If you have been reading my newsletters for a few months now, you know that games are my favorite way to teach new concepts. Many young violin students learn “The Monkey Song” as the first introduction to playing fingered pitches. That inspired this free board game and set of flashcards.
Like the Twinkle Starship game I shared previously, this game board can be used with any set of flashcards or questions you would like to review. Have students answer a question or even play a section of the piece they are learning or reviewing in order to roll and move along the game board.
I’m including a free set of fingerboard flashcards you can use for this game that cover all the notes in the first position. To play the game with younger or beginning students, simply remove the notes they have not yet covered from the stack. The flashcards are also great for a “60 Second Challenge”-type activity to reinforce fingerboard geography.
For best results, print the flashcards double-sided on cardstock paper and laminate them for durability.
If you prefer not to print out the game or are doing online lessons, I’ve got you covered! Monkey Madness is also a playable Flippity board game with built-in fingerboard flashcard questions. Bookmark the link and screen share the browser window with your class, ask a student a question, and roll and move your students around the board. You can also use the game in-class either by projecting it on a screen or by passing around an iPad or tablet.
What other games do you like to use in lessons review notes on the fingerboard? Share in the comments below or follow Violin Club on Instagram to continue the conversation.