Creating a board game is fairly simple and can be a good way for a small group to practice music vocabulary. You'll need small bells, a game board, a stack of cards with music vocabulary and game pieces. Create a game board with a path constructed of various shapes. You could be traditional and make the game board with squares, or get creative and make the path out of music notes and symbols. Make sure they are big enough for several game pieces to fit on them. To play, pass out the bells to each student. Turn one card over and whoever rings their bell first gets a chance to give the definition. If they get it right, they advance one space. If not, repeat the bell-ringing process with the remaining players until someone gets it right. If no one does, no one advances.
A matching game can be great for a small music-theory class. Make a worksheet with musical terms on one side and definitions on the other side. Pass out the sheets facedown to everyone in the class. After giving the students basic instructions, give the go-ahead to start. Whoever finishes the worksheet in the fastest amount of time with the most correct answers is the winner.
One of the easiest and most traditional ways to learn vocabulary is to use flash cards. It has been shown to be a quick and inexpensive way to repeatedly see the words you need to learn. In order to make a game out of it, make flash cards with the word on the front and the definition on the back. Get a timer and see how long it takes to get through the pile. Place the ones you got wrong on your left and the ones you got correct on the right. Total up the time, number right and number wrong. After more study, repeat the game and try to improve your time. Play the game until full mastery of the list is achieved.
If you're a music teacher who feels inclined to compose, try writing a few short songs that teach basic musical terms and definitions. Make the tunes short, catchy and easy to remember. This could be a great option for teachers who instruct young children. To make a game out of it, after the student initially learns the songs, for each song they can repeat, award them a sticker. Once they collect a certain number of stickers, let them choose a small prize.