A Fun Game Using Landmark Note ‘A’

(This activity is called “Landmark Note A Balloons” and can be found in the PianoForte Printable Membership)

In PianoForte Level 3 students are introduced to Landmark Note A. Throughout Level 2 they learned how to recognise Treble G, Bass F and Middle C - as a way to understand how the stave functions - but in Level 3, they meet the note A.

This is a really useful approach to reading because when students can recognise where ‘A’ is, it’s easy for them to find the rest of the notes quickly - simply by using the alphabet. Using ‘A ‘as a landmark is also useful because it encourages students to read the whole range of the grand stave including the first ledger line above the treble clef. (This means that they don’t always need to always use an 8va sign to help them read high notes).

The following activity is one that we’ve been absolutely loving in my studio recently. It’s simple and really effective! Also, I personally LOVE an activity that fits nicely on the piano lid, that way I can quickly pull it out and then put it away again with too much disruption. This particular activity is called “Landmark Note A Balloons”, I think you will love it too!

It’s very simple, there are 7 little image cards, each with a picture of an animal holding a string. These line neatly up in a row. There is also a ‘cheat sheet’ (the card on the music stand) that shows where all the ‘A' notes are, so they can refer to it as they go along. The idea is that they are learning HOW to read - not just memorising the names of lines and spaces. Knowing the stave from memory comes naturally (eventually) but this isn’t about just drilling flashcards. We are teaching them how it all functions.

There is also a set of little balloon cards that have a balloon on one side and a note on the other. The process of this activity is simple, fun and effective. Students use the ‘cheat sheet’ to help them find the note on the little balloon card and then the balloon is placed on the animal with the matching letter. If there’s time to make it through the entire set of balloon cards then each animal has balloon on each string. Simple, cute, fun :-)

Eventually, the goal is for them not to need the ‘cheat sheet’, and to be able to identify the landmark notes independently. I have found that this usually takes time, and activities like these make the journey to reading fluency much more fun!

You can find this activity, and ALL the PianoForte books and resources, in the PianoForte Printable Membership).