Music Theory Worksheets

This is a question that every music teacher faces - how much do you let students just play away, and when do you introduce the theoretical knowledge?

Music is a practical subject. In any school learning music should be about doing. Actively taking part in music: singing, playing, movement and listening all play a part.

I've never met anyone who would say that music in schools should not have a practical component. The only thing that I have found music teachers to disagree on is how much music theory the school lessons should include.

If you let it, music theory can become a very dry and boring subject. Studying scales, modes, transposition and keys can easily seem very irrelevant to students, particularly in a junior high or high school situation.

What is important is to link the practical and the theory lessons as much as possible.If you can take a piece the students are currently playing, and start the theory lesson by looking at that you'll have much more success.

If your school has a Rock based curriculum it is easy: you simply program a theory lesson after each practical lesson. In this lesson plan the students can a)find and listen to a recording of the song they are playing b) look at written examples of the music Engage in theory activities and exercises based on this music that are suitable to their current level d) think about suitable arrangements for instruments that would suit the music.

The theory lesson could be similar if your school has a more traditional band or classical program. Many school use the old approach of choosing a theory book and making the students go through each activity in order. Instead you could choose a worksheet based on the challenges or problems they are currently facing in their band or orchestra.

Music Theory lessons can be much more fun and rewarding for children learning music in schools if teachers can take more of this integrated approach.

If you're a music educator like me you know that most music students roll their eyes when you mention that your are going to bring out a music theory worksheet for them. Many even at the mention of music theory tend to get scared and feel that it really isn't for them, when there is no need to feel that way. If you approach music theory the right way, then it really should be quite easy to get on top of.

First, start out by looking at something practical the student is doing on their instrument, and then relating the theory to that. If you are thinking about music in a practical way it will really help the students understanding.

It is very important that music is treated as primarily a practical subject. Developing musicians need to both improve their practical skill on the instrument and develop the concepts in their mind simultaneously throughout their development.

It is best if their practical work can directly reflect the worksheets they are working on. It is silly for example to teach a guitarist or drummer how to analyze a Mozart Flute concerto. They will be bored, they will be disruptive and not engaged in the activity. If you get the rock band musician to work out and analyze the chords of a Metallica song you'll be far more likely to keep them interested.

I'm definitely not saying that you shouldn't introduce different musical styles to the students - I think it is very important that we introduce the students to different influences. However, music theory is one of those areas where the students will get very bored and disruptive if they can't see an application for what they are learning.

It is also a good idea to keep the music theory worksheets fun by adding in some theory games at the end of the lesson.

There are many games which could potentially help in this area. There are games that can be played on a computer for each student, or on an interactive whiteboard together.

Hopefully if we can use a couple of these ideas then students will be more engaged and less difficult to manage in the music theory classes.