Pot of Gold Resources – Rhythm on a Roll
Today’s resource that is worth it’s weight in gold comes from Leila Viss at 88 Piano Keys. She has come up with a brilliant way to reinforce note values in her new game Rhythm on a Roll. Such a cute name!
I knew this was going to be a great game, but I didn’t realize just how crazy my students would be over it.
Rhythm on a Roll got a HUGE thumbs up!
Before I share more about my experience with Rhythm on a Roll, take a look at it in action from the creator herself!
Here’s what one teacher had to say about Rhythm on a Roll:
“LOVE Rhythm on a Roll! So simple, and clever, and my first students to play it said the magic words: “Let’s do it again!” – Janelle
To say my students were excited about this game is an understatement. We played eight rounds of this and they were still wanting more!
So much more, that one of my groups would not stop until I let them use EVERY SINGLE dice I had in my studio…..27 to be exact!
Here are a couple variations I tried with my students:
- For my younger students who needed to see the game in action a few times before trying it on their own, I chose 2 game boards. Students rolled to determine which game board would be theirs, thus creating teams. Evens were on one game board and odds were on another. I walked them through both game boards and everyone on the team won or lost as a group. Students rolled again and created new teams with every repetition.
- Students swapped game boards every turn.
- To add an extra element, students rolled one dice to determine which number would be subtracted instead of added.
Rhythm on a Roll includes four levels (six cards in each level) and instruction pages with variations that encourage creativity, prize ideas, and how to incorporate this game outside of group teaching. This is such a valuable resource that can be used in many ways.
Rhythm on a Roll is valued at $6.88 and Leila has been generous enough to offer $2 off with a special discount code for Fun Key Music readers. Enter the code FUNKEYROLL at checkout through March 31st to receive your discount.
Get your copy today!
One lucky reader will get a FREE copy of Rhythm on a Roll. To enter, comment with how you reinforce note values–especially for those students who think two eighth notes equals two beats.
Good luck to everyone! The winner will be announced this Friday, March 17th! On St. Patrick’s Day!
I used the Decide Now app to help choose our winner.
Congratulations, Jennifer! You and your students are going to LOVE this game! If you didn’t get the free game, remember you can download it at a discount through March 31st using the code FUNKEYROLL.
I’ve just recently begun to explain to my students that a pair of eighth notes is like a pair of shoes. You have two shoes but they equal one pair! And, when there are 4 eighth notes beamed together they together equal 2 pairs of shoes! I have them circle the pairs of shoes.
I normally use words to reinforce two note quaver rhythms and clap them first but yesterday it just wasn’t working. I had 2 little toys with short legs who I said had to run along to keep up behind a toy with longer legs and once we had used them a few times, it suddenly seemed to click. The student’s mother was very pleased as, despite all her efforts during the week to show her daughter how quavers were played, it just hadn’t sunk in. I like the shoe idea mentioned above and will remember this for next time.
We reinforce rhythm by clapping, tapping, or shaking out the rhythm before we even look at the note names of a piece! Thankfully most of my students learn almost right away that two 8th notes are just worth 1 beat 🙂
For students that are old enough to understand fractions, I use those to explain note values. That seems to do the trick. For younger students I try not to introduce eighth notes, but if I do we talk about how they are faster and play and clap them, that usually is enough for them to understand for the time. 🙂
We use bucket drums or rhythm sticks to reinforce the rhythms. We also look for and highlight “tricky” rhythms before we play the piece and review their names and values. I also love using the Feierabend method of keeping a silent, steady beat by tapping fingers as we say the note names or sing syllables. Rhythm on a Roll looks like a fantastic game for reinforcing these concepts!
I remind my students that ti – ti (two eighth notes) are “2 sounds on one beat.” We march around the room and say “ti – ti” on every step (ta – quarter note).
Congratulations, Jennifer! I’ve let Leila know that you are our winner!
I find lyrics/words most useful in helping student with rhythms at the keyboard. Away from the keyboard we use Wendy Steven’s Rhythm Menagerie, Rhythm Cups and Rhythm Manipulations, the Rhythm Swing app, and for the very tactile learning I love using LEGO blocks to build rhythm patterns.
We use rhythm instruments or beanie babies to bounce the rhythm.
Carol Matz, Leila Viss, D’Net Layton, Anne Crosby Gaudet, and others have rhythm cards built on food word phrases.
I also really like using Teach Piano Today’s various improv card activities; some cards already have phrases with the notation; others are blank for the kids to come up with their own. With some kids we do those in the lesson; for others I send it home as an assignment. When the kids come up with the phrases and notate them, it really sticks so much better. It’s also a great diagnostic tool–you can immediately see what they get and what needs work.
Then there’s Susan Paradis’s fantastic Rhythm Pizza.
Sometimes we’ll walk to the beat and clap or do a rhythm instrument with the rhythm. That takes a little while to develop. We start with baby steps, so to speak, and continue building.
I love the shoes analogy! That one’s being added to the bag of tricks, for sure!