Featuring: Cornerstone Number 6

November Special: Music Mind Games Unit 1 Course Booklet by Michiko Yurko for teachers who have taken workshop training + a free Handbook

Game: Speed - the most popular game

Upcoming Workshops: for student workshops and Teacher Training

Cornerstone Number 6

CORNERSTONES The Philosophy of Music Mind Games

      "Happy and relaxed students will hardly realize they are learning because they are having so much fun."

CORNERSTONES FOR STUDENTS:

      "It's easier to learn when you're happy."

Special Offer to Teachers Who Have Taken Training

Attention all teachers who have taken training in either Unit 1, Unit 2, or the 3-Day Overview!  During the month of November there is a special offer to order a copy of the latest revision of the Course Booklet for Unit 1. Plus, with each Course Booklet ordered, we will add a free copy of the newly revised Handbook ($12.50 value) that now includes descriptions of Classic Games.

The booklet was first printed in 2010 and has been revised 13 times after each of the workshops I taught since then. The booklet is 58 double-sided pages; it is spiral bound and contains 90 games with many new ideas, photos and graphics. It includes the Cornerstones, tips on sorting materials, a Classic Games chart, teaching tips, Teacher's Record Book charts, and games in the following subjects: reading rhythms, music alphabet and intervals, dictation and sight-singing, staff and notes, scales, music symbols, tempos, and triads and chords. Most games have ideas for adaptations for classroom use or individual lessons.

This booklet is offered only to teachers who have had training because it is not meant to be a stand-alone book. It must be supplemented with game playing and teacher trainer guidance to fully convey the meaning and spirit of the games. 

A few days ago a special newsletter was sent to teachers who have taken a Music Mind Games Teacher Training workshop* that has more details about the booklet, the special offer, and a link to the page to order a copy. It is possible some teachers have changed their email addresses since their workshops. If you did not receive the newsletter, please email me and I will send you a copy.

*Unit 1, Unit 2, 3-Day Overview

Rhythm Math Game: Speed

Hands down, this is the most popular Music Mind Games game ever. It is a Classic Game that develops the ability to quickly think forwards and backwards at almost the same time. Since this is something musicians must do constantly, this game is an excellent brain game. Speed is an advanced version of Slow except with more cards and without turns. For directions for Slow, see the newsletter dated 1/28/2010. For Speed, see p. 314 in the Music Mind Games book. Also see page 50 in the revised Handbook.5 for ideas how to adapt it for practicing intervals, solfege, notes on the staff, tempos and key signatures.

Goals: To have great fun thinking fast

Materials: rhythm playing cards 

Number of Players: 2 per deck of cards

Teaching Game or Memory Game: memory game

YouTube Videos: Speed (how to play) and Speed with Notes and Rests - Sweden 

Deal: Rhythm playing cards are dealt as in Slow, except dealer deals (1) two cards face-up in the center to form the discard piles, (2) five cards are placed face down in the side piles, (3) five cards are dealt face up to each player, and (4) the remaining cards are divided evenly into two stacks that the players hold face down in their hands.

Play: After saying "GO!", players place notes or rests cards that are one less or one more than the top cards in the discard piles as fast as they can without taking turns. Play is very "free" with values of cards going up or down as player's cards are played.

• notes can be played on rests and vice versa
• notes can be played on notes and rests can be played on rests
• dotted notes must be played between cards without dots
• dotted notes must be played between rests
• sixteenths are played on whole values and vice versa (wraparounds)

Students quickly fill new spaces in their row with cards from their stacks. When stuck (neither player has a card to play on either discard pile), one player says “Go!” and each one turns over one card from a side pile. Next time they are stuck, the other player says "Go". If it happens that there are no cards left in the side piles, the top two cards from the discard pile remain in place, and the cards underneath are gathered up and turned face down to become the new side piles. 

Players must hold their stack of cards in one hand and move cards with the other. Only when a player has used all the cards in his/her stack, is it okay to use two hands to play the last five cards. The first player to discard all of his/her cards into the discard piles wins the game. Yes, this is one of the few Music Mind Games that has a winner. But, players rarely mind as they shuffle the cards to play again.

In teacher training workshops I'm often challenged to a game of Speed. Of course, everyone cheers for the teacher rather than me. And my students love to play me, too and often beat me. I'm happy to play anyone of you reading this next time we meet.

Practice playing Speed with your students/children - tell them that in a later issue I will share how to play Ultimate Speed.

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• Featuring Cornerstone Number 4
• Name the New Materials Set Contest!
• New Game Idea: Blue Jello Dominos
• Three New YouTube Videos
• Upcoming Workshops through August, 2011

We are delighted to announce that three new advanced materials are soon to be released as an add-on to the Puppy Packet: notes and rests cards, music symbol cards - set 2 and blue jello cards - set 2. They will be sold separately, but we need a name when they are sold as a set. Right now the working title is Puppy Plus. If you have a better idea, please take a moment and send it to us. If your name idea is selected, you will win a free set of materials! Give it some thought and ask your students for names.

Some things to remember: The name needs to be easy to remember, easy to say and convey the idea that the materials are more advanced Puppy Packet items.

Click here to email your ideas!

Part 1

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Part 2

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Part 3

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This new game is easy-to-play and loved by students and teachers alike. It covers 6 important objectives for learning how to read rhythms:

1.    1. Introduce the concept of rhythm without bar lines
2.    2. Learn to read left to right
3.    3. Learn to keep a steady beat when reading rhythms
4.    4. Learn the vocabulary of blue jello words and hand signs to help understand the shapes of notes and rests
5.    5. Learn to think, feel andsee rhythm as note groups (like words) rather than individual notes or rests
6.    6. Hear rhythms internally

Goals: To read, sign and hear rhythms

Materials:  blue jello cards set 1 - either size. Use two sets for larger groups 

Introduction: This game is best taught and played without talking or sound. This attracts everyone's full attention, creates a more polite environment and helps students internalize the sounds of rhythm. Reassure them that most will easily understand your silent explanations. If they do not, suggest they watch the others to catch on. To get started, add one card at a time using these rules:
     1. Cards connect with a common rhythm (like the game dominos)
     2. Cards can be horizontal or vertical

After you place a few cards correctly, look at the students to see if they agree with where you’ve placed the cards. You can give a thumbs up for yes and they will give you one back. Add a card incorrectly and look up. If they give a thumbs up, show them the sign for no (cross hands at the wrists and tap twice) and replace it with a correct one. Use hand motions to explain why the new card is correct.

Students Play: After placing five to six cards, take the remaining ones and scatter them nearby. Demonstrate that they are to pick up one card at a time and add it to the game. This helps everyone play fairly. Step back and let them freely add cards to create a domino pattern. When necessary, calmly remove an incorrectly placed card. After the students are finished adding all the cards, admire their work by shaking your hands in the air near your head, the hand sign for clapping.

Dictation Clean-up: Blue Jello hand signs make it possible to clean up without sound. Snap your fingers once so everyone knows you are beginning. Click your tongue if snapping isn’t easy. Choose a card and look away, sign the rhythm, wait for students to raise their hands and choose someone to find the card. Once she finds the right card, everyone makes the silent clapping sign. Guide them to place the cards in piles by color (blue-orange-yellow). Once they catch on, indicate that the student who found the card may sign a new card and choose someone to find it. This delightful play increases their ability to memorize and use correct pulse and rhythm. Depending on available time, play Dictation Clean-up with some or all of the cards. After all are cleaned-up show them how to arrange the cards in order in three columns by looking at the small numbers on each card. Then pick them up in order. Voila! All cleaned up!

Individual Lesson or Classroom Idea: Using an open space on the floor in your studio, lay out a domino pattern before your first student arrives for the day. Play Dictation Clean-up a few times in each lesson. At the end of the day, all the cards will be cleaned up.

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• Featuring Cornerstone Number 3
• Workshops in Kensington, MD (Early bird discount ends May 1st)
• New Game Idea: Orange Opposites
• New YouTube Video
• Upcoming Workshops through August, 2011

Unit 1 Workshop - July 25 - 29, 2011

Only a few spaces remaining

Unit 2 Workshop - August 8 - 12, 2011 

Only a few spaces remaining

Materials: Music symbol cards set 1 - one deck for each group of students and magic notes

Set-Up: There are four cards that won't have matches so remove them from the deck before playing (top left). Randomly place the remaining cards into this pattern (top right) with some cards facing up and some facing down.

Set-Up: Students take turns around the circle finding cards that express opposite things musically, e.g. cresc. and decresc., staccato and legato, treble clef and bass clef, and grand staff and single staff. Amazingly, there are 15 pairs in the music symbol cards set 1. When a pair is identified, the two cards can be marked with two magic notes of the same color. If a player doesn't see a match, s/he can turn over one of the face-down cards and try to make a match. If no match is possible, it is the next student's turn. During play, use the Music Mind Games play or pass technique; students have the option to take a turn and play or to pass and not play by simply saying, "pass".

Repetitions: Can be played repeatedly for learning and review

Note from Michiko: This game was made up in Joyce Bennett's Unit 1 course in Eugene, Oregon last summer. I was really delighted to learn that so many of the cards in set 1 could form opposites and thus make this fun game for learning or for reviewing. It is an easy set-up with easy rules.

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• Featuring Cornerstone Number 2
• Unit 1 Workshop in Kensington, MD
• Unit 2 Workshop in Kensington, MD
• Upcoming Workshops through June, 2011

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• Featuring Cornerstone Number 1
• Interested in a Unit 1 in Edinburgh, Scotland?
• Upcoming Workshops
• Game Idea: Line and Space Song
• Classic Game: Slow (slow version of Speed)

I have been invited to teach a Unit 1 Teacher Training workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland. The hosting teachers are hopeful they will have enough enrollment. If you would like to attend, please contact Maria Lopez (marietazul@yahoo.es), if possible by March 5, to help them make their decision. This is the only European Unit 1 workshop I will be teaching in 2011.

What: Unit 1 Teacher Training Course
Trainer: Michiko Yurko
Who is it for: Music teachers of all instruments and voice – private and classroom
When: 5 - 9 May 2011
Hours: 30 teaching hours. Possibly 9.30 - 12.30 and 1.30 - 4.30 each day
Cost: around £300 per person

Music Mind Games Presentations
Carsten Vief
March 04 & March 18
The Royal Academy of Music
Skovgaardsgade, Aarhus Denmark

Unit 1 Teachers Workshop
Michiko Yurko
March 26-27 and April 1-3
Northern Arizona University 
Fagstaff, Arizona USA

For more information on upcoming workshops, please click here

Prerequisite: Puzzle Notes, Fine, and Stacked Snake (see photo in the Handbook on page 7 for a more up-to-date layout than the video). To keep the game fun and not overwhelming, students should be comfortable with the sequence of notes and rests, equivalent values, the concept of wrap-around and placement of dotted notes. Students may use guide cards or make a chart of note and rest values to use as reference.

Materials: 1 deck of rhythm playing cards for two players. Students may pair up as well.

Play: The goal of the game is for one player to discard all of his or her cards before the other player. The dealer places one card face up in front of his partner, then deals one to himself until each player has three cards. Two cards are placed face up in the center and will be the discard piles. The side piles are dealt face down and have three cards each. The remaining cards are divided evenly between the two players into two piles. These piles must be held in one hand by each player during the game.
 
The player opposite the dealer takes the first turn. If possible he chooses and discards one of his three face up cards into either of the center piles. The card must be either one value higher or one value lower than the top card; either choice is correct and the card may be a note or a rest. A dotted note must always be used between non-dotted notes or rests. He/she replaces that card with one from his pile. Players take turns discarding cards. Wrap-arounds (sixteenth to whole and vice versa) are necessary, of course. If someone doesn’t have a card to play, he/she says “Pass,” and the other player can play. There’s no limit to how many times one player can pass.
 
If both players say “Pass” in a row, each takes a card from the side piles and turns it face up onto a center pile to break the impasse. If the side piles should run out of cards, the two face up cards on the center piles remain, and the rest of the pile is turned face down and becomes a side pile. The game finishes when a player discards all his cards or play can continue until both players have discarded all their cards.

Other Uses: Slow is a Classic Game which means it can be used with other music theory concepts. One new idea is to use do re mi cards (use five cards each of do, re, mi, fa, so, la, and ti). The deal is as described above. Cards are placed on the center piles in seconds with both students singing the card on the pile and the one just added. It's helpful to "tune up" by singing do mi so mi do do (an octave up) do before play begins and during the game. As with all versions of Slow, the game is not a test, but for learning so whenever help is needed, it should be given quickly and in a friendly way. See page 39 of the Handbook for more ideas.