Sunday, September 30, 2007
Theory Question
Does anyone have any fast and fun ways to help my students memorize key signatures? I have 24 students in my Fundamentals of Music Theory class. About half are in band. Nearly the rest are in choir. The rest have never seen a music note in their life!!! It really disturbs and surprises me that the band students don't seem to make the connection between what they learn in band and the theory. I had the students writing out scales and the band students were placing the sharps and flats on the wrong side of the note. You would think they would know where to put the accidentals because they see it all the time in their band music. I'm totally shocked to find out that the band students don't have their key signatures memorized. This class is having a very difficult time memorizing the key signatures. I've tried the circle of fifths, but it's not clicking. Does anyone have any ideas?
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3 comments:
We just did key signatures in theory and we had the kids make flashcards and they we made a big set and played a racing game where they were timed on who could name the key signature the quickest. they were told to play this game at home with a friend and come back and on the test they were timed as well. It seemed to work.
I have found a lot of success with teaching scales on the piano in along with teaching key signatures. If students can remember that there are three sharps when they play an A major scale they will know that when there are 3 sharps in a key signature it is related to A major etc. This gives the students a "reason" to know key signatures.
Why not do an activity where the class splits into groups and creates their own way to remember the #s or bs. and the key signatures. then they can present/perform for the class and everyone will not only have their own way to memorize it, but also, they will have the other groups reviewing it for them.
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