Games

Anything that encourages repetition is fantastic!



10 stones (buttons, chocolates, lollies, coins, marbles)

Place 10 stones in a line on the floor.  Pick your passage.  Each time it is completed a stone moves from the centre to their side.  Once all 10 have moved to their side, they have won.



10 times right

Like 10 stones but start with the stones in the centre.  Every time the passage is played correctly the stone goes to their side.  However if it is not executed correctly the stone goes away from them.  They must then play it correctly to get it back to the middle and one more time correctly to secure it to their side. 


Hide the Bow

Fantastic game for repeating pieces and learning about dynamics.  This game is based on the 'Hot' and 'Cold' game.  Within a group you choose one person to be the seeker.  They put their instrument in a safe place and pass their bow to the teacher.  Once the seeker has left the room the teacher nominates someone to hide the bow.  I have certain rules here.  1. Some part of the bow must be in sight of the seeker.  2. The bow must be in reach of the seeker.  The seeker is then let inside.  The rest of the group play something familiar (Twinkles) and when the seeker is close they play forte (loud) and when the seeker is away from their bow the group plays piano (soft).

There are a number of ways to make this game more complicated.  As a teacher I have played with the seeker's bow and my own, we have also had someone play with the seeker's bow and hide their own bow.  One way to make it really tricky is to hide the seeker's bow in the teacher's case (usually a no-go zone).

Once the seeker has located the bow I then get the person who hid the bow to be the next seeker.

Teachers - please be aware that this is one of those REALLY popular games and therefore you should make sure you allow enough time for everyone to have a turn.

Theory games.

This online game is brilliant for reviewing note names.  You have three levels, and can choose treble or bass clefs.  You have a specific amount of time to name as many notes as you can.  Can you beat your last score?
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/music/namethatnote.htm#.USNQvh1vC8A

More ideas for review here
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Practice_Ideas_for_Suzuki_Students

Dice game – number off. Roll the dice. The owner of that number must play a piece of the audience’s choosing and a piece of their own choosing. After each performance the audience must state all the things they thought the player did well. This could be posture-related, sound, getting a specific tricky bowing or fingering.

Marbles – I think most of you have seen me use this. Have a jar of marbles; for everything the player does in a practice, they gain a marble. You make like to set targets, or see if you can beat the previous day’s score.

Cards – Similar to marbles

Snakes and Ladders (or any other favourite board game). Each thing the player does, they get to roll the dice. With snakes and ladders, this can take a while!!

Sticker Charts- For every practice done during the holidays, they receive a sticker. Set goals; every 10 stickers, the player gets to choose what to have for tea, where to go-pool or beach etc

Freeze Game – Player is asked to freeze during a review piece. Parent gets to examine posture. Make sure you comment on the positives! You can fix up the negatives, try to do this without speaking…either through demonstration or manipulation

Dynamics Game – whilst playing the player stands up for the loud sections, and crouch down low for the soft. Don’t forget the in-betweens! A crescendo (getting louder) or decrescendo (getting softer) is a lot of fun too!

Christmas Carols – Can the player work out how to play their favourites by only having a few starting notes?

Pizzicato pieces – This can get tricky, and takes quite a lot of time! But now and then is a nice break in the practice routine

Blindfolded playing, sitting on the floor, kneeling, lying on the floor etc. This is especially good for going over a specific point a number of times. “Can you do it with your eyes closed?” “Can you do it standing on one foot?” etc

I have found some wonderful games through pinterest.  Annamaria's page has some wonderful games and ideas http://www.pinterest.com/annamariaflute/music-games/


More games to come :)