Many parents want to start their child’s musical education as early as possible and that’s great! Music lessons develop emotional intelligence, focus, fine motor skills, and group lessons teach cooperation. But how can you really get a child interested? The answer is simple – play! Imagine a four-year-old quietly sitting and listening to a lecture about notes... Hard to picture, right? Kids want to touch, explore, and try things out! That’s why a playful approach to music education is so effective. Through simple musical games, a child naturally develops their ear, rhythm, coordination, and creative thinking.
Exercises for the Youngest Pianists
“Find the Bear”
Goal: Learning to distinguish registers (high, middle, low).
How to play: One player plays notes in different registers. The other, with their back turned, guesses: if the note is high – show a bird, if middle – a bunny, but skip the bear (low) and show nothing. If they show the bear or guess incorrectly – switch roles.
Tip: Change registers frequently to keep the game dynamic.
“Up / Down / Stay”
Goal: Developing pitch perception.
How to play: The teacher plays a short 2–3 note motif:
- If the pitch “goes up” – the child raises their hands.
- “Down” – lowers their hands.
- On a single note – hands stay in the middle.
Tip: Add fun comments and use notes in different registers.
“Code”
Goal: Developing rhythmic listening.
How to play: First, explain to the child that knocking can be used as a form of communication, hiding different “words” inside. Then, invent a simple rhythm and ask the child to repeat it.
Tip: If the child is already familiar with note durations, you can use flashcards with words and rhythms, e.g., “chocolate” (eighth–eighth–quarter), “banana” (quarter–quarter).
“Notes with a Ball”
Goal: Learning note sequences.
How to play: The teacher and child take turns naming notes and throwing a ball to each other. It’s important to name notes not only forward but also backward: C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C–B–A–G–F–E–D–C.
Tip: Use colourful balls to make it more fun.
“Musical Statue”
Goal: Learning about musical instruments.
How to play: Music plays. The children recall an instrument and the posture used to play it. When the music stops, they freeze in that pose. The leader (or teacher) guesses which instrument is being shown.
Tip: Add new instruments with each lesson.
“Boots”
Goal: Developing finger dexterity and preparing hands for piano playing.
How to play: Put toy “boots” on the fingers. To marching music, the fingers “walk”: first 2nd and 3rd fingers, then 3rd and 4th, etc.
Tip: Use fun marching tunes and alternate hands separately to make learning easier.
Musical games are the best helpers in teaching preschoolers. Through movement, sound, and imagination, children learn easily and with joy. Even the simplest musical games form the foundation of future musicality.
And to make your lessons even more engaging, check out the Misolla platform. It’s full of tools for teachers and parents who want to teach with love.
