Small group games - for 2-5 people!
Musical Twister
Trying to teach your child how to read music can be difficult, but not so with musical twister! Simply draw five lines on an old sheet, cut out pieces of cloth in round shapes, and put them on the spaces and lines. Call out the note you want them to touch!


If you would like to make it more challenging, cut out the felt in the shapes of whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes!


Heart Attack (Card Game)
This is a great game to play with 3 - 4 people and the only materials you need are musical flash cards! If you don't own a set of musical flash cards, you can print a set for free here.

Here's how you play! 
  1. Gather around in a circle, and have the dealer deal out all the cards evenly, face down. Do not look at the cards!
  2. Anyone can go first. In one motion, flip the card up and place it into the middle, and say "C." The next person will place whatever card they have into the middle and say "D" and so on.
  3. If the note that is being placed down in the middle corresponds with the note that is being spoken, slap your hand down on the cards quickly! The last person to slap the pile must take all the cards (the person who's hand is on top).
  4. If you would like to throw in a curve ball, you can throw in flash cards with rests on them. If a rest comes along, also slam your hand down! Whoever is last, again, has to take all the cards.
  5. The first person to get rid of all their cards is the winner! 
  6. If you have to take all the cards, put them on the bottom of your deck to prevent cheating.
Speed (Card Game)
This game is a favorite amongst all my students because you can play it even if you only know a few notes! It's a great game for 2-4 people. 
  1. Print out a set of free musical flashcards (includes fingering positions, unlike the earlier set referenced above) here. Cut the flash cards up and fold them in half along the dotted line. 
  2. Lay out five cards at a time, note side up. 
  3. Take turns calling out the name of the note. The first person to slap their hand down on the correct note wins that card. 
  4. Replace the card with another one from the deck.
  5. Keep playing until the cards run out, and the person with the most cards wins!