This game can be played by a single student and teacher or in a classroom. The teacher claps a short rhythm or plays a melody on the piano. The student must then clap or play back the same rhythm or melody. If the student makes a mistake, repeat the example. When the response correctly echoes the instruction, you can move on to a harder rhythm or melody. In a classroom, the students can either be split into teams or play individually. This game develops a musical ear, as well as performance skills.
Intervals can be difficult to get your head around to begin with. This game is very good practice. The teacher plays two notes, one after the other, and the student must name (without looking at the keyboard) the interval from the lower note to the higher. Start with small, simple intervals, such as major and minor thirds, then move on to fourths and fifths. Try diminished or augmented intervals for a more advanced student. Playing the two notes at the same time, rather than one after the other, makes the game harder.
This game requires the student to sing a note given by the teacher on the piano. This helps the ear. Start with one note, and if the student finds it easy, ask him or her to sing the lower/higher note of two played simultaneously. Move on to three (the middle note of three is the most difficult to pick out), and try strange chords if the student still finds it too simple.
The teacher plays or improvises the first two bars of a four-bar melody, and the student must immediately either sing or play an appropriate closing phrase. This develops musical autonomy, listening and stylistic awareness. For a greater challenge, make it an eight-bar melody.
This game can be adapted for almost any area and level of musical theory study and works well in a classroom. The teacher plays a piece of music on the piano, then asks questions about the time signature, key, dynamics or anything else. Points can be totalled and prizes given to the highest scorer.
There are also many choices of online games. Some test sight reading and knowledge of the various clefs, while others are rhythm-based. All provide a way to practice and gain a better grasp of music theory.