Learning Activities for Theory

The term “theory” is study and understanding of musical elements. Many of the activities below can be used to strengthen skills across the different musical elements.

Musical Rocks

Help with symbol recognition, memorization and counting.

To make your own music rocks, you’ll need:

• Rocks
• black acrylic paint
• Mod Podge

You can hand paint them yourself, or have your child help. After the paint dries, cover them with a coat of Mod Podge.

Activities:

1. Playing a matching game. Match the same symbols together (e.g., quarter note and quarter note).
2. Playing a count matching game. Match the note and rest that have the same note value (e.g., half note and half rest).
3. Compose a rhythm and clap it.
4. Practice note naming on the grand staff using the note rocks (skip the rests for this part)
5. Compose a tune on the grand staff and play it on the piano (see picture below). I guess you could call the tune “rock music.”

source: http://www.andnextcomesl.com/2014/04/diy-music-rocks.html

Music Staff on a mirror

This activity can be tailored to different ages.

For this activity:

• Mirror (the one above is from Dollar Tree)
• Colored glass stones (buttons, pom poms, or transparent counters could be substituted)
• Window markers or dry erase markers

Draw a grand staff (or single staff, either treble or bass) on the mirror using the window markers and set out a variety of colored glass stones.

Activities:

1. Let your kids explore the materials on their own – see what they come up with!
2. Explore lines and spaces – good for preschool aged children.
3. Name notes and have your child put the glass tones on the correct line or space.
4. Tell your child to put stones on either lines or spaces. For Example “Where is the 3rd line?” “The 2nd space?”
5. Compose music by having your child put stones on different notes, then have them play on their instrument.

source: http://www.andnextcomesl.com/2014/05/music-theory-with-mirrors.html

Online Games

Beginners

• Music Symbol Match – This online game has three levels focusing on musical symbol recognition, a very important part of learning music! Here is an outline of each level for beginners:
• Beginner: Shows pictures AND terms on both cards.
• Intermediate: Same as beginner, but has more cards and introduces new musical symbols.
• Tie or Slur?: Ties and slurs look very similar to young students and beginners. Using this game will help your child identify the difference.

Intermediate/Advanced:

• Music Symbol Match – This online game has three levels focusing on musical symbol recognition, a very important part of learning music! Here is an outline of the advanced level:
• Advanced: This takes away the musical term on the cards. You have to match the music symbol with it’s musical term separately!
• Fishy Scales: Choose the Major Scale the has the correct notes
• Arpeggio Activity: Decide what picture represents the right arpeggio. Both Major and minor.
• Major Key Signatures: Match the name of the key signature to the image.

Worksheets / Printouts
Beginners

Music Terms: Practice identifying basic musical terms/symbols.