There are many Websites, iPhone apps and Desktop apps to help teachers instruct their students on the complexities of Key Signatures, Triads, and Intervals – namely, Music Theory.
As a instrumental tutor I take students through theory and performance exams here in Australia. They need to understand aspects of their performance works and how to construct scales and interpret Italian music markings etc. Then as a classroom teacher I need to make sure my students understand how to read and interpret scores from various eras in musical history. It is all a part of learning that great and wonderful language we know as “Music.” If you do not know what the terms or signs mean how do you grasp the full meaning of what you are performing or learning?
So the question becomes, “How to best instruct students in the required theoretical knowledge?” I would highly recommend a trip to Music Teaching Resources.
The creator of Music Teaching Resources, Robert Hylton brought his wonderful resources to my attention over Twitter. For $18.00 you can get a collection of 200+ music theory worksheets that deal directly with the theoretical requirements for your students. There are examples for constructing intervals, rehearsing key signatures, relative minors and also graded tests. Each worksheet is constructed in a manner that emphasises a theoretical concept and allows students to practice that concept before you ‘move on.’
I had some AMEB Examinations coming up this August so made a collection of Robert Hylton’s worksheets for each level of student, Grade 1 to 4 AMEB Musicianship, and gave them out to reinforce the concepts I taught in the classroom. Each student commented on how simple the layouts were and how it drove home the concept. I had students walk away from what would normally be a ‘boring lesson’ exclaiming they now have no problems with minor intervals or Key Signatures with flats!
The excellent price, quality and fast delivery (download of a .zip file) for the entire collection of worksheets means I can reuse them anytime I want, from year 7 to year 12 and in my guitar lessons. Did I mention he also provides Guitar or Bass chord/fretboard charts? Over 250 for Teaching Guitar or Bass plus a Guitar Teaching Blog!
Makes me think I should really start to get my music and lessons together or I’ll be left behind 🙂
Thank you Music Teaching Resources.
