Fun & Learn Music is my new favorite teaching tool this year. I use its app, SproutBeat, in almost every lesson. Here is a great review on the app.
As much as I love to use my iPad in lessons, I still like to have printed worksheets and books. I find that young students enjoy having a coloring or writing workbook. Fun & Learn Music publishes a set of three music theory workbooks. The workbooks are similar in style to worksheets on its website, but with a few added bonuses… like stickers!
Book 1 (Purple)
The purple book’s sole purpose is to have the student become familiar with the four basic note values: quarter note, half note, dotted half note, and whole note. This book could be used before a young student begins lessons. My favorite aspect of this book is the repetition for students. There are eight worksheets for each note value. Even if a student seems to grasp a concept, the information will be retained even better with repetition.
The worksheets include coloring, matching, and placing stickers. The book includes a set of stickers.
Book 2 (Orange)
The orange book covers the following beginning theory topics:
- Right and left hand
- Finger numbers
- Musical alphabet
- Key names
- Direction
Like the purple book, there is plenty of repetition for students to grasp concepts. The worksheets include matching, coloring, and placing stickers. The orange workbook corresponds well with a beginning method book such as Faber Piano Adventures primer level.
Book 3 (Blue)
The blue book covers the following theory topics:
- Note values: quarter note, half note, dotted half note and whole note
- Rests: Quarter rest, half rest, and whole rest
- Time signatures: 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4
- Staff: line and space notes, direction, clefs
- Note names on the staff in middle C position
This book can be used at the same time as the second book. If a student skips the first book, just use the blue book to teach note values and rests. The worksheets are similar in style to the other two books with plenty of coloring and stickers.
Extras!
All workbooks come with a set of printed cards. It is suggested that when you introduce a note, show it to the student on the card first. It makes it more interesting! You can also play different matching games with the cards.
Both the orange and blue books include 2 pages of cards to cut out and use to create your own game.
I absolutely love these workbooks to use with young, beginning students! Click here to get more info about the workbooks.
Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages in New Orleans, LA. Teaching is her passion. She enjoys creating resources for her students and is the author of Ready for Theory®.
I am so excited about these workbooks! My students absolutely love the SproutBeat app, and the new ID numbers are super helpful to keep track of their worksheets. I already know that the stickers in the workbooks will be a huge hit. Thank you for writing such a great review-I’m going to stock up!