“For every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and – SNAP – the job’s a game!”
This quote from Mary Poppins is pure genius and it sums up our approach on the Teach Piano Today blog in a truly perfect way; for every concept that must be taught, there is a creative, engaging, and imaginative way to make it relevant, memorable and – above all else – fun!
I find myself humming this Mary Poppin’s classic a lot – not only because our two daughters happen to love the movie, but because it’s simply a good way to approach life in general. Parenting, teaching… “adulting”. It all becomes more enjoyable when you search for that “element of fun”!
It is with this philosophy that we create all of our resources and materials for piano community. And it is with this in mind that we are sharing a fun rhythm-focused printable with you today!
Rhythm Drills… With An Element of Fun!
Some parts of learning to read music must be drilled. There are foundational concepts that just need to be practiced… over and over. But this doesn’t mean that drill and practice needs to be tedious and boring. In fact, with the simple spin were putting on rhythm drills in today’s printable, your piano students will be begging to practice rhythm over and over!
The activity we’re sharing below focuses on quarter and eighth note rhythms. Keep reading for directions and download instructions:
- Download today’s printable (see instructions below).
- Instruct your student to roll a die and then write the resulting value in the star closest to the superhero on the spaceship. Your student must roll again if the die displays a “5” or “6”.
- Have your student roll the die three more times and then write the resulting values in the three subsequent stars that rest on the path between the spaceship and the moon. Your student has now created a Rhythm-Reading Road Map!
- Below the illustrated image on the printable are four measures of rhythm labelled 1-4.
- Instruct your student to clap the measures of rhythm in the order according to the Rhythm-Reading Road Map generated in Steps 2 to 3. For example, if your student rolled a “4”, a “2”, a “2”, and a “3” in Part A, your student will clap the measure labelled with “4”, followed by the measure labelled with a “2”, followed again by the measure labelled with a “2”, and ending with the measure labelled with a “3”.
- Encourage your student to to create a new Rhythm-Reading Road Map and then play again (laminating the sheet and using a dry erase marker makes this simple!)
Where To Find Today’s Printable
Are you filling a binder with our free printables and rubbing your hands with glee knowing your planning is becoming easier and easier? Our aim with the WunderKeys printables is to make it easy for piano teachers to add that “element of fun” in a low-to-no prep format. And our aim with our WunderKeys method books is to do the same!
Our first Primer Level method book is almost ready! While you’re waiting, check out our three-book WunderKeys Preschool program. If you’ve considered teaching preschool piano and are excited to tap into a boatload of piano students that many teachers ignore, visit www.wunderkeys.com.
Click here or on the image above to visit WunderKerys.com and access today’s printable. Once there, scroll down to our Level 1 Section.
Jennifer Groover says
Another great activity – thanks!!
Danna Bailey says
Thanks again! I get so excited when I see you name in my email! I know something good is coming!❤️
Andrea says
Hi Danna – so glad to hear it! 🙂
Andrea says
You’re so welcome, Jennifer!
Angela says
Love all these activities!!!
My students are going to, also!
Andrea says
Hi Angela – so glad to hear that you’ll be using the activities happily 🙂
Roni Rothwell says
Thanks for this rhythm game. I think that instead of rolling a die, I might cut out little cards numbered 1-4, then they’ll choose each one once. If I laminate the page, it can be written on with a dry-wipe pen.
I love your graphics, thank you.
Roni Rothwell says
Whoops, I just saw that you already had the idea of the laminated page – of course! 🙂