While repainting a room in our house the other day it occurred to me that Painter’s Tape would be way more useful to a piano teacher than it would be to a painter. You see, for Painter’s Tape to be useful to a painter, it would have to actually prevent paint from sneaking onto whatever it is the painter is wishing to protect.
So, after peeling off miles of Painter’s Tape to reveal spoiled window trim, I decided to give the Painter’s Tape a chance to redeem itself and took it down to the piano studio where Andrea and I brainstormed a bunch of truly useful things someone (okay, really just piano teachers) could do with it.
Here’s what we came up with…
Off The Bench Activities Using Painter’s Tape
1. Pin the Tail on the Painter’s Tape
Using the Painter’s Tape, create a giant musical staff on the floor (treble or bass clef only). Place a beanbag (or other marking device) on a line or space on the staff. Have your piano student sit just below the musical staff with her eyes closed.
Next, play an interval on the piano. Instruct your piano student (while keeping her eyes closed) to name the interval and then find the beanbag and move it up or down the musical staff according to the interval played.
Once the move has been made, the student can open her eyes to reveal how accurately she was able to represent the interval performed by the piano teacher.
2. Spot the Difference
Using the Painter’s Tape, create a giant musical staff on the floor (treble or bass clef only). Instruct your piano student to leave the room. Place 4 beanbags on the staff to create a simple melody.
Invite your piano student back into the room and give him ten seconds to analyze the melody on the staff. Have your student leave the studio once again while you change two of the “notes” by stepping or skipping them up or down the staff.
Finally, invite your piano student back into the room and see if he can spot the two differences. Instruct him to tell you which notes were changed and if they were moved by a step or a skip.
3. Climb the Ladder
Note: To play this game you will need a deck of cards (flash cards or note cards) with pictures of quarter, half, and whole notes off the staff. Simply creating your own deck of 10 – 12 cards on a slip of paper, each with a picture of one of the notes will work just fine.
Using the Painter’s Tape create a ladder on the floor with 12 rungs. Have your student stand with both feet on the bottom rung of the ladder. Shuffle the deck of cards and instruct your student to take the top card.
Next, your student must hop up the ladder according to the number of beats the note on the selected card receives in 4/4 time. For example, if the student draws a half note, he must jump two rungs up the ladder.
The student must continue to draw cards from the deck and hop up the ladder until he reaches the very top. Keep track of how many turns it took to reach the top of the ladder. Give the student a couple of chances to set a record.
4. Time For A Rest
Using the Painter’s Tape create a square on the floor with four quadrants. In each of the four quadrants, tape a piece of paper with a picture of a whole rest, half rest, and quarter rest. Leave the fourth square blank.
Next, turn on some music and instruct your student to move to the music around, but not in, the square. At random intervals, stop the music and call out the name of a rest. Have your student quickly stand in the square containing the picture of the rest called. For added fun, occasionally call out, “Strike a Pose!” at which point the student must freeze in a goofy position on the blank square.
5. Clap, Clap, Tic Tac Toe
Using the Painter’s Tape create a giant Tic Tac Toe board on the floor of your piano studio. Clap a rhythm to your student. If he can successfully “clap it back” he gets to place a “game marker” (you can use anything… I use apples and oranges!) in one of the squares. It’s now his turn to clap a rhythm for you. If you successfully “clap it back” you place your marker in one of the squares.
Alternate turns between you and your student until one player successfully creates a row of three.
We’re Not Done Yet!
We love getting piano students off the bench and active. Check out these blog posts where we share some more great ideas to give your piano students much needed brain breaks… while keeping the learning wheels in motion.
How to Teach Piano To Wiggly Walter – Off Bench Activities For Kids Who Can’t Sit Still
How to Teach Piano Theory on a White Board – 5 Games That Fill Those Final 5 Minutes
Robin Madden. says
Thanks for the motivation. I looked at Amazon for a foot keyboard, sort of like in the movie “Big” but cheaper. The reviews were a bit sad. But, I will buy some drop cloths and a roll of duct tape. It’s good to get off the bench!
Andrea says
Yes… we need someone to make a good quality, inexpensive floor keyboard! Come on Apple… 😉
Maryann says
They all sound like great fun. I teach Group piano classes occasionally so No. 4 could work for a group.
Can’t wait to try it! Thanks much!
Andrea says
You’re welcome Maryann! Probably most of them could actually be adapted for group classes in some way. Would love to hear how it goes!
carol says
I bought a 12″ x 36″ laminate white shelf board at the local home box store for $5.00
I was going to paint or marker the staff..but I love your idea..
for a lot of games I use the colorful flat erasers…fruit,seasonal,animals,comic figures.etc as game pieces in music games..$1 for a bag of 50 at the dollar stores.
thanks for your great ideas..
Carol
Ferguson Missouri
Andrea says
Great idea about the erasers Carol! Thanks for sharing.
Brecklyn says
I love these ideas! I am actually a violin teacher, but I get so much inspiration from you guys. I put a staff on the floor, call out note names, and have my students stand on the correct line or space to practice note recognition. They would love these other games.
Andrea says
Hi Brecklyn – so happy to hear that you’re finding “violin fun” too! 🙂