoustic piano, you can start with the lowest note on the left and then just name every white key. Once you get to G, start over with A. But this is a very tedious way to learn their names. With electric keyboards being so prevalent in our society, many of them don’t even start with A. A more efficient way to name the white keys is to look at the black keys. For example, D is always in the middle of the two black keys. F is in front (or to the left) of the three black keys while B is in the back of the three black keys. The two white keys in the middle of the three black keys spell, “ga,” like Lady Gaga or like what a baby says, (“goo-goo, ga-ga”). A baby doesn’t say, “ag-ag!”
Now that you have the gist of how to name these white keys, let’s play some games to reinforce this new knowledge. Some tools you could use include a die, little game-piece markers, (small toys, erasers, buttons or small crumbled paper work great!) a stop-watch, and some alpha-cards, one letter for each card. Another option would be to go to a spinning wheel website such as https://pickerwheel.com/tools/random-letter-generator/
Using a stopwatch, turn an alpha card over and then play all the keys of that letter. Then have your partner do the same with a different alpha card (letter). Whoever is faster wins that round. Another variation would be to turn the alpha card over and then play the key on the piano. Whoever plays first wins.
Spell a word on the piano, such as face, decade, edge or cafe. There are many words that can be spelled with those 7 letters. Once a word is spelled, spell it again going up the piano. Now spell the word going down the piano. How many times can you spell the word?
Use a marker (small enough to fit on the piano keys but not so thin that it will fall between the keys!) and have a race up or down the keyboard. You could turn over a card for each turn, or roll a die and then name the letter you land on. Sometimes it is fun to add “wild” letters. So if you land on A you get an extra turn or you get to jump to the next A.
Make up a little song or riff using only a couple of letters. Then teach your song to someone else.
Using several markers, place them all on the same letter key. (So 4 markers would go on 4 different A’s) Then have someone else move them to different keys and the first person has to move them back to their original spot.
Play, “Simon says” with the white keys. For example, “Simon says, ‘play two different high G’s’”
Say a word that begins with a letter on the piano as they play that key. Then the next person says that word while playing the key, and then adds another word and plays that key. (For example, one might say, “apple” while playing an A. The next person could say, “apple, elephant” while playing an A, then an E) Continue adding words and playing the keys until someone plays the wrong key or can’t remember the sequence. You could change it up by making the words be of a certain category, like only foods or only animals. You could also change it up by saying the words need to form a sentence. Or make your own variation.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. I’m sure you could come up with your own games. The main idea is lots of repetition and to have fun!
Usually, once the white keys are familiar, students are then curious about the black keys. Black keys don’t really have their own names. They are named in relation to the white keys around them. Two terms to learn are “sharp” (#) and “flat” (b). Sharp means to go up (right) the keyboard to the very next key while flat means to go down (left) the keyboard to the very next key. To help remember which way is which term, I like to think of sharp porcupine quills. The porcupine gets taller or higher when his quills fluff out. A flat tire means the tire has gone down. Sometimes moving up or down from a white key takes you to another white key. That is fine. The keys on the piano can be named in many different ways. For example, if you start on F and go up to the very next key, F#, you are now naming a black key. If you start on F and go down to the very next key, Fb, you are now naming another white key. So E can also be called Fb. Alternatively, the black key called F# can also be called Gb.
So now that you have some games and a very basic understanding of the keys on the piano, I hope you have fun and enjoy playing some of these games with your child!
Student Hall Of Fame
Our students are making great progress! These students have accomplished new goals this last month.
Welcome to our new or returning students - Aiden D, Aiden K, Amelia S, Andy C, Ansen J, Arlo T, Aryan P, Atharva K, Caleb Z, Chloe C, Claire F, Conor I, Darren Z, Derrick, Z, Dinah W, Elaina S, Eliana L, Elliott J, Emilia Z, Eric E, Grant P, Harper J, Jane H, Kabir M, Kai X, Kaiden J, Kaito F, Koshiki S, Liberty L, Liliana F, Lucas A, Mila M, Myrah B, Olivia G, Owen L, Quincy D, Reena B, Remy D, Ronak G, Ryder W, Ryley T, Sammy S, Sebastian B, Seungyu S, Sianne L, Stella S, Teddy H, Thomas L, William Z, Wyatt W. and Zac Q.
Listening - Listened to classical music at least one hour each week for 4 weeks in a row - Olivia G. & Owen L.
100-Day - Play the piano for 100 days in a row - Samual S.* (*indicates first time meeting this challenge!)
5X5 - play the piano for 5 minutes, 5 days in a week, for 5 weeks in a row - Amira S, Isabella N, Janice L, Jason J, Lieto Z, Lillian R, Owen L.* & Samuel S. ( * indicates first time meeting this challenge!)
50X - played their new song 50 times in the first week - Owen L.
Completed an individual challenge from their teacher - Kevin J. & Max S.
Completed their piano lesson book - Abhay A, Akshay A, Amira S, James E, Jonathan G, Sara M. & Vivian C.
Moved up to the next musical level - Aarav A, Aldo G, Alice P, Amira S, Jason J, James E, Samuel S, Shivani K. & Una C.
Practice Tip
Motivation is a big part of consistent practice! Start and end your practice sessions with something fun. Play something you already know, sightread easier music, make up your own song, or sound out the melody of a popular piece. This may seem unimportant, but since it feeds the motivation part of learning music, it is what will keep a student coming back, which then makes it the most important part of practice! If a student practices 30 minutes each day, at least 10 minutes should be playing for fun. Or, play for fun as long as you want, but put in at least 30 minutes of practicing new music. They key here is to keep it fun and interesting so that you want to come back to the piano every day. The “fun” music also exercises the fingers, trains the ear, and works the musical brain in a different way from regular practice, so you are still improving your piano skills, even if it is just playtime!
Upcoming MOM Events
Want to see all upcoming events? Check out our calendar. It includes when the next Crescendo Kids class begins, school closure dates, piano parties, and recital dates.
Holiday Recitals - Week of December 11 - 15, 2023, check your email for more details, or email misspam@moveovermozart.net.
FREE Online Piano Party! Students share their own music as well as participate in musical games, creating music and learning some music history. Each party is a little different with new lessons and a special guest instrument. Come, meet our piano teachers, play some music, and have fun! All ages and musical levels are welcome. Parties are available to non-students, former students as well as current students. Click the link to sign up. Piano Party Sign Up
Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 11:00 - 11:45, ages 3 - 12 years
Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your free meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting
Crescendo Kids CLASSES -
North Kirkland Community Center - Tuesdays or Thursdays - visit kirklandparks.net
Fall:
Tuesdays, September 19 - December 12 (no class October 31)
Thursdays, September 21 - December 14 (no class November 23)
Winter:
Registration is now
Tuesdays, January 16 - April 2 (no class February 20)
Thursdays, January 18 - April 4, (no class February 15).
Spartan Recreation Center in Shoreline - Mondays - visit shorelinewa.gov/registernow
Fall:
Mondays, September 18 - December 11
Winter:
Mondays, January 22 - April 1 (no class February 19)
30 - Minute Private Online Piano Lessons - Did you know that many of our teachers also teach privately? Now you can continue your child’s musical education, or your own, with Move Over Mozart. Click here for more information. Private Lessons
New Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, November 7. Our piano classes are fun and easy to do! Perfect for beginning students ages 3 1/2 to 12 years old. Students are put into one of 4 classes depending on their age and musical ability.
Crescendo Kids Online Sign Up
Pre-Reading - Ages 3 - 5 years, or students not yet reading,
We use a color-coded method for the students to match their five fingers to five keys on the piano. New songs using only those 5 notes are given each week.
Primary - Ages 5 -7 years or older and brand new to music,
This group is for the very basics of piano playing. Students learn to play simple rhythms, correct hand position, and the names of the white keys on the piano.
Beginning Elementary - Ages 7-12 years or younger and reading notes,
This is for students just starting to read notes on the staff. Students are taught how the staff relates to the piano and how to translate the notes to making music. Also, having the students memorize a few key notes on the staff will help greatly with their ability to read music.
Advanced Elementary - Ages 7 - 12 years with previous piano lessons
This group already reads notes on the staff and can immediately identify many of the notes by name. They will learn more advanced technique and music theory beyond the initial basics of learning to play.
Parents Ask Pam
Have a question for Miss Pam? You can email, text message, or message on Facebook your questions. She will respond immediately to you, and your question might be featured in future newsletters.
Q: What is your availability for online lessons?
A: We always have space for online lessons! Our teachers are available in the afternoons every day except Friday. We encourage choosing the same day and time each week, but if you have a conflict for one week, you can choose a different time. Our online schedule is very flexible. Since our in-person classes fill very quickly, usually within the first week of registration, online lessons are a great alternative! Our Crescendo Kids program is geared toward how children learn. Our interactive games and activities can also be played online. Our brag-tag incentive program is very motivating for our online students.
Your Comments And Questions
We want to hear from you! What questions do you have? What do you like best about this memo? How do you encourage practicing in your home? Please leave your questions and comments below or email Pam directly at misspam@moveovermozart.net