Monday, May 26, 2014

Learning Music Theory with Cars {Music Activities for Kids}

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It poured rain here this morning so I took the opportunity to try out a new music theory game with the kids. When using the giant homemade grand staff with one of my beginner piano students the other day, I realized that the spaces on the grand staff would work great as parking spots for cars. And, obviously, they worked just like I had intended since I'm posting about it.

This car themed music activity for kids is a great way for kids to practice learning about lines and spaces, intervals, note reading on the grand staff, and more. It's such a versatile music theory activity that I like to use with my piano students.

Music theory game for kids: learning about grand staff using cars from And Next Comes L

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Music Activities for Kids: Learning Music Theory with Cars

For this activity, I used:

I cut the painter's tape into little rectangles so that I could label the cars and the lines and spaces of the grand staff.  For older kids, this step wouldn't be necessary, but since my boys are still young, the alphabet matching component was very helpful.

Music theory game for kids: learning about grand staff using cars from And Next Comes L

Musical alphabet cars for learning about music theory from And Next Comes L

K quickly grabbed a car, said the letter, and "drove" it onto the grand staff.  Naturally, he said "Vroom!" as he did so.

Learning about music theory with cars from And Next Comes L

He continued to park the cars into their spots on the grand staff.

Learning about music theory with cars from And Next Comes L

Learning about music theory with cars from And Next Comes L

Eventually, K ditched the cars in favor of his feet.  He inched his way slowly across the lines and spaces of the grand staff, saying the letter names with each tiny shuffle of his feet.

Toddler friendly music theory game from And Next Comes L

J also checked out the activity for a little bit.  While he parked his cars, we talked about line notes versus space notes, as well as the letters on the cars.

Learning about music theory with cars from And Next Comes L

Music theory game for kids: learning about grand staff using cars from And Next Comes L

The cars were a huge hit!  I can't wait to try this game out with my newest piano student who is just starting to learn how to read notes on the grand staff.  He is going to love it!

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Music theory game for kids: learning about grand staff using cars from And Next Comes L