Scale
Monopoly
I know I found this on a website years ago. Goodness only knows where. Google doesn’t. If I find a reference, I’ll let you know.
The best thing about this game, it incorporates some arts
and crafts.
What you’ll need:
·
A big piece of cardboard (around A3 size is
good)
·
Ruler
·
Paint/crayons/coloured pencils etc
·
Pencil
·
Marker pen
·
Counter (e.g. from actual Monopoly game)
·
Dice
·
Beads/beans etc + cup
·
Score sheet + pencil + timer
The Board:
You’re going to create a Monopoly-type board. Count up how many scales you need to learn
and multiply by as many different ways you need to learn them, plus 1.
For example, ABRSM Grade 3 flute
|
Bb maj (12th) A min
(12th)
Major: D, F, G (2 octaves each)
Minor: D, E, G (2 octaves each – can choose harmonic or melodic)
Arpeggios: for each of the above scales
Chromatic on F (1 octave)
All to be tongued and slurred.
|
So, that’s 9 scales + 8 arpeggios x 2 different ways each =
34 squares. Plus 1.
You’ll need 35 boxes around the edge of your board.
In each box, write the name or a scale and how it is to be
played, e.g. G major arpeggio, slurred.
Or, Bb major scale, tongued. The
spare box is marked START.
If you like things colour co-ordinated, go nuts. If you have some form of synaesthesia, you’ll know what to do.
(Word of
advice, if this is you just don’t show your friends unless you like arguing
about how F major is blue and they’d have to be an idiot to think it was
yellow. *May or may not be an actual
argument…)
How to Play:
Set the timer for 10 minutes. Roll the dice, move the counter
appropriately. Play that scale. If it’s correct, take one bean and put it in
the cup. Roll the dice. Move.
Play the scale. If it’s correct,
do the bean thing again.
But…if it’s incorrect…
Well, this is where the fun starts.
You have to play that scale 10 times in a row. Perfectly.
If you play it four times, then on the fifth there’s a mistake, go back
to one. Once it’s played 10 times
correctly, get a bean, roll the dice and continue.
When the timer stops, you stop. Add up how many beans you have. On the score sheet, write the date and how
many beans. Feel free to play again!
Wheel of
Fortune
This is a similar concept to Scale Monopoly, but I created
this for Grade 8 flute students who have to play all major/minor scales,
chromatics, arpeggios, doms/dims etc.
And with four different articulation patterns and different
dynamics. That would be one heck of a
monopoly board.
Instead, I divided a paper plate into 12 equal wedged, one
for each note in a chromatic scale.
Around the outer edge, each wedge gets four smaller divisions – one for
each different articulation pattern. In
the centre is a spinney arrow, attached by a pin (think Twister board).
You decide on what type of scale you’re focussing on –
major, chromatic, pentatonic, dominant 7th etc. You could create some cards with these on so
you can pick at random. Spin the spinner
and play that scales with the corresponding articulation. Set the timer and use the 10 in a row idea
like in Scale Monopoly.
Mixing up scales like in these two games is good, because
you need to be able to play any scale on demand, in any order. This applies not only to exam conditions, but
in pieces too. If you only learn them in
a particular order, then you’ll only be able to play, say, D major after you’ve
played G major.
These are just a few ideas to get you going. The internet is awash with loads more ideas,
but more importantly, go ask someone you know.
What are/were your teacher’s favourite ways of teaching
scales? Comment below.
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