While sometimes ignored with primer-level students, sight-reading skills can, and should, be developed early on in the piano lesson experience. Students who are introduced to this skill as soon as they begin on-staff notation simply don’t have time to develop the fear of sight reading that can affect so many older students.
If you have always wanted to start sight reading with your youngest of piano students then you’ll be excited to use the printable we’re sharing in today’s post! It works great as a standalone activity and even better when you pair it with Wrecking Ball Rhino; one of four quirky and wonderful piano games that members of Teach Piano Today’s PianoGameClub are receiving as a part of May’s 4-game set.
Before you get to today’s printable below, take a moment to preview May’s games from PianoGameClub. If you’re wondering how you can kick your summer piano lessons up a notch while reinforcing rhythm, note reading and ear training, then PianoGameClub is your answer!
[flipbook-popup id=”may_2018_games”]Click here[/flipbook-popup] or on the image below to view Escape From Esterix, Peels of Peril, Wrecking Ball Rhino, and Sunbeam Sorrow. Then, If you like what you see and want to become a member, visit PianoGameClub here to sign up today for just $8 monthly. Note: This game set is only available until May 31, 2018 only.
[flipbook-popup id=”may_2018_games”][/flipbook-popup]
Middle C Sight Reading With A Rampaging Rhino
We hope you enjoyed the preview of May’s games ! Now, let’s get to today’s printable! If you’re looking for an easy way to introduce sight reading than today’s activity will get you started. This printable focuses on just five notes in Middle C Position, allowing you to provide hyper-focused note reading practice.
Before you begin, click on the image below (or click here), print out the activity, and then read the following instructions to your student:
- Close your eyes while your teacher uses a colored crayon to draw a line that begins at the rhino, passes through four circles, and ends at the building.
- Open your eyes and then, with your hands in Middle C Position, play the four notes that rest on the path drawn in Step 1.
- Next, your teacher will draw a path with a different crayon so you can play again.
When you’re finished… pull out your Wrecking Ball Rhino game (found in May’s game set) and have some game-based fun reinforcing all of the notes in Middle C Position.
5 Fun Ways To Use Piano Games In Summer Lessons
There are SO many ways you can use piano games to take your summer piano lessons from good to GREAT! Here’s what other teachers are doing:
- Start a game-loaning library for the summer months – sending home a game for your students to play with their parents or siblings during the more relaxed days of summer makes for great memories and learning!
- Set up “game stations” and host a Piano Game Party. Pair your students and set a timer. Each duo plays one game for 8 minutes before switching to a new game station. Add in some of our group piano games and you have an entire Summer Piano Party planned!
- Play your piano games outside! A change in location can re-inspire your students and breathe new life into your lesson time. When it’s game time in your lesson schedule, find a shady spot and have some piano theory fun al fresco!
- Combine the last 5 minutes of one students’ lesson with the first 5 minutes of the next student during the summer months and use these 10 minutes to play piano games. Your students will build relationships within your studio and have a blast!
- Send home a carefully-chosen piano game as a gift to students who are not taking lessons during the summer as an “end-of-year” gift. Place it in a 2-pocket folder and wrap it for an extra-special touch.
If you want your studio to enjoy all the benefits that piano games have to offer, you can check out Teach Piano Today’s PianoGameClub here.
Brenda Johnson says
interested in learning more about these games
Andrea says
Hi Brenda – if you visit http://www.pianogameclub.com you’ll see the information on the games. Each month we deliver 4, printable piano theory and ear training games to you in a variety of concepts, levels and themes. It allows you to build a piano game library that suits each learning occasion so you can harness the power of game-based learning easily in your studio 🙂
Sherilyn Ens says
I’ve just signed up for the Piano Game Club and am so excited to receive these resources! Is there any way to access some of the games from the past months? I’m especially interested in note reading activities for my younger students.
Andrea says
Hi Sherilyn – currently we don’t have past games for sale – but we promise that as you continue your membership you’ll build up an amazing game library (and we often include games in each set for note reading) 🙂