Simpedia

Barbara M., New Jersey

I have been doing playlist review at the beginning of each lesson in a different way. I wrote up song clues on post it notes, folded them, and put in a basket. They have to play the song for the clues they choose.

The clues would be something like:
The first blues song you learned.
A song that we learned using sentences
A song with chord ratios
A song by Beethoven
Pairs of twos
Not a pig, but a ______
Not heavy, but ________ (Light blue)

There are several right answers for some of the clues.  Some are silly like “ho-hum” for Sleeping.
I may give an assignment for them to make up some clues to bring to class.

They are getting fired up about guessing the clues. We have played this game a couple of weeks in a row and they still think it is a hoot despite already knowing the answers. Then they started acting like– “This is so ridiculously easy for me!.” When they get too-too easy, I will simply make up more clues.

Carol P., Michigan

I did something similar. I wrote the clues (harmony diagram, 2’s ect) on the back of popsicle sticks with the name of the song on the other side. They draw a stick and have to figure out from the clues what the song is. They love it!!

Sue C., Australia

I have told my young group of three who are in level 2 that we now need to play songs in level 1 real smoothly as we are getting ready for duets. I am using Elizabeth Gaikwad’s book of foundation duets. One of the mums who plays will play a duet from the book with them and I will also be able to do this. I will then use it with other students in the same way.

This is a way of revisiting level 1 and keeping it alive as well as being an easy introduction to duets. I love the happy style of the duets. They have a musical theatre sound which must come from Elizabeth’s early exposure to the stage. I read this in the last SM newsletter.