Music Teachers Blog

Last month I taught you how to make a music game out of checkers. This month, I want to share an idea that can be used both in your lessons, and as a nice gift for a songwriter or fellow teacher. I call it “Creative Play” but feel free to make up your own original title. It’s basically 4 stacks of cards categorized by Characters, Feelings, Places, and Actions. You play the game by randomly choosing 2 cards from each stack (no peeking!) and makeing two different scenarios. For example, let’s say you choose “Shaggy Dog” from the characters pile, “Hyper” from feelings, “Beach” from the places pile and “Running” from the actions pile. This is your first scenario. You can make a scene from this like “A shaggy dog was feeling very hyper. He was running on the beach.” Have your student make a soundtrack that could illustrate this scene as if it were a movie. You can use this one sentence as a launching pad for songwriting. Let it take you further into the second scenario you make with the other randomly drawn cards. Then see what happens. You can choose to pick more cards, or just let your imagination take over. Here’s how to make the set:

Supplies:

Old strip of sheet music

Markers (or any other colorful writing utensil)

Rub off lettering (optional)

Clear Masking Tape

Scissors

4 Stacks of paper, 4 different colors in all

Sharpie Pen

First divide your stacks of paper and decide which color will be for places, characters, feelings, and actions. On one side of the Character cards, write a character on each. Examples include Dad, Mom, Dog, Mouse, Artist, etc. Do the same for each category. On the back on the Charcter cards, write the letter “C”, on the back of the action cards write “A”, etc.

Once you have made your four stacks of cards, you might want to make a package for it, especially if you are gifting this. I took a piece of sheet music from a song I don’t care for (that way I don’t feel guilty and cut it into a wide strip. I then used Rub-Off lettering from a craft store to print the word “Play”. I then took a marker and wrote the word “Creative” above “Play” in orange, but I think I should have used the Rub Off letters for both words. It’s up to you. You can even type the words in a Word Document and then just cut and paste. Once you are done with the title, laminate it. If you don’t have a laminating machine, you can still get the job done by taking clear masking tape and place the label between peices of tape. Just be careful to make it a smooth finish.

The last thing to do is wrap the label around you stack and tape it closed. There you go! If this is a gift you might want to include instructions. Copy and paste these:

Instructions: Without peeking, randomly choose a card (in this order) from the Feelings deck, then the Character deck, then the Action deck, then the Places deck. Turn the cards over slowly, one at a time to reveal your scenario. Let you imagination run wild as you create an instrumental soundtrack to the scene, or let it be a stepping stone to the subject to new song lyrics. Repeat the process as many times as you want.

Posted in Composing & Arranging, Teaching Tips |

About the Author

When I was just a college Junior, I started teaching private guitar lessons in order to support myself. I was in a rock band, writing songs and performing on a regular basis, and I certainly did not plan on becoming a teacher. My plan was to graduate, get a job in social work, and just continue writing songs. Teaching surprised me. I ended up falling in love with the act of guiding a student from point a to point b. To watch someone go from knowing nothing about a subject, to simply performing in a recital, is such an awesome thing. I ended up scrapping that social work idea. I was doing more good as a teacher, minus the intense stress that most social workers go home with. I currently have a busy program that teaches private guitar, piano, and voice lessons in Los Angeles homes. I am also the creator of the music and service blog 38 Ways to Change the World Through Music.