The Galaxy Race
The Galaxy Race is a game to reinforce students’ understanding of their violin fingerboards. I have been working with several students the last couple years who struggle because they don’t know where pitches are on their instrument. In the learning process they created some short-cuts which worked for a while. But these mental shortcuts begin showing up as they advance. I’ve been thinking about steps I can take to help students in the beginning stages. Here are a few ideas:
- Have students say pitch names out loud while they play scales.
- Say letter names out loud as they learn a piece.
- Quiz students on “What letter is 2nd finger on the A string?” etc…
The Galaxy Race
Purpose: Identifying pitch names on fingerboard diagrams
Players: 2 or more
Items Needed: an object or piece of candy for each player; fingerboard cards cut apart on dotted lines; game board;
Instructions:
- Print out the cards and game board. (I like to print it on card stock. The weight of the paper prevents the design from showing through.) Choose the cards that have fingers positions that your student knows. As the students learn new fingering add in other cards
- Use pieces of candy or other objects to represent each player.
- Mix in the cards and stack the cards at the edge of the game board in a draw pile. Choose a player to begin.
- Take the card from the top of the stack, if the player can answer the card correctly he moves his piece to the next star.
- The next player then begins their turn.
- If the player cannot answer the question or answers the question incorrectly, the next player has the option of answering the question. If the next player answers the question correctly, that player moves to the next star. When the card is answered incorrectly, the next player tires to answer the card. Continue asking the players until the card is answered correctly.
- Then the play returns to order before the card was answered incorrectly.
- Place answered cards in a discard pile. Once all the cards are in the discard pile the cards may be reshuffled and put back into the draw pile
The Galaxy Race - Fingerboard Cards
Special cards: These cards have special instructions and should be mixed into the draw pile. The player drawing a special card should follow the printed instructions.
The player who reach the finish line wins the game.
The Galaxy Race - Special Cards
I had a parent who would play this game at home with her child after their practice session. She came back to the lesson and asked for a parent cheat sheet. She was having trouble keeping up, but also she wanted to make sure there was no cheating going on at home. HA! So I have also included a parent cheat sheet. All of the fingerboard diagrams are on one page with the answer in the top right corner.
Parent Cheat Sheet
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