Learning to sight-read intervals on the musical grand staff (the bass clef and the treble clef together) can greatly ease a student’s ability to read music. Draw the grand staff on several 3 by 5 cards. Then fill in musical notes coupled to create intervals. Make sure you cover the most common intervals such as major second, major third and major fifth as well as less common intervals like major fourth, major sixth and minor third. Also use different notes as your base note for the same interval on different cards. Then play a flash card game with one or more students. Make it fun. Give the first student to answer each card a sticker or other small prize. Have a bigger prize like a cupcake or a piece of sheet music for the grand winner of the game.
When it comes to learning intervals, it’s helpful to learn the sound of them as well as what they look like written down. You can play a game with music students to help them learn to recognize intervals by ear.
On a piano, start by playing a C and D major second interval. Then play a D and E second. Progress up the piano keyboard, through the different seconds, until you reach C and D one octave higher. Next, do the same with thirds, starting with C and E and progressing through each major third in the octave. Then repeat with fifths.
Next have your child or student close his eyes or turn his back. Play a second, a third or a fifth and see if he can identify the interval. As he gets better at recognizing the intervals by ear, add in more kinds of intervals such as fourths, sixths and minor intervals.
This is another flash card game you can play to teach music students intervals. Draw a grand staff on each card. On the top of the card, write the interval name, such as “Major Fifth.” On the staff, draw in the base note of the interval, but not the second note. Hold up the card and see how fast your student can identify the missing note. You can play with more than one student by seeing who can answer first and giving small prizes to the winner.