How to Teach Music Theory to Kids
Teaching music theory to children is a great way for a young student to gain a deeper understanding of music. Whether they are first learning the piano, another instrument, or just want to learn about mechanics and fundamentals, music theory lessons are always a good idea and can begin at any age. Of course, some of the more complex elements of theory are better left to older or more advanced students, but concepts like pitch, rhythm, scales, major/minor keys, and harmony can be easy and fun for both teacher and student alike.
Instructions
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Clap your hands in a rhythmic and steady pattern and ask the kids to follow suit. As the kids are clapping together, explain that what they are clapping in a steady pattern is known as rhythm. All music, no matter what style, what instruments are used or how old, has a rhythm.
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Stop clapping and put on a piece of classical music they may know (Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" is good) then start clapping to the piece's beat and ask the kids to follow. Explain that what they are all clapping to now is known as the piece's beat. Almost every piece of music in the world has a beat. To get to an even more worldly angle, say that even our hearts have a steady beat, which means in a sense that we are a piece of music too. The speed at which they are clapping is known as a piece's tempo. Play the Rondo section of "Eine Kleine" to illustrate a faster tempo.
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Bring out the piano or keyboard once the idea of beat and rhythm have gotten across. Plink a very high note on the piano followed by a very low one and ask the kids to identify which note is high and which note is low. They should all be in agreement. Try a few more examples of this, maybe a bit closer together. Alternately you could try speaking in a very high tone and low tone and see if the can correctly name the high or low examples.
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Explain that the highness and lowness of a sound is known as "tone" or "pitch" and that sounds that we hear in music are all made up of a series of pitches.
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Sing a piece of music that the kids may know ("The Star Spangled Banner") or play one on the piano ("Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"). Tell them what they are hearing is a series of pitches known as melody. Ask them to sing or play their favorite song and explain that each thing they are singing is a melody or series of pitches.
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Move on to explaining a scale as a very specific melody for a piece of music. Play a major scale on the piano to illustrate the concept.
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Explain in further and further complexity to the children the concepts of music theory as they grasp the information. When the students have grasped the initial concepts, you can move on to major and minor scales, harmony, chord progressions, etc.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy an elementary music theory book to guide you along the way in explaining theory.
It is very important that each lesson builds upon another and that every concept has a concrete example. In most cases, kids prefer real applications of a concept rather than just an intellectual understanding.
Do not overwhelm a child with information. If a concept is difficult to understand try to use more and more examples, or take a break before moving on.
If your personal CD library isn't large enough to use for music examples, check out CDs from a public library.
