My fabulous mother saw this ad in a magazine and sent it to me.  (Yes, I know the quality of the picture is horrible.  The page was folded and, yes, that’s my finger in the corner.) 

I had told my mom about my student who couldn’t remember notes so she suggested I play a game using jelly beans and a staff.  As everybody knows, candy is a great motivator!  (Everybody DOES know this right?) 

I couldn’t find jelly beans, so I used skittles in my game.  I’m sure I’m not the first person to do this, but I think it’s a pretty fabulous idea.  

I made simple grand staffs for each of my students.  Then, I gave them one bowl and I kept one bowl.  I took out 15 skittles and placed them at random on their staffs 3 at a time.  They had to pick up the skittle, tell me the name of the note, and play it on the piano.  If they got it right, they got to put the skittle in their bowl.  If not, it went in mine! 

We played the game at the beginning of lessons.  I let them put their bowl of skittles right by them so they could eat them throughout the lessons.  (Daring, I know.)  Then I sent them home with their grand staffs to teach the notes and game to their parents for theory homework!  Fun!