Music Theory Teacher Resources

How sharp are your young musicians? Can they perfectly identify the sharps and flats in each key by completing a circle of fifths diagram? There is solid theory behind this exercise.

Designed as an assessment of understanding, this one-page worksheet asks musicians to demonstrate their understanding of scales by drawing C, G, and F Major scales on the provided staffs. 

Any musician can tell you, you have to know your scales, key signatures, and notes when reading sheet music. Kids are quizzed on major scales and the notes found with in each scale. They fill in the missing notes and identify each scale.

WebQuests can be fun and engaging ways to review concepts. This musical WebQuest includes thirty-five fill in the blank and ten short answer questions, which students complete through Internet use. Upper graders complete this exercise to...

How many sharps and flats are their in each of the major keys? Help keep your young musicians sharp with a printable template that models how to identify the signature for the major keys' sharps and flats.

Your young musicians will take note of this worksheet that asks them to mark the half steps in a C major scale and then write the scale in both treble and bass clef. 

Music theory lessons can be very tricky for some people. Children with a basic understanding of musical concepts take on the task of transposing music and identifying scale sets. This would be a good topic to address prior to discussing...

Independent harmonies, homophonic music, intervals, and melody are all part of music theory and practice. Prepare your budding musicians for the big time with these activities focused on playing with accompaniment. This lesson is...

Explore the inception and evolution of hip-hop music as a springboard for writing music reviews and researching other genres of music. Learners will read and discuss the Times' article, From Underground Music to Fashion Statement to then...

After watching the violin basics, learn about left hand placement and technique. The close-ups provide a clear view of the player's hands, and he walks us through some notes step-by-step.

Wow this is a really thorough music quiz. There are a total of seven tasks for the class to complete. They must, write the C major scale, identify notes on the staff, write four major keys based on the information provided, identify...

Students study the numbers to the diatonic major scale using C note as a basis in this standards-based 45 minute lesson. Emphasis is placed on singing correct pitch, rhythmic accuracy, and proper breath control.

Students explore and analyze the structure of a tetrachord and major scales along with their origins and functions in music. They recognize tetrachords and major scales in the context of the music they are practicing at this point in...

Students experience and discuss the different musical periods such as Baroque, Classical and Romantic. In this music lesson, students discover musical theory and apply it to the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. Students will...

Here's a collection of unit plans for middle school musicians. Topics include the mbira, opera, rhythm and culture, music in Africa, music in the movies, music theory and notation, blues and jazz, and the ocarina. Definitely worth a look.

Rests. Eighth rests, quarter rests, and half rests are the focus of a one-page worksheet that asks music theory students to complete a series of measures with rests and bar lines.

You may know about A, B, and C, but now you can include "arrrrr" to the list of music notes to practice! Here is a fun pirate-themed activity in which young musicians determine the intervals of various notes in the treble clef to work...

Students explore music theory by discussing a classic song. In this musical notation lesson plan, students listen to the song "My Favorite Things" and discuss and share their personal tastes with the class. Students practice writing...

Perhaps the Doobie Brothers said it best when they sang, "Listen to the Music." With the third of four lessons from the Changing One's Tune: A Music Therapy STEM Integrated Project series, pupils discover the connection between music and...

Upper graders having skills in music performance will extend their abilities through creative musical composition. They'll use Finale 2000 to explore facets of music composition, they'll then compose a piece for their instrument in C, F,...

Whether written for Therese, Elisabeth, or for Juliane, young music theory students will enjoy pursuing the clues hidden in music symbols that indicate who wrote "Fur Elise."

It's time to practice those sharps. Young musicians write the order of sharps by counting down a fourth and up a fifth. This is a great way to teach sharps to emergent musical note readers.