Elementary Music Education

Best Parents’ and Music Teachers’ Resources in Music Lessons for Children

I often see the sad faces of students when it comes to the topic of elementary music theory; for many of them the subject is boring and unexciting. One reason for this aversion is that teachers do not use music theory games during these lessons.

Why? With this question I went to several teachers and heard the following reasons: lack of money to buy and no time to search for music theory games as well as their use in the classroom. The lion's share of the lesson is spent on checking homework and mostly on explaining new material to the students. In practice almost no time left. On the one hand the reason is actually justifiable. After all, the lessons only last 60 minutes once a week. Moving from lesson to lesson, students quickly forget what the teacher explained last time and what they practiced. And nobody at home can help...

The importance of music theory cannot be overstated. It is for musicians what mathematics is for regular people. You cannot do without it.

I think you will agree with me that if teachers plan only to explain a new topic and check the old one, then not only will children get bored but adults too. This subject consists entirely of rules that you need to be familiar with and be able to apply. Every young musician should learn the ropes in it, if he wants to move further up the ladder of knowledge.

Teachers’ paucity of funds for music theory games is also a very valid reason, but only for beginners, because experienced teachers can find funds for additional educational materials. Please remember: a good teacher always has a busy schedule!

Let us assume that your teacher is experienced but still, for some reason, he or she does not use music theory games in the classroom. Why? Maybe because he may simply not know that there are games that can be used not only to explain new material well and get excellent practice done during class, but also for students to practice at home. When playing the music theory games, the child simply does not notice the complexity of the material because he is not learning; he is playing! Music theory games significantly increase the interest and motivation of children to learn lessons, believe my experience.

I often meet people who say they do not like computer games, and they repeat other people's arguments about their dangers. You know why? Because these people are not aware that there are good educational games available, or they just do not know how to play them! Do not criticize them; just teach them how to play and you will see how their lives will become more interesting and exciting.

How to improve the situation? How to find a compromise? How to blur the line between lack of money and indifference to the music theory games?

If you, dear parents and supporters of educational games, really want to help your child improve his or her knowledge of music theory, search on the Internet for music theory games, show the teacher everything that is up to date on this subject, and ask him to choose one of the games for your child. Obviously the game should be related to the topic that your child is studying at the moment. Ask the teacher to learn the game himself and teach it to your son or daughter.

Once your child learns it, ask him to demonstrate it to you, dear parents and his younger sister or brother.

Keep yourself up to date with your child’s music theory lessons and learn newer music theory games accordingly. You will then see a significant change for the better not only in your child but also in his teachers!

Play and learn!

Music Theory Games

Music Theory Games Are Here