As a bit of a geek, I love how music and math are so connected. The deeper you dig into the relationship, the more you realize they are one and the same.
I use this connection as a starting point when creating piano games. After all, what works for math works for music.
While searching for math activities that would work well as music activities, Sudoku puzzles came to mind. And, it occurred to me that Sudoku puzzles can be an effective note reading tool.
But not just that. In addition to reinforcing note reading, Sudoku puzzles, which require students to concentrate, think logically and look for patterns, reinforce sight reading too!
So, I built some note reading Sudoku puzzles! Use our first set of printables with Level 1B students who are learning to read notes in the G 5-Finger Scales.
Don’t Forget About G Position Note Reading
When piano students begin playing music in the G 5-finger position they have generally been in lessons for two years.
By this time, many activities that are hallmarks of a first-year piano education are replaced by more time spent on the bench.
While it’s important for older students to spend more time on repertoire, it is a mistake to remove games.
It is common for capable note readers to struggle when they move to the G 5-finger scale.
I believe this is a direct result of note reading activities no longer being a part of the piano lesson experience.
So, regardless of the age of the student sitting at your bench, find opportunities to play with the music.
And you can get started with the Note Reading Sudoku Puzzles available at the bottom of the post.
Before You Download The Note Reading Sudoku Puzzles
Today’s Note Reading Sudoku Puzzles (see download instructions below) are designed for piano students who are playing music in the G 5-Finger Scales.
However, if you teach students who aren’t yet ready for notes in the G-5 Finger Scales check out our book, Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano, Book 1.
The 90 days of exercises in this book that reinforce note reading in middle C position and C position are carefully crafted to ensure piano students learn notes in a manner that makes perfect pedagogical sense.
Click here or on the cover below to learn more about this book.
Download Today’s Piano Printables
Sudoku puzzles are very addictive, even for kids! This makes them perfect for note reading practice.
By converting the traditional numbers of a Sudoku puzzle into music notes, your students will spend a lot of time thinking about, staring at, and arranging music notes. All of those actions mean that your kids are committing those notes to memory.
To download our Note Reading Sudoku Puzzles, visit Teach Piano Today’s Homework Pages (click the pink button below). Enter the password you received in our most recent email or in your first sign-up email.
Not yet a member? Want access to a ton of free printables? Join here.
This may sound lame, but I’ve never done a sudoku and can’t quickly figure out what the right answers would be. Is there an answer key?
Hi Lynn – each square needs ABCD in it – if you see that each square does, then it’s correct 🙂
And does each row and each column have to have ABCD in it also? (One of each)
Yes 🙂 Each row, column and square.