Being able to identify intervals immediately is an essential skill for sight reading.  That’s why I like to do all I can to get my students to identify an interval by sight as quickly as possible.  This game helps do just that!

This game is also a helpful assessment tool for me to see just what they know, and don’t know, about intervals.

Level: Beginner

Objective: To review intervals

Materials:

• Interval cards by composecreate.com, at least 2 copies, printed and cut out
• A spray bottle, optional

Players needed: 1 or more

Game Play: 

Mix up the interval cards, face down.  Then the player has to sort the interval cards in odd and even intervals before the timer “explodes”!  If they can’t sort it out before the timer explodes, then you get to give them a spray in the face.

Of course, the “explosion” is completely optional and you will have to decide if that will be fun, or not so fun for your student.

The reason I like my students sorting intervals into odd and even intervals is because this helps them to identify the pattern of odd and even intervals:  that odd intervals will have both notes be the same (they will both land on spaces or both land on lines).  The even intervals will always be different (one note will land on a line, one on a space).

Begin with 30 seconds time explosions, then see if they can do it in 25 seconds or less!

Once they have that mastered, then you can have them sort the cards into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and octaves.  Do this before the timer explodes…or else!

Click here for more really fun games and activities for teaching piano!

PianoTels

Tel loves her life as a piano player, a piano teacher, and a mom. Amid piano blogging, piano teaching, and piano playing, she loves a chance to fit in a good exercise class, volunteer at her kids’ school and at her church, and go on long dates with her husband. Full bio at About Tel.