Here in Canada it’s definitely starting to feel like winter. And while we don’t live in an igloo or ride a dog sled to work, but we are feeling a tad bit frosty here in the Great White North! And as we gear up for the holiday season, it’s fun to stay in theme during piano lessons!
Wintervals… a Piano Teaching Game
Wintervals is a simple game designed to help your piano students construct and play major intervals on any key on the piano. It’s easy to play, requires very little set-up and is sure to be a hit in your studio this winter! All you need to play is a die, some mini-marshmallows, and The Wintervals Game Board.
How to Play:
This is a one-player game. Use a mini marshmallow (your little snowman!) as the game marker and place it on the start square. Roll the die. The number that results is the kind of major interval your student must then play on the piano with the root note being the letter they are currently on. For example, if they are on a “C” square and they roll a 4 they must play a 4th on C. If they are correct, they move forward one space and roll again. If they are incorrect they stay in place, roll and try again.
The 3 “Hot Spots!” on the board mean your student risks “melting” and ending up back at the start square. To avoid melting when on a Hot Spot, your student must roll the die twice. The first rolled number is the interval they must play with their left hand (root note C) and the second rolled number is the interval they must play with their right hand (root note C). If they are correct, they stay in the game. If they are incorrect, they “melt” and head back to the start.
Simple And Fun!
By the end of this game your piano kids will be whizzing through their intervals like nothing.. and you can bet they won’t forget those needed sharps either! It’s a fun way to introduce interval recognition with a game set-up that requires almost no set-up. And the mini-marshmallow? Your student can pop it in their mouth at the finish square as a reward for a job well done!
Theory Games Are Where It’s At!
If you’re doing fist-pumps in the air right now because this new game means your planning for this afternoon’s lessons is done… then you’d love just being able to press print for the next 88 days for the exact same reason! “Pssst….Your Piano Teacher Thinks This is Theory” is jam packed with 88 different ways to make learning theory in lessons (or at home) an absolute blast. Purchase once and print forever. Now you have time for that hot chocolate and a snuggle by your fire 🙂
Whitney says
This sounds so fun! Love the idea of using marshmallows as markers. Thank you for sharing.
LuRon Shaw says
This is fabulous! Thanks for sharing. (My only question is…”Why didn’t I think of that? “
Beth Yantz says
Thanks for the idea! I’m saving this game board on my iPad to use during review time. I love the marshmallow snowmen, but won’t use them on the tablet surface (for sanitary and other reasons!). Maybe I will let them “build” to their snowman for each correct interval, and still get a sweet treat at the end.
Trevor says
Great idea Beth 🙂 I’m sure they’d love to build snowmen!
Robbin says
Just printed “Wintervals” to use with my students today. Only last week I was bemoaning the fact that I had no “snow” games. Thanks!
Lola says
Thanks for this! ☺
Drema says
Thanks Andrea, I’m definitely using this in the next few private and group lesson(s)! =) I think the kids will love the marshmallow bit~
Andrea says
Who doesn’t love marshmallows 😉 have fun Drema!
Angela says
Thanks for sharing. Just what I needed to help the kids to get more excited about intervals.
Andrea says
Hi Angela! Great 🙂 We have lots of PianoGameClub games too that deal with interval recognition. If you’re not yet a member you might want to check us out as game-based learning is a really good way to make concepts like intervals “stick” 🙂
Lori says
Thanks for this lovely printable! I used it with all my students this week, and they loved it. I’ve linked to you (with full credit) on my website, with an explanation of how I used it with different levels of students.
Andrea says
So glad to her it, Lori! 🙂