How to Teach Children Simple Music Theory

If your child is struggling with her music lessons, here's a great way to teach her a little music theory that will heighten her interest in playing an instrument.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

How to Teach Children Simple Music Theory

1. Choose a simple children’s song in a simple key; for example "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in the key of C.

2. Change the words to numbers based on the notes of the song. C equals 1, D equals 2, E equals 3 and so on up to the next C which equals 8. Notice that "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" follows a very easy pattern. Here’s the first line: 1-1-5-5-6-6-5 ("Twinkle, twinkle, little star:). The second line would be: 4-4-3-3-2-2-1 ("How I wonder what you are").
   Third and forth lines: 5-5-4-4-3-3-2 ("Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky"). Repeat lines one and two.

3. Play the C scale and have the child sing the numbers of the scale, so that he sees the relationship between the numbers of the scale and the numbers of the song.

4. Play that same song in the key of C, starting on C as 1. Ask the child to sing the numbers instead of the words. If she’s not willing or able to sing, she can speak them. (Sometimes a child’s sense of pitch is not yet well developed.)

5. Change the key to one with a few sharps and flats. G major has only 1 sharp, F sharp. Play the song again in this key, starting on G as 1. Again, have the child sing or speak the numbers as he plays.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you’ve mastered the idea of playing the song in some easy keys, use the opportunity to teach them keys with more sharps and flats. Not only will they be expanding their knowledge of the circle of fifths, they’ll be learning the concept of transposing.

[MusicalMommy]

on 12/31/2008 Wonderful suggestions! Also, for a very young child, the Trebellina DVD is helpful to ingrain much of this information even before music lessons usually begin.