Rainbow Matching Game

This game was created especially for very young children, including toddlers, although any beginning music student could benefit.  The child is given small, color-coded flashcards which are the same width as the notes on the piano.  They are to arrange the notes from low to high.  When they are done, you can sing the scale with them, or name each of the notes with solfege or letter names.  We have used this game to teach colors as well as introduce music notation.

Rainbow Castle

This game uses the same cards as the Rainbow Matching Game, and is also for the beginning student.

In the spirit of "Candyland", children draw a card and move their token to the nearest note of the same color.

Although the student only has to match colors, they are being introduced to note notation and the piano key names. You can reinforce this by saying, “Move your marker to the ‘B'”, and so on. Point out to your students when the notes are in the treble or bass clefs.

Music Berries

There are three different suggested ways to play this game.  The easiest version involves simply shaking a dice and going to the top and back.  Players verbally name the notes as they land on them, but there are no tests. Other versions require placing pennies over the notes to hide the name.  Players must name the notes in order to collect the pennies.  Those who harvest the most win!  The game can also be played alone with the game cards from "Rainbow Castle" or the "Glissando Note-Reading Game."

Glissando Note-Reading Game

While this fast-paced, two-player board game based on "Parcheesi" may have the familiar colored board, the game cards are now only black and white.  Players each have four tokens which begin on their own "Glissando" rectangle.  Game play involves drawing cards, identifying the name of the note, and moving tokens to the corresponding note on the piano.  But watch out!  Your nemesis can send you back to the beginning during their turn.  Be the first to send all of your tokens home, and you win!

Sharps and Flatters

"Sharps and Flatters" is a simple game based on "Chutes and Ladders" which teaches/reinforces sharps, flats, and intervals.

Game play involves drawing cards and moving their pieces accordingly.  There are number cards which move the players along on whatever color they are on, interval cards which require counting by half steps, and of course, sharp and flat cards which move players up and down by half-steps.  Cross your fingers that you'll get a shortcut by landing on a ladder, but watch out for those pesky slides!