DIY Musical Scale Manipulatives (Easy!)

This activity is made to go with the Faber My First Piano Adventures (Lesson Book A* & Writing Book A*). If you look at “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” you might notice that the cube color matches the star color for each note (Except for the ones that I didn’t have cubes that color.)

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Materials:

• Connecting blocks, such as Snap Cubes* (or you could use wooden blocks, or whatever you have)
• Blank Garage Sale Stickers* or labels
• Marker

Instructions:

Arrange the cubes in the order of the scale, with the colors matching the colors used in the book when possible. Label your garage sale stickers with each note of the scale, then adhere them to the corresponding cubes.

How To Use Them:

I haven’t used these in lessons yet (I just started easing back into in-person lessons this month), but here are some ideas on how to use them. These manipulatives are something you can use for various activities throughout the student’s musical education.

• Note Identification – student places the correct cube on the correct piano key. Depending on the level of the student, he or she might need some help with this.
• Composition Activity – student arranges the cubes in the order of his/her choice, then plays the melody. Depending on the level of the student, consider having him/her assign a rhythm to each note (you might offer a choice of two notes), & even notate it.
• As the student progresses, use them for chord spelling.

How would you use these? Be sure to tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter so I can see how you use or adapt this activity! While you’ve got the supplies out, why not make some of these music theory teaching blocks too?

-Barbara

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