Teaching Music Theory with Engaging Games

Starting Strong on Day 1
Mr. Metronome
Posture Chant
Lines & Spaces Chant
Ready to Print Chants
Band Assistants

Note Names
Body Staff (Day 1) 
Hand Staff (Week 1) 
Master of the Alphabet 
Note Match Games (start with introductory and then progress)
BOOM Cards  (Note Names, Note Name “Chunks” and Parts of Instruments) 
All free BDTS BOOM Card resources can be viewed HERE.
Instant Demo of Boom Cards – Parts of Instrument — Note Name (Links/codes are good for 2 weeks)

Structure & Routine
The Game Line
Note Name Races (2 lines, 1st correct answer stays ‘in’ and goes to back of line, incorrect or late answer is ‘out’)

Musical Symbols & Terms
Scoot 
Concentration
Headbandz Game
Pictionary

Rhythm
Human Rhythm (Students use their body to form quarter notes, eighth notes (arms linked) rests (Z on floor)
Match the Beats (start with introductory and then progress)
Match the Beats Time signature version (larger groups of 4 beats etc)
Note Value Pyramid (Pyramid resource)
Rhythm Pyramid Races (Rhythmic symbols resource )

Independent Learning Centers 
Rhythmic Puzzles
Note Name Puzzles
Subdivision Puzzles
Popsicle Sticks
Note Name Snippets
3×3 rule (3 people per station/3 minutes per station)
Note Match
BOOM Card (Bigger room to spread out for dictation – Rhythmic Dictation, Melodic Dictation)
Worksheets (Winter, Winter Symbols & Terms, Spring, Fall Note Name,  Fall Rhythm, Holiday)
Coloring Pages (St. Patrick’s Day, Spring, Valentines, Fall)
Don’t Break the Chain
Rhythm Headbands

Escape Rooms 
Music Theory (Level 1 & Level 2)
Meet the Instruments 
Music History – Digital  (Baroque Era, Jazz)
Music Theory – Digital (Basics/Level 1)

Band Directors Workshop
Detailed Article  
Dates for 2022 — July 10-16 in Canyon, TX – Registration OPEN now HERE.
Carol Brittin Chambers Grade 1 Piece – coming this summer – sign up here.

As They Advance – Note Names
Note Name Snippets
MusicTheory.net
Mad Minute
Say in Rhythm – metronome on (Snippets)
Say for Speed – timer on (Snippets)
Note Name Races – timed slides – Winter, Back to School, End of Year/Summer

As They Advance – Rhythm
Rhythm Grids Article (Rhythm Grids Bundle)
Don’t Break the Chain (Each student counts 1 measure down the row)
Don’t Break the Chain Variation (down the columns)
Drop Out / Last Musician Standing
Distraction (Students ignore everything else going on in the room)
King/Queen of the Hill (Single line, when kids make a mistake they go to the end of the line)
Rhythm Envelope (FREE sample here)
Garner Ensemble Project

Seasons
Super Bowl
March Madness (Music Symbols Madness, Rhythm Madness)
Olympics (Winter Note Races)
Band Hall-oween
St Patrick’s Day (Time Signature)
Star Wars Day (5/4)
Pie Day (3/14)
Common Time Day (4/4)
Cut Time Day (2/2)
Sousa’s Birthday (11/6)

Task Cards
Write the Room/Scavenger Hunt
Scoot (Quiz Cards HERE)
Winter Note Name, Winter Musical Symbols, Valentines, Christmas, Spring, View all here
12 Ways to Use Music Task Cards

Games for Younger Students (to GET THEM IN BAND!)
“Meet The Instruments” – Games for younger (elementary) students to develop interest in the instruments
BINGO, Coloring & Activity Book, Matching Card Games, Drag & Drop, Puzzles, Escape Room
AND with the BUNDLE, get sub lesson plans for grades 2, 3, 4 & 5!
“Join the Band” Recruiting Clinic – register here for free virtual session
“Show Me the Money” Fundraising Clinic – register here for free virtual session

Keyboard, Accidentals, Key Signature
Keyboard Basics
BDTS YouTube Channel with teaching videos
Key Chant 
Enharmonics

Conducting
Conducting to teach meter, and to understand conducting patterns
Glowstick conducting (Lesson plan for younger ages) 

Never Stop Learning
Head, Shoulders, Knees, CUP!
Epic Pencil Check

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