Print These Interval Reading Worksheets For Piano Students

Interval reading worksheets for piano are important when students approach the end of a level 1 method book. While note reading is the main focus for primer and early level 1 students, harmonic intervals eventually emerge and can cause confusion.

Initially, one would assume it is easy to read harmonic intervals; after all, harmonic intervals are just a couple of notes squished together, right?

Well, not exactly. While kids can read intervals by reading each individual note, to be successful on the piano, they really must know how to recognize harmonic interval shapes.

In today’s post, we share several timed tests you can use to reinforce interval recognition with level 1 piano students.

The Two-Part Trick For Quick Harmonic Interval Reading

Reading intervals is all about recognizing shapes. At first, the subtle difference between a third and a fourth can be tough to distinguish, but with repeated practice, intervals will be as easily recognizable as a single note.

Without direct instruction, however, reading intervals can trip up many students. The initial instinct of a young piano player is to read each note in the interval and then let that knowledge guide the placement of their hands.

This tactic will destroy any fluency a student has developed. Piano music moves quicker than a young child’s brain can process two notes and then translate those two notes to the keyboard.

Instead, piano students must implement a two-part process to efficiently read and play intervals.

Part 1: Shaped Interval Reading

To play intervals effectively, students need only recognize a single note. Once the note has been named, the shape of the interval will tell the student which keys to play on the piano.

Part 2: Interval Muscle Memory

Naming intervals quickly is only one part of the process. For fluent piano playing, students must also be able to locate the keys quickly. To do this, students need to practice committing the shapes to muscle memory.

In time, students’ fingers will naturally take the shape of a specific interval. If interval shapes are not committed to muscle memory, however, students will be placing their fingers on the piano one key at a time and all momentum will be lost.

Today’s worksheets are at the bottom of the post, but first…

Do Your Students Struggle With Note Reading?

Before students can read intervals, they must be able to read notes.

And the best resources for learning to read notes are Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano. With simple, daily homework tasks that take very little time to complete, your students will become note reading stars.

Click on a cover below to learn more about Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano.

Download Our Interval Reading Worksheets For Piano

Click here or on the image below to download our Interval Reading Worksheets For Piano.

And don’t forget to check out Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano.