I’m always on the look-out for ways to keep my busy students engaged during their piano lesson time… and when I pulled out this new game, the eyes of my wigglers absolutely lit up!
Playing piano games is one of my favorite ways of really getting to know my students. It gives me the opportunity to get a glimpse into “who they are” outside of piano lessons and therefore allows me to really connect with them in new ways. My students had a great time making all kinds of revving, beeping, screeching and crashing sounds as they played. Who knew theory could be so fun?!
How To Play Musical Micro Cars With Your Piano Students
Materials:
1 large piece of paper
Several colored markers
3 micro cars
(It doesn’t get much simpler!)
Playing the Game:
Draw “parking lots” around the edge of your paper. Inside each parking lot, write a theory concept you want to reinforce. I did bars of rhythm, notes on the staff and musical terms.
To play the game, all you need to do is ask for a specific car (i.e. the “red car”) to be parked in a specific parking space (i.e. “the parking spot with the rhythm that sounds like this…” or “the parking spot with a G”). Once you’ve asked them to change parking spots 3 times, switch and you become the “driver” while they direct you.
This game works great with the props too! As a special treat for my not-so-car-crazy students, I also created a “horse barn” page and let them put small plastic horse figurines to bed in stalls instead of parking lots. The possibilities are endless! I keep my eye on crafting websites for great ideas and this one was modified from Ideas and Inspiration for Crafty Parents’s idea for a reading game.
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Dana says
June 29, 2012 at 8:25 amOhhh this is great! Thanks for sharing! I bet it’s going to be a hit with my boys as well!
Andrea says
June 29, 2012 at 8:39 amHi Dana,
I’m sure they will! I had several boys actually do a spontaneous “happy dance” when they saw their beloved cars in their piano lesson 🙂 LOL
Janet says
June 29, 2012 at 9:45 amThis is GREAT!! I’m going to create a Hockey Game Board today! Perfect!
Andrea says
June 29, 2012 at 2:54 pmLove the hockey idea! There are so many spin-offs you can do….
Ryan Record says
July 1, 2012 at 2:10 pmI’m definitely going to try this with rhythms.
Ryan Record says
July 1, 2012 at 2:10 pmGreat idea!
beverly says
July 10, 2012 at 12:06 pmThis is a great idea, I like this very much. Thank you again for all that you do to encourage our students to enjoy piano.
Andrea says
July 10, 2012 at 12:30 pmThanks Beverly! I’m glad you are enjoying the teachpianotoday site 🙂
kathy says
August 4, 2012 at 9:25 amGreat to do with intervals and ear training… take your car to the intersval you hear and have a “car show”.
María says
May 18, 2016 at 12:53 pmYes, it’s a fantastic idea! Thanks, Kathy!
Janet says
January 19, 2013 at 9:28 amthis is a great idea. I’m always looking for games to fill up time that also reinforce theory. the possibilities are endless for the “tokens” to use….cars, horses, cats, dogs, other animals, trucks, any other small toys.
Karen Benson says
January 19, 2013 at 9:34 amLove it! I’m going to try to adapt it for my two little WunderKeys “angels”!
Leia says
January 19, 2013 at 9:53 amThis sounds like such fun! I wonder if it could be modified to work with Wunderkeys kids, too…!
Andrea says
January 19, 2013 at 9:21 pmHi Leia – watch your inbox… we’ve already created a very similar game to use with the WunderKeys program and we’ll be sending it out as one of our free supplementary material emails soon!
Rita says
September 27, 2017 at 4:53 amHi. Do you still have this?? Just started a 3yr ole with Wunderkeys…..She/I looooved it!!!!!
Melanie Spanswick says
January 19, 2013 at 1:10 pmGreat fun – interesting ideas too 🙂
Drema says
January 30, 2013 at 3:03 pmHi Andrea! These resources and ideas sound great. How do I get on the supplementary material email list? Thanks, Drema
Sarai says
May 11, 2013 at 8:02 amum…..brilliant!!
Yvonne Chittle says
September 20, 2015 at 2:32 pmThis is a great idea-could be used from anything from simple rhythms and notation marks for younger students to intervals and key signatures for more advanced students!
Rita says
May 8, 2016 at 9:43 pmI am loooooving each idea I get from your site. Keep up the good works in blessing children with the love of piano.
Sandie Williams says
September 21, 2016 at 3:57 amExcellent idea. I’m definitely going to try it. Will let you know how I get on.
Melissa says
February 2, 2017 at 5:07 pmI tried this game last night with my younger students (gave them the choice of using cars or ponies) and it was a hit! I think they all enjoyed mixing up the regular routine of the lesson as well. Thank you!
Andrea says
February 2, 2017 at 9:20 pmGlad to hear it Melissa! Game-based learning is such a great way to change focus in a lesson but really keep the momentum going and the learning happening!
patsy clark says
July 23, 2017 at 2:24 pmThis is a very versatile and fun activity. It can be used at the end of the lesson when just a short game is in order. I used foam board for my “parking lot” and did not write in any of the marked off parking spaces. Instead, I use small flashcards with the concept I want to reinforce…….rhythm, note reading, etc. I place a tiny spot of tape on the back of the flashcard to hold it in place while the student “drives” to the correct location. And just so you know: little girls love to drive too! This one is a real winner. Thanks!
Andrea says
July 24, 2017 at 12:36 pmGreat idea, Patsy! Thanks for sharing 🙂