Best Start Music Lessons Aural Games: a resource book of games and activities

Best Start Music Lessons Aural Games: a resource book of games and activities to develop aural skills in young musicians.

This  book is intended to be used in conjunction with beginner instrumental music lessons, to develop aural skills and awareness as a regular part of each lesson.  The activities are designed to be completed with a teacher during lessons and are suitable for both individual and group contexts. They are short and require very little pre-planning or organization, making them ideal for instrumental teachers to select quickly and as needed, during lessons.  

The activities can be implemented without the need for props or additional percussion instruments, although if available, these can be used in some activities to add interest and variety.  Teachers may wish to select aural activities to be used in conjunction with the introduction of specific concepts in instrumental lessons.   The colour illustrations included in the book are for the benefit of the students. The teacher may use the visual images to help students comprehend the musical characteristics of the aural activities.

Ongoing development of aural skills is a fundamental aspect of music education.  These are the skills a student needs to be able to keep a steady pulse and play in time with a strong sense of rhythm.  

Well developed aural skills allow students to be able to:

• assess their own sound, 

• self correct, and 

• play in tune.

Teachers may choose to allocate five minutes of each lesson to an aural activity from this book.  Teacher and student can take tuns to choose which activity to do, alternating each week.  Giving students the opportunity to make a choice allows them to have some power and control over what they are doing, and this encourages autonomy.

Best Start Music Lessons introduce foundational musical concepts and skills to the young beginner.  As well as developing musical skills and competencies, these lessons aim to foster a love of music and music making.  

Originally developed for children aged 4 - 7 years, it is also a great resource for older students who may progress through the books faster, while still developing a strong musical foundation.

A comprehensive system of learning in which the students are truly engaged ensures that musical concepts are thoroughly understood, develops a solid foundation of key skills, and provides the best musical start possible.