- I love the excitement that comes as students learn piano keys!
One of the first things I ask a new student is, “Do you know anything about the piano?”
When they shyly respond, “No,” I ask them what color the piano keys are.
Of course, they immediately say “black and white.”
And then they grin when they realize they do know something about the piano!
From there, we actually learn all the piano key names.
3 Tips to help students learn piano keys
I love this keyboard geography video by Melody Payne, where she gives cute sayings and helpful tips in teaching students piano keys.
If you don’t know how to help students learn piano keys, this is a great video to watch.
Once you teach your students piano key names, here are 3 tips to help them retain it.
1) Find every note…
I always assign my students to “find all the Ds on the piano” and then “find all the Es” and so on. This also helps students familiarize themselves with “high” and “low.”
2) Find notes at random
Once my students have drilled finding the same note on all registers of the piano, I give them a note drill, where I mix up the notes for them to find one at a time (e.g. “Find A, now D, C, E, F, B, G…”).
I will also use this time to drill specific notes, “Find a high A, find a low B, find a C in the middle.”
3) Write songs
One of the most interactive ways to help students learn piano keys is to have them write their own music using the notes they know.
It can be very simple where the student picks notes at random and adds their own little lyrics.
Because the student has written the music, they usually are very excited to play something they made up.
I especially love this idea, because you can use it with students who progress through learning their piano keys slowly.
If they only know two notes, they can create a song to review those two notes.
Each week, you can create a new song based on the new notes they’ve learned.
If you like this idea and want a little more guidance, check out our music composition guides that can be used from this level to more intermediate note-reading levels.
Keyboard Kittens: a way to help students learn piano keys
If you want to do some off-bench activities to establish piano knowledge with your students, Keyboard Kittens is a fun and easy music theory game to help your students learn piano keys.
Students chase yarn across a special kitten room as they identify notes and see who can get to the basket first.
What is Keyboard Kittens Music Theory Game?
Don’t let the title fool you.
Keyboard Kittens isn’t only about learning the keyboard. Since we like our games to be as versatile as possible, we have once again created two levels.
Use Keyboard Kittens for new beginners
We wanted a keyboard-focus for this game, specifically for young beginners.
Level 1 covers white notes on the keyboard.
The students will identify the piano key and move forward on the board to the appropriate letter name.
Use Keyboard Kittens for intermediate note readers
Once students are comfortable with piano keys and have moved to note names, you can use Level 2 cards.
Level 2 covers notes on the staff up to two ledger lines! (this is more than our Starfish Staff game, which focuses only on the lines and spaces)
Bonus: Use Keyboard Kittens as a solfege music theory game
Several international teachers have given us input to make Music Game Club games playable across the globe, and solfege is one request we’ve received.
Keyboard Kittens game has two different game boards to use with the cards to add even more versatility: the music alphabet and solfege.
Here’s what you’ll get with the Keyboard Kittens printable download:
- Keyboard Kittens game in 2 sizes: US letter & A4
- Keyboard Kittens game board with the music alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
- Bonus Keyboard Kittens game board with solfege (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti)
- 33 Level 1 cards (notes on keyboard)
- 50 Level 2 cards (notes on the staff)
- 8 kitten game pieces
- Keyboard Kittens success poster
- Print release
- How to Play tutorial video
You will get the digital file to print and laminate (optional) for your music studio in both letter size (US) and A4 size (international).
Music Game Club members will also get:
- Keyboard Kittens activity sheets in 2 sizes: US Letter & A4
- A3 & Poster-sized game boards
- Printable Guide
- Tutorial videos with bonus gameplay ideas
Membership is only open twice a year. Check out our membership page here for more details.
Get Keyboard Kittens music theory game here.
How to Play Keyboard Kittens Music Theory Game
The gameplay is a simple, Candyland-type gameplay where students draw a card, identify the note, and move forward–unless, of course, they get a specialty card, in which they could move forward or backward!
We know students are going to love it!
See how it’s played in our video…
- A complete breakdown of what you get in the music game download
- A step-by-step tutorial for how to play the game
- A few teaching tips and suggestions
Don’t see the video above? Watch How to Play Keyboard Kittens on YouTube here.
Play Keyboard Kittens in Group Lessons
Keyboard Kittens naturally lends itself to group piano lesson game play.
You get 8 kitten game pieces and can play with both levels on the same game board.
We provide a bonus poster-sized game board option (included with membership) for both the music alphabet and solfege versions that you can bring to your local print shop and get a larger board for students to crowd around.
Keyboard Kittens is easily played with 2 students or 8.
For more than 8 players, you will need to print multiple game pieces.
Keyboard Kittens Game Success Poster
We believe celebrating music theory game wins with a success poster will build student rapport!
The students have a goal to work toward (taking a picture with the success poster) and you can send the picture to the parents as a way to showcase what their child has achieved during lessons.
It’s a win-win!
These also give you great material for social media posts (be sure to tag @musicgameclub so we can celebrate with your kiddos!).
Keyboard Kittens Music theory Game activity sheet
Once the student has completed the Keyboard Kittens music theory game, you can further help them solidify their music theory knowledge with the activity sheet (included with membership).
We have two levels of activity sheets to go along with the Level 1 and Level 2 cards.
Level 1 activity sheet has the piano keyboard for students to color while Level 2 activity sheet is a story the student needs to decode by identifying the notes.
This is a great send-home activity after your students have played the game.
Behind the scenes of Keyboard Kittens music game
We are proud of the artwork by Kristen McHenry and Emily Darrel. We also love behind-the-scenes, so wanted to share a sneak peek of progress pictures from Keyboard Kittens.
Want Keyboard Kittens music game to help students learn piano keys?
Keyboard Kittens was Music Game Club’s July 2023 membership music theory game. Anyone can now get Keyboard Kittens in the shop here.
With our monthly membership, you’ll always receive:
- A monthly music game (formatted for 8.5” x 11” and A4 printing)
- Exclusive Music Game Club membership emails
- Video tutorials
- Themed success posters to go with the monthly game
- Bonus activity review sheet
- Bonus video tutorials with extra gameplay ideas
The membership is only $9.97/month and you did read all of the above correctly.
You get so much that will help you boost student morale and make you a favorite music teacher this year.
You won’t lose the momentum and excitement all year!
Your students will start anticipating what new game you will thrill them with each month!
Comment and share!
What are your favorite methods in teaching students piano keys?
Do you have any cats? If so, what do your students think of them?
Let us know in the comments below.
You may also like…
- 5 Low-Prep Music Games
- Lines and Spaces Music Theory Game Starfish Staff
- How to Start Teaching Piano Students Music Composition
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