Try these games for Faber Piano Adventures Level 1 to test young students’ comprehension and develop their skills.

Unit 1: Melodic Shapes

Teacher draws a shape. Student plays a melody that matches the shape.

Variation:  Switch roles.

Unit 1: Legato and Staccato

Student improvises a melody in a 5-finger pattern. Teacher randomly calls out “legato!” or staccato!” Student must continue playing with the appropriate articulation without stopping.

Variation:  Switch roles.

Units 2 and 3

Repeat games from the Primer Level as needed.

Unit 4: Playing by Ear

Teacher first confirms Student’s ability to recognize and sing broken (melodic) 2nds, 3rds, 4ths and 5ths. Teacher asks Student, “What’s your favorite song to sing? Or a song you know how to sing?” If Student can’t think of one, try one of these (the letter in parentheses is the starting pitch for the song in the key of C):

  • Happy Birthday (G)
  • My Country ‘Tis of Thee (C)
  • Silent Night (G)
  • Jingle Bells (refrain) (E)
  • Joy to the World (C)
  • Hark the Herald Angels Sing (G)
  • Ode to Joy (E)

After choosing a song, Teacher shows Student the starting pitch for the song in the key of C. Student then sings the first phrase. Then, singing the same phrase again, student tries to figure out the melody on the keyboard.

Unit 4: Count the Rest

With the metronome on, Teacher improvises a brief melody with a rest in the middle. Student has to keep track of the length of the rest, and alternately say (or write) exactly what rests would be used (quarter, half and/or whole).

Unit 5

Repeat games from the Primer Level as needed.

Unit 6: Sharps and Flats

Teacher names white keys and sharp keys alternately. Student must find and play the given note as quickly as possible.

Repeat for flats.

Unit 7: Tonic and Dominant

Student plays and holds tonic and dominant bass notes while Teacher improvises above. Teacher calls out “tonic” and “dominant” for Student to play as desired.

Unit 8: The C Major Chord

Student plays C major chords and sustains them with the pedal while Teacher improvises above.

Variation:  Switch roles.

Unit 9: Music Appreciation and Playing by Ear

Listen to the beginning of the second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony (No. 94). Help students learn to sing the beginning of the melody. Then show them the starting note and have them figure out how to play it.

Listen to the beginning of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Learn to sing and then play the “fate motif”.

Home assignment:  Listen to the entire first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

Unit 10: Accents

Student plays a bass ostinato on one key, accenting some notes but not others, while Teacher improvises also using accents.

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