I loved doing this and I won as well!!! Music student In Sophie’s last piano lesson we found ourselves in a clearing in the forest. Straight ahead was a rope ladder and next to it we could just about make out some kind of wooden chest hiding behind overgrown flowers. We carefully moved the flowers…
Category: online teaching
Spooky music theory games for Halloween
This is the first year I’m not teaching during Halloween week so won’t get to see any students turn up for lessons in their scary costumes! But if you are looking for some fun spooky themed games to play with your music students this week, I have several on my website and some are free….
New ‘Studio’ pack of beginner games for piano teachers
If you are a ‘Studio Teacher‘ on my website, I’m delighted to let you know that my new Studio: Piano Beginner pack has been added to your account. Designed for use in lessons, this is a collection of online games including “Aliens Love Pizza” or “Sleeping Dragons” to make learning fun right from the first…
As a music teacher are you a Mrs Vivace or a Mrs Andante?
Play is not a break from learning. It is endless, delightful, deep, engaging, practical learning. It’s the doorway into the child’s heart! Vince Gowmon Imagine there are two rooms! In the first one Mrs Andante is teaching little Sophie the piano. They have just played some scales with the teacher testing each one in turn…
Pirate Treasure: a free two player music theory game
One of the first music theory games I made was Pirate Treasure and it has always been a huge hit with my students – particularly when playing against me! In this two player game, students have to really know their note values or risk losing! It covers 1, 2, 3 and 4 beat notes so…
Sparking the imagination in music lessons
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” Brad Henry Hands up if your imagination was a huge part of growing up! As a child I remember making dens in the garden with friends and hiding from dragons, or dressing up with clothes from mum’s wardrobe and pretending to be characters…
Apple Rocket: a customisable music theory game
A game ideal for music lessons which allows teachers to choose any notes to suit each individual student! If your music studio is anything like mine, you will have students at all kinds of different levels. No two students are the same even if they are at the same page of the tutor book. Some…
NEW music mystery for beginners
Learn the tunes, search for clues and find the ‘Lost Diamond’ in this interactive mystery! A fun book of sheet music with accompanying online games. Fans of my first music mystery, ‘Who Ate My Cake’ will be delighted to hear I have made another one! Students use their musical detective skills to uncover the truth…
Dragon Wars: a free music theory game
“I love this game!!!” Student user Can you save the castle from the fire breathing dragon? In this fun and free music theory game, students have to know their note values well to defeat the dragon and win the game! It is perfect for beginner musicians. Each round, pick a bucket and hope it is…
Zoom music lessons and the 40 minute cut off
Are you getting caught out by the 40 minute limit on zoom? I’ve read a lot of posts during lockdown about music teachers having only one student in the lesson, but then another one enters the waiting room setting off the timer. It’s annoying isn’t it! There’s a lot of sense in getting the pro…
Using zoom during in person music lessons
When students started returning to the music studio this week I thought my use of Zoom would reduce. But actually I’ve found it really useful during in person lessons too. Last week I wrote about the use of A3 clear plastic wallets to put sheet music books in whilst COVID-19 is in circulation. It makes…
